Ken Still, Pride of Tacoma, WA, Wins First PGA TOUR Title
After toiling for 15 years on the PGA TOUR, Ken Still captures his first win
The PGA TOUR is in Orlando, FL for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. The DNA of this tournament goes back to 1966 and the Florida Citrus Open. We’re turning our attention to 1969 and Ken Still’s first PGA TOUR win. Growing up in Seattle, before the Sonics, the only local professional sports I could follow were the hydroplanes and professional golf. I always rooted for the local players on the tour and Ken Still was one I followed. The Citrus was an emotional win for Still.
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Ken Still Captures Emotional First Title in the Florida Citrus Open
Coming into the 1969 Florida Citrus Open, Ken Still, who was in his 15th year of toiling on the PGA TOUR, did not look like he would be contending for his first victory. In his first six starts of the season, his best finish was a tie for 22nd in the Bob Hope Desert Classic. His first round of 74 at Orlando’s Rio Pinar Country Club course put him in a tie for 79th on the Citrus Open leader board.
Sitting at the top of that leader board was Tom Weiskopf, in his second start back on tour after a five-month stint with his Army Reserve unit where he served as a private, and Rod Funseth of Spokane, Washington. Both players shot 68 and enjoyed a 1-stroke lead over Miller Barber, Larry Hinson, Jack McGowan and Dan Sikes.
In the second round, both Johnny Pott and Bert Yancy shot 66 and Tommy Aaron shot a 67. All three were tied for the lead, one stroke better than Miller Barber and Joe Campbell, a club pro in Knoxville, who played the best golf of the day shooting 64, a course record. Ken Still shot a 67 and sat five shots behind the leaders.
Intermittent rain that turned into a downpour as the leaders finished their rounds led to a logjam at the top of the leader board after the third round. Johnny Pott and Bert Yancy each shot a 2-under-par 70 and shared a one-stroke lead. Nine players were within three shots of the leaders including Dale Douglass who shot a 68, Lee Elder who posted a 67, as did Ken Still. Joe Campbell fell to a 72 after his second-round course record 64 and sat four off the lead.
The weather caused some consternation at the finish of the round as Pott and Yancy each finished in the rain under a dark, overcast sky.
“We were like blind dogs out there,” Pott explained. He had an erratic round with six birdies and four bogeys.
High winds, recorded at 25-miles-per-hour, replaced the rain in the fourth round and scores soared. Bert Yancy, the co-leader after the third round, shot a 77 in the wind and finished well down the leader board. Johnny Pott battled through his round and was still in contention as he came down the final hole.
But it was Ken Still who navigated the winds to find himself in the 18th fairway with a good chance to win. He needed a par on the final hole to edge Miller Barber, who finished 30 minutes before Still, by one shot. Standing in the fairway, Still realized that he was in position to win the tournament and reacted emotionally.
“I started to cry in the middle of the 18th fairway, honest I did,” Still admitted to reporters after the round. “Tears came into my eyes.”
He then did something that put that first victory in jeopardy; he wickedly sliced his approach shot into the spectators and the ball ricocheted around before coming to rest behind a set of spectator stands. It looked more and more like an 18-hole playoff the next day would be required.
Officials awarded Still a free drop and the ball rolled down a hill into an unplayable lie – twice. He finally got his ball to come to rest on top of a knoll, about 80 feet from the hole. He then chose an unlikely club to play his next shot; he pulled his putter instead of a wedge. He rolled the shot to within 18 inches of the hole and made par to finish one stroke better than Barber.
Johnny Pott had a chance to tie Still as he came down the final hole. His eagle on the 15th hole vaulted him back into contention. After hitting the 18th green in regulation, a full 50 feet from the hole, Pott three-putted and Still had his first victory.
An AP Wirephoto picture shows Still giving a big roar after being presented with the $23,000 first place prize check and the ceremonial winner’s jacket. Now the tears could flow for real as his 15-year quest for a PGA TOUR title had been fulfilled.
Ken Still at Fircrest Golf Club in Tacoma, WA
Check out the bonus fact below for more on Ken Still’s 1969 season.
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Tour Backspin Quiz | 1969 Tour Trivia
Name the youngest and oldest player to win on the 1969 PGA TOUR.
Answer below
Bonus Story
Five months after Ken Still got his first PGA TOUR victory, he won again at the Greater Milwaukee Open. Coming into the week, he knew that he had to finish third, or better, to win a spot on the 1969 Ryder Cup team. It would be his debut as a Ryder Cup team member.
He made his move in the third round shooting a 67. He followed that up with a final round 65 to beat Gary Player by two shots for the title and snatched the last remaining spot on the Ryder Cup team from Arnold Palmer.
Five weeks later, in Southport, England, at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Still teamed with Lee Trevino in the afternoon foursomes (alternate shot) match on the first day. They lost 1 down to Bernard Gallacher and Maurice Bembridge.
Still next played on Saturday in the afternoon four ball (best ball) match, this time teamed with Mike Hill, against the team of Brian Huggett and Gallacher. The Americans prevailed 2&1. Still finished up his Ryder Cup experience by playing Maurice Bembridge in the Sunday singles match where he lost 1 down.
Even though the matches were plagued by acrimonious feelings and displays of unsportsmanlike behavior, the 1969 Ryder Cup would go down in history as “The Concession” when Jack Nicklaus conceded a putt on the final hole to Tony Jacklin. With the concession, the match finished “all square” and the Ryder Cup also ended in a tie. Since the American team was defending the cup, they retained the cup with the tie.
Ken Still passed away March 19, 2017 in Fircrest, WA.
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Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
Youngest: Larry Hinson, Age 24, Greater New Orleans Open
Oldest: Charles Sifford, Age 46, Los Angeles Open
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