2017 US Open June Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/18/2017
Jack Fleck's 3 Tour Winning Golf Balls Including 1955 US Open Win Over Ben Hogan
Titleist #5 Ball and two Spalding Red Dot #4 Balls were tucked secure in Mr. Fleck's office, notated as his PGA Tour victory balls, when in August 2014 The Golf Auction visited Mrs. Fleck in Arkansas to obtain the collection of her husband Jack, the 1955 United States Open Champion. Unfortunately for golf historians and collectors alike neither of the three golf balls were specifically marked as to which one was used in which of Fleck's wins-- the 1955 U.S. Open, 1960 Phoenix Open or the 1961 Bakersfield Open.
The following is an excerpt from the Neil Sagebiel penned book which helps to shed some light on the three winning golf balls: 'The Longest Shot: Jack Fleck, Ben Hogan, and Pro Golf's Greatest Upset at the 1955 U.S. Open'
...It made the 17th play even longer. Fleck cracked another big drive that flew down the left center of the fairway. Although he was in ideal position, he would need to wring every last yard out of his Ben Hogan 3-wood to reach the green in two shots on the converted par 5. He slammed into his Spalding Dot with the spoon and followed the flight of the golf ball as it screamed up the slope toward the green...
Jeff Babineau from 3/21/14 Golfweek Article: Jack Fleck 'A visit with '55 U.S. Open Champ':
Hogan was in the locker room changing when the Spalding ball vanished and the loud roars around the 18th green would cement the one thing the battered legend wanted least: one more day of competition. An 18-hole playoff against Fleck.
In what was thought to be a lopsided playoff for Hogan, most surprisingly Fleck was in command after a birdie at 10 put him three strokes up. Though challenged on the back side with his lead as little as one stroke entering 18, Fleck stood tall and finished with a par on 18 to defeat Hogan by three strokes (69-72). Only four other players, all only once, had broke 70 at Olympic Club that week. Fleck with his playoff round 69 broke 70 three times. One of the greatest upsets in sports history was complete. The golf ball from his final victorious putt was retained by Jack Fleck from that June 19th, 1955 day when he defeated Hogan to win the '55 U.S. Open, as one of his most cherished possessions on earth. It is only with his passing in March of 2014 that this historic match used ball from his playoff win over Hogan in '55 and similar final winning putt golf balls from his other two PGA wins are made available to the collecting world. A letter of provenance from Fleck's wife, Carmen, accompanies this treasured lot.
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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