Felice Torza
{{Short description|American professional golfer (1920–1983}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name = Felice Torza
| image = Felice Torza 1953 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 180px
| caption = Torza, circa 1953
| fullname = Felice Joseph Torza
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|3|15}}
| birth_place = Naples, Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|12|23|1920|3|15}}
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| nationality = {{USA}}
| spouse =
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| status = Professional
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| extour = PGA Tour
| prowins = 5
| otherwins =
| majorwins =
| masters = T29: 1953
| usopen = T24: 1952
| open = DNP
| pga = 2nd: 1953
| wghofid =
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Felice Joseph Torza (March 15, 1920 – December 23, 1983) was an American professional golfer. He played primarily in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
Early life
Professional career
Like most of the golfers of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional during his regular career years. Torza worked as the head club pro at the Aurora Country Club in Aurora, Illinois for 28 years.{{cite web |title=A History of the Aurora Country Club |url=http://www.auroracc.com/history_note.htm |access-date=14 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913140506/http://www.auroracc.com/history_note.htm |archive-date=13 September 2007 }}{{cite web |title=President's news from Aurora Country Club |url=http://www.auroracc.com/presnews.htm |access-date=14 September 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
Torza was the runner-up in the 1953 PGA Championship. He was defeated, 2 and 1, in the final by Walter Burkemo, in the match play era.{{cite magazine |title= Time Scoreboard |magazine=Time |date=20 July 1953 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889825,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222111729/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889825,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=14 September 2007}}
Torza was nicknamed Toy Tiger{{cite web |title=Fenton Farms Evolves From Its Colorful Past |publisher=Michigan Golfer |last=Harrington |first=Jeff |url=http://www.webgolfer.com/july99/fentonfarms.html |access-date=14 September 2007}} by his fellow golfers due to his fiercely competitive nature and diminutive stature.
Personal life
Torza died on December 23, 1983.
Honors and awards
- In 1965, he was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.[http://www.csgalinks.org/hof/inductee.htm CT Golf Hall of Fame Members] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227051733/http://www.csgalinks.org/hof/inductee.htm|date=December 27, 2008}}
- In 1968, he was awarded the Illinois PGA Professional of the Year award.
Professional wins (5)
- 1946 Connecticut Open
- 1947 Rhode Island Open
- 1950 Illinois Open Championship
- 1958 Illinois Open Championship
- 1965 Illinois Match Play Championship
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torza, Felice}}
Category:American male golfers
Category:Golfers from Connecticut
Category:Italian emigrants to the United States
Category:Sportspeople from Hartford, Connecticut
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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