Al Besselink

Albert Cornelius Besselink (born June 30, 1922) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.

Besselink grew up in Merchantville, New Jersey. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E16F83E591A728DDDA00A94DB405B848AF1D3 "Besselink Posts 65 for 135 Total to Gain One-Stroke Margin in Azalea Golf; Gajda is Second in $20,000 Event Besselink Gets 8 Birdies in Gaining Lead -- Four Tied for Third Place"] , "The New York Times", March 29, 1964. Accessed November 26, 2007.] He attended the University of Miami and was the first UM golfer to win a national tournament. He won the Southern Invitational Championship twice before graduating in 1949. [ [http://www.umsportshalloffame.com/abesselink.htm Biographical information from the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame official site] ] He turned pro later that year.

Besselink won four PGA Tour events including the inaugural Tournament of Champions in 1953. He was called "Bessie" by the other tour players and was known for living life with a gambler's recklessness and a showman's flair. [ [http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/features/history/article/0,17742,467819,00.html Article from Golfonline: "Whoa, Bessie"] ]

Amateur wins

* Two Southern Invitational Championships

PGA Tour wins

*1952 Sioux City Open
*1953 Tournament of Champions
*1957 Kansas City Open
*1964 Azalea Open

Other wins

* Three Venezuela Opens
* One South American Open
* One Baron Cay Open
* One Madrid Open
*1946 Azalea Open (as an amateur)
*1952 International Mixed Two-Ball Open (with Babe Zaharias), Colombian Open
*1955 West Palm Beach Open
*1956 Havana Open
*1961 Pennsylvania Open Championship
*1963 Philadelphia Open Championship
*1966 Philadelphia Open Championship

References