Bill Israelson
Bill Israelson is an American professional golfer. Israelson had an exemplary amateur career, culminating with three consecutive victories at the Minnesota State Amateur in the late 1970s. He struggled in making it onto the PGA Tour, however, failing in four consecutive attempts at q-school. In the interim he played primarily on the Asia Golf Circuit, recording a win at the 1985 Thailand Open. Shortly thereafter, Israelson made it onto the PGA Tour but he did not have much success, playing for only two seasons on tour. For the remainder of his career, Israelson primarily worked as a club pro though still played in some well-publicized midwestern events, notably winning the Minnesota Senior PGA Professional Championship six times.
Early life
Israelson was born in Brainerd, Minnesota. Israelson is from Bemidji, Minnesota. Israelson started caddying at Bemidji Town Country Club at the age of 10. Much later in life he said, “I worked my way up from a caddy, to the shoeshine guy and just about every other job." Larry Perkins, a high school teacher and notable golfer from Bemidji, served as his mentor during his early years. At the age of 13, he won the club championship at Lost River Golf Course in Gonvick, Minnesota.Israelson was on the golf team and hockey team at Bemidji High School. He was considered a "standout" player on the hockey team. He eventually became one of the captains. In addition, Israelson received much media attention for his play on the golf team. During his sophomore year, in the spring of 1973, he received media attention for one of the first times. At the two-round high school state golf tournament, Israelson shot an opening round 72 to put him in a tie for fourth place among individuals, two back of the lead. At the end of the school year he played well at the state championship. During the summer he won the Birchmont and Bagley shortstops. His win at Birchmont was "his first noteworthy victory." In August, he played the two-round Minnesota Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament in Hastings, Minnesota. Israelson won the event at 142, defeating Brad Cook of Northfield, Minnesota.
In April 1974, the golf season began for Bemidji High School. Early in the season, Israelson was the medalist at several events. Due to his good performances, Israelson was honored as a "letter winner" at Bemidji High School. Shortly thereafter, the Bemidji team won the Region 8 title, defeating second-place holder Roseau once again. On June 6, the Lumberjacks started play at the Minnesota state championship. According to The Pioneer, Bemidji's town newspaper, Israelson was now considered the team's "leader." Later in the month, they easily defeated the Mahnomen golf team by 20 strokes at the opposition's home course. Israelson was medalist at the event. In the summer, after the school year had ended, he was slated to attempt to defend his Birchmont championship. He was considered one of the "top contenders." However, he lost to Gary McDonald in the first round. He did go on to win the Championship Consolation, though, defeating Colonel N.A. Lucas of Riverside, California. In early August, he played the State Junior Golf Tournament. The event was held at Gross National Golf Club. Israelson opened with a 75 to put him several shots back of the lead. However, he closed with an even-par 71 to finish in a tie for fourth. Overall, the Bemidji team finished seven shots back at 442. The following week he played the two-round Minnesota Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament. The event was held at Virginia Municipal Golf Course in Virginia, Minnesota. Israelson played against over 120 competitors in defense of his championship. On the final hole, Israelson made a 15-foot birdie putt to win the event by one over Tom Harper. In the late summer, he also won the Park Rapids big Heartland shortstop, Vandersluis Memorial, and Tianna shortstop.
During his senior year, Israelson continued to produce highlights. Israelson was medalist at several high school events early in the season. In late May, the Bemidji High School team won the District 25 title. With the win the Bemidji team qualified for the Region 8 meet. Israelson also qualified as an individual. In early June, the team played the two-round Minnesota high school golf tournament. The event was in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota Golf Course. The team competition was determined in the first round. Israelson had the low score among individuals, with a 70, and Bemidji won the team title. The individual competition was completed the next day. With his 70, Israelson had a two stroke lead. However, he "skated" to a second round 78, finishing solo third, five back. In the summer he played the Minnesota State Amateur for the first time. He finished in fourth place.
Amateur career
At the end of his senior year of high school The Star Tribune reported that Israelson would be attending Lamar University in Texas for college. He earned a golf scholarship. In the late winter of 1976, during the middle of his freshman year, Israelson received media attention for the first time as a university student-athlete. In February, he played the Pan American International Tournament in Monterrey, Mexico. At the "elite" event, he finished in fourth place. The following month, in March, he recorded a 5th place finish at the Border Olympics golf competition. Israelson received much praise for his performance over the course of the year. His coach, Dan Rogas, stated, "I may be going out on a limb in saying this, but Israelson is the best freshman golfer I've ever had at this state in this state of his career." He was referred to by The Port Arthur News as the number one player on the team.In the summer, he returned to Minnesota. In July, he played the Minnesota State Amateur. He opened with rounds of 69 to take the lead. Though he started the final round poorly, bogeying three of the first five holes, but came back strongly, birdieing the 6th hole and playing even-par from there. He won by seven shots. "Heck, he just annihilated the field," said leading competitor Larry Johnson. Later in the summer, he won a significant match play event in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the Pine to Palm tournament.
