Round 1
Goalby Fires Opening‑Round 67 to Lead De Soto Open
Crystal River Pro One Stroke Ahead of Balding; Twelve Break Par on Balmy Day
BRADENTON, Fla., March 24 — Bob Goalby, the sturdy 29‑year‑old professional from Crystal River, set a brisk early pace today in the opening round of the De Soto Open, touring the 6,902‑yard De Soto Lakes course in 67 strokes, five under par. His steady play gave him a one‑shot lead over fellow Crystal River pro Al Balding, who posted a 68.
A cluster of seasoned campaigners followed close behind at 69, including Sam Snead, Jerry Barber, Doug Sanders, Al Besselink, Joe Moresco, John Barnum, and Johnny Pott, all well within striking distance as the $40,000 tournament moves into its second day.
Goalby in Command
Goalby, a former University of Illinois quarterback who turned professional in 1957, fashioned nines of 34‑33, collecting five birdies and surrendering only one bogey, that coming when he was forced to chip out from behind a tree. He missed just two greens all afternoon.
The athletic six‑footer, voted the PGA Tour’s “Freshman of the Year” in 1958, has already earned more than $10,000 this season, with high finishes at the Desert Classic, Baton Rouge, and Yorba Linda events. Last year he played in 33 of 35 tournaments, the heaviest schedule on the circuit.
Goalby said the course played “a little easier” than during Wednesday’s pro‑am, noting that the afternoon winds—often a deciding factor at De Soto Lakes—were less troublesome than usual.
Strong Field in Pursuit
Four players carded 70s—Denis Hutchinson, Dave Ragan, Eddie Langert, and Lee Raymond—while a formidable group at 71 included Arnold Palmer, the tour’s leading money winner, along with Tommy Bolt, Jack Burke, Chick Harbert, Bill Casper, John McMullin, Mike Dietz, Bob Goetz, Lionel Hebert, and Dave Hill.
With so many contenders under par, the tournament appears headed for a tightly packed leaderboard as the field moves toward Saturday’s 36‑hole cut, which will trim the starting group to 80 players. Only 60 will advance to Sunday’s final round.
Large Gallery on Hand
More than 5,000 spectators lined the fairways under warm Florida skies, prompting tournament officials to operate a free shuttle bus from the main gate to the first tee for the remainder of the event.
With ideal weather forecast and the course in excellent condition, the De Soto Open promises three more days of spirited golf and shifting fortunes.
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Courtesy of The Bradenton Herald March 25, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Round 2
Barber Takes 36‑Hole Lead at De Soto Open With 137
Five‑Foot‑Five Veteran Holds Two‑Stroke Edge; Sanders, Pott, Dietz in Pursuit
BRADENTON, Fla., March 25 — Jerry Barber, the compact, bespectacled professional from Los Angeles, mastered the long De Soto Lakes layout for the second straight day and moved into the halfway lead of the De Soto Open with a five‑under‑par 137. Barber followed his opening‑round 69 with a polished 68 Friday to take a two‑stroke advantage over three challengers at 139.
Sharing second place were Doug Sanders of Miami Beach, Johnny Pott of Shreveport, La., and Mike Dietz of Phoenix, Ariz. Sanders and Pott, both former collegiate standouts, matched their opening‑round efforts with 70s, while Dietz equaled Barber’s 68.
Barber, 43, a father of five and one of the smallest men on the tour at 5‑foot‑5 and 135 pounds, has long been known for his ability to handle big courses. He won earlier this year at Yorba Linda, a 7,200‑yard test, and has shown the same steady touch on the 6,902‑yard De Soto Lakes course.
Bolt’s Ace Highlights the Day
The day’s most dramatic moment came from Tommy Bolt, who fired a hole‑in‑one on the 223‑yard fifth hole with a four‑wood. Bolt, who finished with a 69 for a 140 total, was four under par through 17 holes before an out‑of‑bounds second shot on the last forced him into a double‑bogey six.
Bolt shares fifth place with Dow Finsterwald, who turned in the day’s best round, a sparkling 67. Finsterwald, the 1958 PGA champion, overcame early bunker trouble and needed only 24 putts, including a 60‑foot chip‑in for par at the 15th.
