2017 US Open June Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/18/2017
1942 Hale America National Open Friday Ticket #4500-HOGAN'S 1ST MAJOR WIN ? - RARE
With the onset of World War II, the United States Golf Association suspended the U.S. Open opting to stage more local competitions. However, commencing 75 years ago to the day June 18 (which just happens to be the date of this years final round of the U.S. Open) the U.S.G.A. agreed to schedule a substitute event with the Chicago District Golf Association and the PGA of America. This event would be known as the 1942 Hale America Open contested at Ridgemoor Country Club in suburban Chicago close to O'Hare airport. Ben Hogan shot an astonishing, career best round of 62 in Friday's round on June 19. He easily paced after 36 holes the highly respectable field that included the Tour's top players and went on to claim the title over his nearest competitor Jimmy Demaret. Hogan to his dying day would adamantly claim that this was his first major win and record fifth U.S. Open Championship. He had a lot of valid points to base this belief on which included 1.) Way the field was assembled with both local qualifying and sectional qualifying as is the case with all other yearly U.S. Opens. 2.) Strength of competition, as he defeated top players of the day which included Harry Cooper, Jimmy Demaret, Ralph Guldahl, Lawson Little, Lloyd Mangrum, "Jug" McSpadden, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Paul Runyon, Gene Sarazen and Craig Wood; to give you a feel of the star power assembled. 3.)Lastly the victors award presented by the U.S.G.A. was a medal identical to those which have been awarded each year prior and following the '42 Hale America event to U.S. Open champions. Hogan's final thought on the subject was, "I have five of these medals (pointing to the Hale America medal and four medals from his U.S. Open triumphs), and they each look alike and each was presented to me by the President of the U.S.G.A.". Offered in this lot is a previously never found in any condition collectible, of significant value in the golf memorabilia world for a number of reasons we will visit shortly. This esteemed never publicly offered item is a near mint ticket (only visible flaw is on reverse side, upper top slight signs of previous attaching) to the 1942 Hale America Open. Veteran golf collectors and ticket collectors alike when contacted have never seen an example of this ticket, much less one in this high grade of condition. The scarcity is further confirmed in "Gilchrist's Guide to Golf Collectibles" which carries values for each of the U.S. Open programs including the '42 Hale America program among those at a value of $2,000 also it acknowledges among U.S. Open Contestant's badges the '42 Hale America at $1,500. Yet among Gilchrist's section on U.S. Open tickets when it comes to the 1942 Hale America it is boldly stamped NONE KNOWN. Understating what should now be obvious this Hale America material is hard to find, our fellow auctioneers PBA Galleries offered a program from the event previously and it carried a pre-auction estimate of $3,000-$5,000. Where does this ticket and the event it represents stand in golf history? We review, is it Hogan's first major and record fifth U.S. Open title? (maybe yes, Ron Sirak of Golf Digest opined this January that the U.S.G.A. should award Hogan his fifth for the 1942 Hale America win. If this occurs Hogan's score of 62 will be the lowest round ever shot in a Major, and it already is the lowest round of Ben's professional career. One other important point has been lost in all this Hogan talk. For you fans of Bobby Jones, this was the last professional event that Jones would play in outside of the Masters. This is a must have piece for any golf or ticket collection, especially those who collect Hogan and Jones memorabilia as this represents an opportunity never before offered.
3 3/4"(top) x 5 1/4" x 1 1/2"(bottom)
**THOMAS G. MCMAHON COLLECTION**
Sealed away in storage for over 30 years, the golf collecting world rejoices over Thomas G. McMahon's great grandson's find. Highlighted by previously unknown collectibles from Ben Hogan's Hale America win in 1942(thought by many to be Hogan's first Major win, and a part of a record five U.S. Open wins).Provenance for these items is un-improvable as at Hogan's medal presentation ceremony for winning the 1942 Hale America National Open Golf Tournament, none other then Thomas McMahon is directly on Hogan's left side bestowing the award (See photo with this lot). McMahon, Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) President, was in this position of honor alongside Ed Dudley, PGA President, and George Blossom, USGA President. It was under McMahon's guidance that the CDGA joined with the U.S.G.A. and the PGA of America to host a wartime substitute event for the 1942 United States Open, this event raised funds for the USO and the Navy Relief Society. Hogan to his dying day would adamantly claim that this was his record fifth U.S. Open Championship. He had a lot of valid points to base this belief on which included 1.) Way the field was assembled with both local qualifying and sectional qualifying as is the case with all other yearly U.S. Opens. 2.) Strength of competition, as he defeated top players of the day which included Harry Cooper, Jimmy Demaret, Ralph Guldahl, Lawson Little, Lloyd Mangrum, "Jug" McSpadden, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Paul Runyon, Gene Sarazen and Craig Wood; to give you a feel of the star power assembled. 3.)Lastly the victors award presented by the U.S.G.A. was a medal identical to those which have been awarded each year prior and following the '42 Hale America event to U.S. Open champions. McMahon's leadership in his position as President of the C.D.G.A. was evident that day, and throughout his term which ran from 1942-43. This would not be McMahon's only significant golf related position as he would go on to serve as President of the Southern California Golf Association in the early 1960's. A time which saw him frequently honored by the Los Angeles Open for his work in the California golf scene. For McMahon these acclaimed presidencies may well pale in golf history to his significant work which began in 1922 on golf's handicapping system. Still to this day his work has had a profound effect on the current handicap procedure. Among the ideas which McMahon would advance on handicapping, were "current ability" handicap based upon the best 10 of the last 15 scores. Also his well received work from 1947 known as "Course Rating for Women" and finally a staple of current U.S.G.A. handicap procedure known as stroke-control. McMahon was a golf administrator for over 50 years across the United States. His Hall of Fame worthy legacy was initially stamped at what many perceive as Hogan's first Major win, and sealed for generations to come through his hard fought work in establishing golf's handicap system we know today.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, June 18th, with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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