Chick Harbert


Melvin R. "Chick" Harbert was an American professional golfer.

Early life

Harbert was born in Dayton, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

Professional career

Harbert won seven times on the PGA Tour, including one major championship, the 1954 PGA Championship, then a match play event. A three-time finalist, he was also that event's runner-up twice, in 1947 and 1952. Harbert was one of the great PGA Championship match play competitors, compiling a 24–10 record between 1946, his first appearance, and 1957, the final year of the match play format.
In 1949, Harbert played on the Ryder Cup team, winning his singles match against Sam King, 4 and 3, at Ganton Golf Club in Scarborough, England. He was playing-captain of the U.S. team in 1955, with a singles victory against Syd Scott to his credit.
In 1955, he represented the United States at the Canada Cup team competition at Columbia Country Club outside Washington, D.C. He teamed with Ed Furgol, with the duo outdueling Australia's team of Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle by nine strokes. He finished fourth in the individual competition, two strokes out of the Furgol, Thomson and Flory Van Donck playoff that Furgol won.
After turning 50, he made two official Senior PGA Tour appearances. He tied for 43rd at the 1981 Michelob Senior Classic and then tied for 40th in the same tournament the following year. In addition, he played in nine Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf team events, with his top showing a fifth-place performance in the inaugural event in 1978, when he teamed with Bob Toski.

Personal life

He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 77 at his home in Ocala, Florida.

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

Professional wins (19)

PGA Tour wins (6)

Major championship is shown in bold.
Source:

Other wins (13)

this list is probably incomplete

Major championships

Wins (1)

''Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958''

Results timeline

Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
Masters TournamentT33T10NTNTNTT7T343WD
U.S. OpenCUTCUTNTNTNTNTT812T28T23
PGA ChampionshipNTR642QF

Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters TournamentT24T44T5T12T32T40CUTT17T14
U.S. OpenCUTT24T42T34CUTT8T52T26
PGA ChampionshipR16R322R641R32R32R128CUTT28

Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
Masters TournamentT393543CUTCUT
U.S. OpenT31T29CUTT50CUTCUT
PGA ChampionshipT32T52T11CUTT44CUTCUTT67

Tournament1970197119721973
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
PGA ChampionshipWD

Note: Harbert never played in The Open Championship.
LA = low amateur
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

  • Most consecutive cuts made – 12
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3

U.S. national team appearances

Professional