Israelson soon returned to Lamar for his sophomore year. In April 1977, he played the three-round Louisiana Tech Invitational. He recorded a 212 total, four-under-par, to win the event. It was "his first collegiate tournament victory." Overall, Israelson remained the number one player on Lamar's team over the course of the year. He had the best scoring average on the team during this era.
After his sophomore year concluded, he returned to Minnesota. Over the course of the summer he went on a great winning streak. In early June, he played a 7up tournament at Edina Country Club. Israelson won his individual and team match. Roughly a month later he played the Pebble Lake shortstop. He shot an even-par 72 to win the event by three shots. Later in the month, he played in the amateur division of the three-round XX tournament. The event was held at Oxbow Country Club in Fargo, North Dakota. Israelson opened with a 67 which was "believed to be a course record." He finished at 212 to defeat Rob Dahm, who defeated him at the Birchmont the previous year, by three shots. Later in the month he played the three-round Minnesota Amateur. The first round was bookended by triple-bogeys "yet still managed to shoot a 77." In the second round he shot a 72 to put himself three back, in a tie for third. In the final round, Israelson birdied three of the first four holes to get closer to the lead. He later stated, "I got off to that good start and knew I was going to score well." By the turn he was tied for the lead. On the 11th hole, Israelson made an 18-foot birdie putt to take the solo lead for the first time. His primary competitor Rick Benshoof bogeyed the next three holes "to drop back." Israelson subsequently birdied the 15th and 16th holes to assure the win. He won by eight strokes. "He's fantastic," Benshoof stated after the round about Israelson. "He's the best I've seen around here in a long time." It was Israelson's seventh straight victory. The following week he won the Mille Lacs Invitational. It was his "8th straight title." However, his win streak ended at the Birchmont International as he was "upset" by Miles Prestimon in the third round. Two weeks later, however, he won again, successfully defending his Pine to Palm championship.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to Lamar. In October, he played the Morton Braswell collegiate golf tournament. The event was held in Huntington Park Golf Course in Shreveport, Louisiana. Israelson shot rounds of 74 and 73 to lead Lamar's team and finish in a tie for fourth overall, only behind Hal Sutton, Bill Pierot, and Mark Powell. Later in the academic year, he competed in the Sunnehanna Amateur. Playing among a field of 55, he finished in a tie for 13th.
Israelson soon returned to Minnesota. In mid-July he played the three-round Minnesota State Amateur. In the first round he shot a 73. In the second round, played the same day in the afternoon, he shot 70, the round of the day. He was one back of leader Chris Perry. In the final round, his main competitor, Perry, played poorly, opening doors to the field. On the 14th hole, Israelson two-putted for birdie "to gain control of the tourney." With his even-par 72, he defeated Perry by three. He became the first person to win the event three times consecutively since Jimmy Johnston in the 1920s. Israelson also won 1978 Minnesota Golf Association Player of Year Award.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to Lamar. In October, he played the Morton Braswell Fall Classic at Shreveport Country Club. Israelson finished in a tie for fifth place only behind champion Hal Sutton, runner-up Fred Couples, third place finisher David Ogrin, and Peter Winkler. In the spring, he played the three-round Spring Intercollegiate Golf Tournament hosted by North Texas University in Denton, Texas. In the first round Israelson shot an even-par 71 to put him near the lead. In the second round, "despite brisk North winds," Israelson was able to shoot one-under-par to tie Southern Methodist's Payne Stewart for the lead. Playing against "steady rain" in the final round, however, Israelson was unable to match Stewart's 71, shooting a 75 to fall into a tie for second place.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to Minnesota. In July, he received much attention for his play at the Birchmont International. He made it to the finals where he played Mark Norman of Edina, Minnesota. Norman eagled the second and third holes to take a quick lead "which Israelson had to fight against the rest of the round." Israelson, however, managed to tie Norman late on the back nine. Norman then made his only bogey of the round on the 18th hole giving Israelson a 1 up win and the championship. Overall, Israelson shot a 66 in the round. The following year, Israelson nearly successfully defended his Birchmont championship, losing to Steve Herzog in the finals, 2 & 1. Israelson soon responded with a victory at the 1980 Pine to Palm tournament though.