2019 November Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/24/2019
Rod Munday's 1946 Masters Tournament Contestant Plate - First Contestants Gift - Highly Collectible
The 1946 Masters players gift plate measures 7 7/8" diameter and depicts the clubhouse at the Augusta National. This treasured keepsake, which presents in flawless near mint condition. White of the plate has not been discolored at all, no cracks are present. It was the first installment of a yearly tradition began that year of presenting a gift to each of the contestants in the invitational event. Next to the assembling of a run of tickets/badges from each of the Masters tournaments the collecting of each of the awarded player gifts has become a favorite among advanced Masters collectors. This initial offering featured a richly colored, of highest detail plate which has become a true lynchpin of completing this collection. Until The Golf Auction offered the plate belonging to '46 Masters entrant Lloyd Mangrum in our Spring, 2010 offering most advanced collectors had never seen this item with block letter player name at the bottom of the plate. It was followed up in the winter of 2013 with the second players plate to be offered by our auction house, this time bearing the name of Frank Stranahan and drawing a hammer price of $2,618 under heavy bidding. This auction gives us the opportunity to offer our third players contestants gift from the 51 players that assembled for the 1946 Masters. This plate belonged to Rod Munday who also competed in the 1940 Masters prior to his serving in World War II. Munday quickly showed his game was still at professional level distinguishing himself in post War European theater golf tournaments for servicemen of 1945, and drew a personal invitation from fellow serviceman Bobby Jones to his 1946 Augusta event.
Rod Munday Collection
A contemporary of Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, and Paul Runyan, Rod Munday traveled the same proving ground as many of the touring and club professionals in a career that spanned over 50 years. His friendship with those individuals and fellow teaching professionals lasted throughout his life as a pro golfer that started in Northern California and ended in Pennsylvania. Rod competed in many pro tournaments including both the 1940 and 1946 Masters Tournaments. He frequently qualified for and played in the PGA Championship from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s, and competed in the 1934, 1935, 1946, and 1947 US Open. If a putt would have fallen one way or another, Munday could have been a golfer that was mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary golfers of his day.
Munday, a World War II army vet who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, was the preferred teaching professional for many celebrities and dignitaries, none larger than President and General Dwight D Eisenhower. Eisenhower became Rod’s #1 pupil at the Gettysburg Country Club in Pennsylvania. Munday was just as much a personal friend to these larger than life figures as a golf instructor. Many of the leading tour players such as 1941 Masters champion Craig Wood, considered Rod Munday one of the top putting minds of the 1950’s. Horton Smith, Byron Nelson, Henry Cotton, Jack Grout, and Gene Sarazen all kept in contact with Munday over the years. The allure to play exhibitions at Munday’s clubs at Highland Meadows in Toledo, Ohio and the Country Club of York in Pennsylvania was there for many, including visits and fundraisers attended by one of his closest friends, Ben Hogan.
The Golf Auction is proud to offer the Rod Munday Collection, helping to tell the story of the man himself.AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
This auction will end at 9:00pm EST Sunday, November 24th with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items that have received multiple bids in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period (at 10pm EST, the countdown clock will be adjusted to a 5 minute interval). Place your bids now!
1. You must place your initial bids BEFORE extended bidding begins in order to bid on the item in extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you are allowed to bid only on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. All lots that are active in extended bidding will close at the same time, and those with only ONE or NO BIDS will close at 9pm EST
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