Mike Turnesa

{{short description|American professional golfer (1907–2000)}}

{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Mike Turnesa

| image = Mike Turnesa 1942 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize = 190px

| caption = Turnesa, circa 1942

| fullname = Michael C. Turnesa

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1907|6|9}}

| birth_place = Elmsford, New York

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|10|31|1907|6|9}}

| death_place = Sleepy Hollow, New York

| height =

| weight =

| sporting_nationality = {{USA}}

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| status = Professional

| yearpro =

| extour = PGA Tour

| prowins = 10

| pgawins = 5

| otherwins = 5

| majorwins =

| masters = T25: 1935

| usopen = T26: 1946

| open = DNP

| pga = 2nd: 1948

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 =

| year1 =

| award2 =

| year2 =

| awardssection =

}}

Michael C. Turnesa (June 9, 1907 – October 31, 2000) was an American professional golfer.

Early life

Turnesa was one of seven golfing brothers: Phil (1896–1987), Frank (1898–1949), Joe (1901–1991), Mike (1907–2000), Doug (1909–1972), Jim (1912–1971), and Willie (1914–2001). All but Willie turned professional. The family was referred to as a "golf dynasty" in a 2000 New York Times article.{{Cite news |last=Kilgannon |first=Corey |date=December 3, 2000 |title=Recalling a Golf Dynasty: Elmsford's Turnesa Family |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/nyregion/recalling-a-golf-dynasty-elmsford-s-turnesa-family.html |access-date=March 23, 2022}}

Professional career

Turnesa's first job in golf came in the pro shop at the Metropolis Country Club. He then became assistant professional at Innwood in the late 1920s before being named "playing professional" representing Fairview in 1931. All told, Turnesa played on PGA Tour for 18 years, winning five times. He then got a job at Knollwood Country Club. He won the 1933 and 1941 Westchester Opens, and the 1949 Metropolitan PGA at Ardsley, but is better known for having finished second to Ben Hogan in both the 1948 PGA Championship and the 1942 Hale America Tournament, the war-time substitute for the U.S. Open. Mike also played in the inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934 along with brother Joe.{{cite web |url=http://www.knollwoodcc.com/history/turnesa.htm |title=The Turnesa Story |publisher=Knollwood Country Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040822002113/www.knollwoodcc.com/history/turnesa.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2004}}

Personal life

Turnesa's grandson, Marc Turnesa, has won on the PGA Tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/news/2007/10/28/marc.html |title=Turnesa hangs on in Miami, earns 2008 Tour card |publisher=PGA Tour |first=John |last=Bush |date=October 28, 2007 |accessdate=October 25, 2013}}

Professional wins (10)

=PGA Tour wins (5)=

  • 1931 Mid-South Open
  • 1932 Grassy Spain Course Tournament, Metropolitan PGA Pro Bestball
  • 1933 Westchester Open
  • 1934 Miami Biltmore Class B

Source:{{Cite web |title=Mike Turnesa |url=https://www.pgatour.com/player/19179/mike-turnesa |access-date=2024-12-18 |publisher=PGA Tour}}

=Other wins (5)=

  • 1940 Vermont Open{{Cite web |date=1991 |title=History of the Vermont Open |url=https://live-vthga.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/144.pdf |website=Vermont Golf Magazine}}
  • 1941 Westchester Open
  • 1942 Westchester PGA Championship
  • 1947 Westchester PGA Championship
  • 1949 Metropolitan PGA Championship

References