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Gene Mingo is the only African-American professional golfer to win a PGA Tour event. He won the 1935 PGA Championship in Medellin, Colombia, the only event in history to feature a “lucky” draw in which the first 14 players to tee off were all white.
Mingo was inducted into the International Golf Hall of Fame in 1969. Here’s a look at a few of his memorable moments on the course:
This video shows Mingo on the 27th hole of his PGA Championship victory in Colombia:
Mingo moved to Chicago from Pittsburgh in the early 1940s, but played only sporadically at the time. He kept playing well in Chicago in the ’50s, however, and in 1963 joined the staff at Oakmont Country Club. He won the 1962 Porter Cup and also the ’64 U.S. Open.
Mingo went on to hold the Oakmont club record for four straight years.
The club honored Mingo in 1967 with a dedication day. He said he was “profoundly moved” by the ceremony.
A look at Mingo in the 1960s:
Mingo won more than $120,000 in his lifetime and also organized the first African-American scholarship program for black college golfers in the mid-1950s.
He died at the age of 85 in 2011.
His golf swing is widely admired and featured on at least one golf ball.
This story was first published at Golf.com.