Palmer’s Final‑Round 65 Wins U.S. Open With 280
Makes Up Seven Strokes in Last 18; Nicklaus Second at 282
DENVER, June 18 — Arnold Palmer, the powerful Pennsylvanian whose dramatic charges have become the talk of golf, produced his greatest rally yet on Saturday afternoon at Cherry Hills. Seven strokes behind at the start of the final round, he stormed home with a brilliant six‑under‑par 65 to capture the National Open championship with a 72‑hole total of 280.
Palmer, tied for 15th place after the morning round, surged past a faltering Mike Souchak and a collapsing Ben Hogan to win by two strokes over 20‑year‑old Jack Nicklaus, the National Amateur champion, who closed with a steady 71 for 282.
Nicklaus Leads Briefly Before Palmer’s Charge
Nicklaus actually led the field through 63 holes, one shot ahead of Souchak and Jack Fleck, and two ahead of Palmer. But while the young Ohioan held firm, he could not match Palmer’s electrifying pace over the final nine.
Nicklaus’ 69‑71 finish gave him the best score by an amateur in the Open since Johnny Goodman’s victory in 1933.
Souchak and Hogan Falter in Final Hours
Souchak, who set a tournament record of 135 for the first two rounds and led after three, sagged to a 75 in the afternoon and finished at 283, tied for third with Fleck, Julius Boros, Dow Finsterwald, Ted Kroll, and Dutch Harrison.
Hogan, seeking a record fifth Open crown, stood even with Palmer through 70 holes after hitting 34 straight greens in regulation. But disaster struck at the 17th, where his pitch struck the bank and rolled back toward the water. After removing a shoe and sock to play from the edge, he chipped long and took a bogey six.
Worse followed at the 18th, where his drive found the lake. After returning to the tee, he failed to reach the green with his fourth shot and finished with a crushing seven for 284, tied for ninth with Barber and Don Cherry.
Palmer’s Historic Finish
Palmer’s final round was one of the greatest in Open history. He began with four straight birdies: driving the first green and two‑putting; chipping in at the second; chipping close at the third; and holing a 20‑footer at the fourth.
He added birdies at the sixth and seventh, took his only bogey at the eighth, then steadied himself with pars until the 11th, where he reached the green in two for the fourth time in the tournament and secured another birdie.
He parred home from there, one‑putting three of the final holes. His round included seven birdies, one bogey, and 26 putts.
The 65 was the lowest final‑round score ever posted by an Open champion, surpassing Gene Sarazen’s 66 at Fresh Meadow in 1932.
Morning Round Tightens the Field
In the morning’s third round, Souchak posted a 73 to retain a two‑stroke lead, though he stumbled with a double bogey at the 18th after hitting out of bounds. Palmer shot 72, Nicklaus 69, and Hogan 69 to move into position for the afternoon drama.
Kroll recorded eight birdies in a 67, while Fleck, Finsterwald, Boros, and Harrison all remained in contention.
Local and Notable Scores
Art Wall Jr. shot 73‑73 for 145. Stan Dudas posted 74‑74 for the same total. Sam Penecale eagled the ninth in the morning and finished at 146. Henry Williams Jr. and Jay Weitzel failed to survive the cut.
Courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer June 19, 1960 via Newspapers.com