Each year, several amateurs are in the Masters field, each hoping to make their own indelible mark on the tournament. If they’re looking for inspiration, they could do a lot worse than an Oklahoman amateur who holds no fewer than 16 Masters records.
Between 1949 and 1971, Charles Coe made 19 starts in The Masters and rewrote the history books along the way. In fact, that number of starts is one of his records. No other amateur has made more, with only Dick Chapman equalling the number between 1939 and 1962.
Coe’s most impressive record came his way thanks to a sparkling 1961 performance, and it put him in extremely exalted company. Golf experts will likely be able to recall instantly who won that year – Gary Player, who wore the Green Jacket for his first of three victories in the Major.
However, right behind him was another legend, Arnold Palmer, who was edged out by one shot. Level with Palmer was Coe, who wasn’t even knocked out of his stride after heavy rain washed out Sunday’s play, forcing the final round to be replayed on Monday.
That drew Coe level with Frank Stranahan in 1947 and Ken Venturi in 1956 as the only amateurs to finish runner-up at The Masters. It has not been achieved since.
Gary Player edged out Charles Coe (right) by one shot in the 1961 Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Coe’s performance that year also helped him to another record – most top-10 finishes in the tournament for an amateur, three, and only matched by Billy Joe Patton. Coe also finished sixth in 1959 and tied for ninth the year after he was runner-up.
While some of Coe’s records are a little more on the obscure side, each would doubtless be cherished by any amateur teeing it up at Augusta National. For example, he holds the record for the lowest third round for an amateur of 67, which he achieved in 1959, and stood alone with for 23 years, until Jodie Mudd equalled it in 1982.
Coe also shares the record for low middle 36 holes – 140. However, this time, he was not the first to achieve the score. His second and third rounds of 71 and 69 in 1961 drew him level with John Dawson, who achieved it 25 years earlier, in 1936.
Then there is the low last 36-hole record of 138. Once again, Coe equalled an existing score in that same 1961 tournament, which drew him level with Stranahan who had held the record since 1947.
What about the low score for last 54 holes and all 72 holes? Well, Coe comes up trumps again thanks to that 1961 performance. His final three rounds that year…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…