Unknown Pro Upsets the Big Stars at The Crosby Pro Am
The leader board going into the final round looked like an accounting firm was going up against Palmer, Nicklaus and Lema
For a golf historian like me, the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am is one of the most fun tournaments to write about. There are just so many great stories when you gather the stars of the PGA Tour along with the stars of stage, screen, and sports to compete in one of the greatest settings in golf; the Monterey Peninsula. We focus on the 1966 tournament where what looked like an accounting firm, Massengale and Martindale, were keeping pace with the biggest stars of the PGA TOUR.
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Unknown Pro Don Massengale Receives Timely Advice From Tony Lema on Way to Winning The Crosby
Golf fans on the Monterey Peninsula were excited as the PGA TOUR came to town for the 1966 Bing Crosby Pro-Am. The skies were a beautiful cloud-free blue, a far cry from the famous “Crosby weather” of some years.
The field contained the biggest stars of the tour including the king of them all, Arnold Palmer, as well as Tony Lema and Jack Nicklaus. But it was more than just the PGA stars that the fans were interested in. Dean Martin, Andy Williams and Phil Harris attracted fans of Hollywood while Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Paul Horning attracted sports fans.
The PGA stars did not fail to deliver in the first round as Nicklaus, Palmer, Lema and Billy Casper opened the tournament on the difficult Cypress Point Club. Palmer and Lema shot 70, and Nicklaus, hampered by a double bogey on the famed 16th hole when his ball found the beach below the green, shot a 73.
It was Al Geiberger who sat atop the leader board after shooting a 68 on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Billy Casper shot a 71 as did Don Massengale, one of the large crowd of unknowns that were within four strokes of the lead.
Early in the second round, Bert Yancy shot a 29 on the back nine of the Shore Course on his way to a sensational 66 to add to his first round 73 to sit at the top of the leader board at 139. Palmer, who finished just ahead of Yancy added another 70 and sat at 140. First round leader Geiberger and Lema were tied at 142. Casper blew to a 74, thanks to going five over par on the last four holes. Don Massengale added a 67 to his first round 71 and sat at 138, stealing the lead away from Yancy. Another unknown pro, Billy Martendale, shot a 71 and sat at 143.
In the third round, Al Geiberger shot a 67 at the difficult Cypress course in front of a sparse gallery and no television cameras, playing after the network coverage was completed. He recaptured the lead at 209 with Martindale one stroke back and Massengale and Palmer another shot back. Lema was still in the hunt at 214 even though he had four putted the fourth hole at Pebble. Going into the final round the leader board was occupied by a couple of the biggest stars on the PGA TOUR, and a pair that golf fans could be excused for confusing with an accounting firm; Massengale and Martindale.
The weather remained fantastic as the final round began at Pebble Beach. Massengale ate up the front nine shooting a 32. With the adrenaline pumping, he proceeded to bogey three of the first five holes on the back nine before he finally settled down.
“I sure didn’t try to play defensive golf on the last nine,” Massengale said.
Palmer was mounting one of his famous charges one group behind Massengale, who was playing with Martindale and Lema. Massengale thought he had “thrown away” his chances of winning on the 14th hole where he three putted. He was now one shot ahead of Geiberger and two over Martindale and Palmer. Massengale then proceeded to pull his seven-iron approach at the 15th, managing to hit the green, but a long way from the hole. Lema, who was on his way to shooting a 79 and was out of contention then approached Massengale and tried to calm him down. The two had made a trip together to Mexico City to play in a tournament as young pros and knew each other.
“Tony was really pulling for me,” Massengale told reporters after his round. Massengale related that Lema told him, “I think you’ve got everything under control. Let them come catch you.”
“It really helped, and I want everyone to everyone to know it.” Massengale said about the little talk from Lema.
Palmer was in full charge mode as he birdied the 15th and 16th holes to pull within one stroke of Massengale. With all the pressure on him, Massengale hit his second shot under a tree on the difficult finishing hole at Pebble Beach. He then hit what he described as a “lucky shot” 8-iron under the limbs and over the bunker onto the green. He faced a five-foot putt for birdie that would effectively win the tournament for him as Palmer would have to eagle the final hole to tie him.
He stroked the birdie putt into the hole and, when Palmer finished with a birdie of his own, Massengale had his first victory on the tour. Golf fans may have been attracted to the star power on display at the Crosby, but it was an unknown pro who provided all the excitement in a David vs Goliath finish.
Don Massengale (photo credit: PGA TOUR Photo Services via Getty Images)
Check out the bonus fact below for how Jack Nicklaus finished the final round of the 1966 Bing Crosby National Pro Am.
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Tour Backspin Quiz | Crosby Trivia
Which two pros hold the record for most wins in the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am including the years when it was contested under the name AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am?
Answer below
Bonus Story
Jack Nicklaus had to make his way down a cliff to the beach to play his second shot at the 16th hole at Cypress Point. The difficult long par 3 plays over the water and Nicklaus’ tee shot faded to the right and down onto the beach. He managed to get his second shot onto the green but missed his par putt.
In Sunday’s round, he returned to the beach when he hooked his tee shot on the finishing hole at Pebble Beach. He was one under on his round before the unfortunate shot on 18. He compounded his troubles when his second tee shot also disappeared in the hazard. He thought he might be able to find his second ball and, provided it was in a playable position, could help him avoid posting a big number on the hole.
Nicklaus began negotiating the slippery rocks and just about lost it. A marshal, just in front of Nicklaus, physically stopped Nicklaus from falling or sliding down into the water. Nearing the end of the time limit to locate a ball, Nicklaus asked the rules official following the group, George Walsh, to come down in case he needed to identify his ball, if he could ever find it.
Walsh started to negotiate the slippery rocks, but to no avail. He began slipping and sliding towards, and past Nicklaus.
“Instead of grabbing for my arm,” Walsh recounted, “Nicklaus just stood there and hollered ‘bon voyage’ as I slid by.”
Unable to locate his ball, Nicklaus returned to the tee hitting five and finally found the fairway. He wound up with a nine on the hole.
Jack Nicklaus plays from the beach on the 16th hole at Cypress Point Club in the 1966 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am
Blind Shot
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Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
Mark O’Mera and Phil Michelson (5 wins each)
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