Goalby Slips After Opening‑Round Lead
First‑round leader Bob Goalby, who shot 67 on Thursday, faltered with a 74 and dropped into a tie for seventh at 141. The Belleville, Ill., pro admitted afterward that he “choked up” during a late‑round slide that included bogeys at the 15th and 17th and a double bogey at the 16th.
Also at 141 were Sam Snead, Al Balding, Bill Casper Jr., and Joe Campbell. Snead, who had been under par in his previous seven rounds at De Soto Lakes, posted a 72 after overshooting several greens and leaving birdie putts short.
Palmer Among Group at Even Par
Six players finished at 142, including Arnold Palmer, the tour’s leading money winner; Dave Marr; Joe Moresco; Ron Reif; Huston LaClair; and Dennis Hutchinson.
A total of 83 professionals who shot 150 or better, along with four amateurs, will continue play today. The field will be trimmed to the low 60 pros (and ties) for Sunday’s final round, when the $35,000 purse will be divided.
Notes From the Course
- Twenty‑one pros bettered par Friday; ten matched the 71 standard.
- Host pro Ted Kroll and Jack Burke Jr. stand at 143.
- Hillman Robbins fired a front‑nine 31 with four birdies.
- Jack Fleck, runner‑up in St. Petersburg last week, withdrew with a back injury and fever.
- Australian Von Nida missed the cut by one after a two‑stroke penalty when his ball struck a flagstick not removed in time.
- Tommy Bolt encountered two snakes during his round, including a water moccasin near the seventh hole.
- Doug Sanders maintained his composure on the 16th tee despite a series of loud noises from a nearby portable toilet.
With two rounds complete and a tightly packed leaderboard, the De Soto Open appears headed for a spirited weekend finish.
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Courtesy of The Sarasota Herald-Tribune March 26, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Round 3
Barber Maintains De Soto Lead With 206 After Third‑Round 69
Snead, Sanders Two Strokes Back; Finsterwald and Casper Close at 209
BRADENTON, Fla., March 26 — Jerry Barber, the compact Los Angeles professional whose deft touch around the greens has carried him through two strong days, held firmly to his lead in the De Soto Open today with a steady two‑under‑par 69, giving him a 54‑hole total of 206. Barber enters Sunday’s final round with a slim but significant two‑stroke margin over Sam Snead and Doug Sanders, both at 208.
Barber, who admitted he “didn’t settle down until the fourth hole,” overcame an early bogey at the second when his approach bounded over the green and his recovery found a bunker. He regained his rhythm with birdies at the fifth and eighth for a front‑side 34, then added another birdie at the par‑5 14th, crediting one of the crisp chip shots that have marked his play all week.
Snead Fires Tournament‑Low 67
Snead, the gallery favorite from White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., turned in the day’s finest round, a four‑under‑par 67, matching the tournament low previously set by Bob Goalby and Dow Finsterwald. Snead’s irons were sharp throughout, and he might have gone even lower had he not three‑putted the ninth green.
Snead birdied the second and eighth, then added two more at the 11th and 12th before holing a six‑footer for an eagle at the 471‑yard 14th. Bogeys at the 15th and 17th kept him from catching Barber, but Snead left the course visibly pleased with his position heading into Sunday.
Sanders Steady Despite Early Trouble
Doug Sanders matched Barber’s 69 despite a ragged start at the second hole, where he described himself as being “all over the place” en route to a double bogey. Sanders recovered with a birdie at the eighth, then played the back nine in three‑under 33, highlighted by an eagle at the 14th after a crisp 6‑iron left him within two and a half feet of the cup.
Sanders’ 208 keeps him very much in the hunt, and his length off the tee could prove decisive in the final round.
Finsterwald, Casper Lurking at 209
Dow Finsterwald and Bill Casper share fourth place at 209. Finsterwald posted a smooth 69 with a 35‑34 card, while Casper turned in a consistent round, two under on the outward nine and one under coming home.
Home pro Ted Kroll and first‑round leader Bob Goalby are tied for sixth at 210, Kroll with a 68 and Goalby with a 70. Arnold Palmer, the tour’s leading money winner, stands alone in eighth at 212 after a one‑under 70.
