Bruce Fleisher

Bruce Lee Fleisher was an American professional golfer.

Early life

Fleisher was born in Union City, Tennessee, and was Jewish.
In 1950, the Fleisher family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Bruce began playing golf with his brothers, Leslie and Jerry. Fleisher became involved in golf at age seven by working as a caddie with his two brothers.
When Bruce was 14, the Fleishers moved to Miami, Florida.

Amateur career

Fleisher attended Miami-Dade Junior College and Furman University. In 1968 at age 19, he became the third-youngest player to win the U.S. Amateur. He also was the low amateur at the 1969 Masters Tournament. He turned professional in 1969.

Professional career

Fleisher won both individual and team gold medals in golf at the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Fleisher spent much of his regular career as a club professional; he won the PGA [Club Professional Championship] in 1989. His regular tournament career was modest, with one win on the PGA Tour, the 1991 New England Classic, and a few wins in minor tournaments.
He was much more successful on the Champions Tour with 18 wins, including one senior major, the 2001 U.S. Senior Open. Fleisher became the first player ever to earn back-to-back victories in his first two Champions Tour events, which helped him win Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in 1999. He also has one win on the European Seniors Tour, which came in 2000 at the Irish Seniors Open.
He served as head coach for the USA Open Golf Team at the 1989 Maccabiah Games and the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Personal life

Fleisher and his wife Wendy lived in the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, area. In 2017, he was inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
Fleisher died of cancer at age 72 on September 23, 2021.