Jim Turnesa


James R. Turnesa was an American professional golfer and winner of the 1952 PGA Championship, beating Chick Harbert 1-up in the match-play final.

Early life

Turnesa was born in Elmsford, New York, one of seven brothers who became prominent in the golfing world: Phil, Frank, Joe, Mike, Doug, Jim, and Willie. The family was referred to as a "golf dynasty" in a 2000 New York Times article. All but Willie turned professional and Jim was the only one to win a major championship.
The Turnesa brothers were well known for their prowess on the links and they started out as caddies before competing in tournaments. Jim's father Vitale was a head greenskeeper at Fairview Country Club. It was at Fairview that Jim and his brothers would apprentice under the head pro John R. Inglis. So famous did they become as a dynasty of the sport that RKO Pictures filmed a newsreel about them in 1938 labeling the clip "The Golfing Brothers."

Professional career

Turnesa faced and lost to Sam Snead in the 1942 PGA Championship final. In 1948, he held the record for low score in the U.S. Open for about an hour. Ben Hogan and Jimmy Demaret finished later, erasing his record, and he finished third. He won one other PGA Tour event, the 1951 Reading Open.
He was a frequent participant in Westchester member-pro events beating out a duo that included Gene Sarazen in 1947 at a Knollwood Country Club best ball tournament.
Turnesa played on the 1953 Ryder Cup team.
After serving as pro at Briar Hall and Empire State course, he was named the head pro at Ryewood Country Club in 1959 and continued there in the early 1960s.

Death

He died in his home town of lung cancer.

Professional wins (11)

PGA Tour wins (2)

Major championship is shown in bold.
Source:

Other wins (9)

Wins (1)

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

Results timeline

Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
Masters TournamentNTNTNTT37T44T4
U.S. OpenCUTT33NTNTNTNTT393T4
The Open ChampionshipNTNTNTNTNTNT
PGA Championship2NTR16QFR16R64R16

Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters TournamentT46T27T6048T22CUTT35CUT
U.S. OpenT38T17T33CUTCUT
The Open ChampionshipT5
PGA ChampionshipR321R32R64R16R128CUTT38

Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
Masters TournamentT39CUTCUT
U.S. OpenT46CUTCUT
The Open Championship
PGA ChampionshipT32CUTCUTCUTT62CUTCUTCUTT76

NT = no tournament
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 – 27
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3

    U.S. national team appearances

Professional
  • Ryder Cup: 1953
  • Canada Cup: 1953
  • Lakes International Cup: 1952
  • Hopkins Trophy: 1953