A group at 213 includes Al Balding, Dave Marr, Jay Hebert, and Johnny Pott.
Bolt Falters With 78
Tommy Bolt, who had been tied for fifth at the halfway mark, suffered through a difficult afternoon, ballooning to a seven‑over‑par 78 with bogeys on eight holes, including the first three in succession.
Notes From the Course
- Fourteen players broke par Saturday; twelve stand at par or better for the first three rounds.
- The field was cut to 61 professionals at 233.
- Attendance was estimated at 8,000, the largest of the week.
- Bill Blanton was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard on the 12th hole.
With Barber clinging to a narrow lead and Snead and Sanders charging hard, Sunday’s final round promises a spirited finish to the De Soto Open.
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Courtesy of The Sarasota Herald-Tribune March 27, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Round 4
Snead Rallies to Win De Soto Open With Final‑Round 68
Veteran Surges Past Barber to Claim 104th Professional Victory
BRADENTON, Fla., March 27 — Sam Snead, the smooth‑swinging veteran from Boca Raton, produced a brilliant closing‑round charge Sunday to capture the inaugural De Soto Open, overtaking Jerry Barber and finishing with a four‑round total of 276, eight under par on the 6,902‑yard De Soto Lakes course.
Snead’s final‑round 68, the lowest score of the day, carried him from two strokes behind at the start to a two‑shot victory before the largest gallery of the week. The triumph marked the 104th professional win of his storied career and earned him the $5,300 first prize, a new De Soto automobile, and appearance money.
Barber, who had led after the second and third rounds, closed with a 71 for a 278 total, good for second place and $3,400. Dow Finsterwald finished third at 278 after a steady 69, while Bill Casper took fourth with 283.
Snead Starts Fast, Barber Holds Early Edge
Snead opened the day with a birdie at the first, holing a putt from the fringe. Barber, paired behind Snead with Finsterwald and Doug Sanders, matched him through the early holes and held a three‑shot lead after seven, thanks to a six‑foot birdie putt and Snead’s bunker trouble at the same hole.
Snead recovered with a birdie at the eighth, and both men parred the ninth, sending Barber to the back nine at 241, Snead at 243.
Turning Point at the Tenth
The momentum shifted at the 10th when Casper holed a 60‑foot birdie putt and Kroll followed with a 14‑footer. Snead, smiling, rolled in his own 10‑footer moments later. Barber, arriving shortly after, three‑putted for bogey, and the two leaders were suddenly tied.
Both players birdied the 11th, but Snead took the lead for the first time at the 12th when Barber bogeyed the short par‑3.
Snead’s Shot of the Tournament
The decisive moment came at the dogleg‑left 16th. Snead’s tee shot strayed into the trees, but he punched a seven‑iron between two oaks, hooking the ball toward the green and leaving it just short in the rough. A deft chip and a confident putt saved par.
Barber answered with a 13‑foot birdie to pull even once more, but Snead’s steadiness over the final two holes proved the difference. Barber’s drive at 17 settled near a bunker, and his chip came up short. At the 18th, his second shot found a trap, and although he saved bogey with a fine blast and putt, Snead’s routine par sealed the championship.
Strong Finishes Throughout the Field
Finsterwald thrilled the crowd with an eagle at the 492‑yard 11th and a birdie at the last to secure third place. Four players tied for fifth at 284, while another quartet finished at 285, including Arnold Palmer, Sanders, first‑round leader Bob Goalby, Mike Souchak, Ted Kroll, Ken Venturi, and Dave Marr.
In all, 43 players shared in the prize money.
Tournament Notes
- Snead received a canary‑colored sports jacket and a cream‑colored sedan during the awards ceremony.
- Sunday’s gallery was described by PGA officials as the largest seen at a Florida event in five years.
- Course superintendent Jack Bernard was widely praised for the immaculate condition of the De Soto Lakes layout.
- Jay Hebert called a penalty on himself when a spectator accidentally moved his ball.
- Beginning today, local golfers may play the course using pull carts.
With his trademark calm and a late burst of precision, Snead added yet another chapter to his remarkable career, leaving the first De Soto Open with the trophy—and the crowd with a performance to remember.
Courtesy of The Sarasota Herald-Tribune March 28, 1960 via Newspapers.com