8 Golf Players Who Passed Away 2018

8 Golf Players Who Passed Away 2018

Gus Andreone

John Augustus “Gus” Andreone, born in Philadelphia in 1911, carved his name into golf history as the oldest living member of the PGA of America until his passing in 2018 at age 107. Andreone began caddying at age 10 and turned professional by his late teens, earning PGA membership in 1929. In 1928, he was appointed head professional at Cedar Ridge Country Club in New Jersey—a position he held with unwavering dedication for more than nine decades. Renowned for his meticulous swing analysis and patient teaching style, Andreone mentored generations of amateurs and touring pros, guiding local talent to sectional titles and USGA appearances. Even after celebrating his 100th birthday, he remained a fixture at Cedar Ridge’s practice tee, offering tips, signing scorecards, and sharing stories of golf’s golden era. His longevity on the bag and the green earned him invitations to PGA of America centennial celebrations and numerous hall‑of‑fame honors. Andreone is survived by his granddaughter, Carolyn “Carrie” Fields, herself a golf instructor, and a legacy of passion, perseverance, and profound influence on the game he served for more than 90 years.

Celia Arozamena

Celia Barquín Arozamena, born July 6, 1996, in Puente San Miguel, Cantabria, Spain, emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young golfers before her tragic death at 22. A prodigious talent from an early age, she captured the 2018 European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in July, edging out a competitive field with poise and precision. Soon after, she began her collegiate career at Iowa State University, where she quickly became a standout on the women’s golf team, earning All‑Big 12 honors and leading the Cyclones to their first-ever NCAA regional appearance. On August 17, 2018, while practicing alone at the Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa, Celia was brutally murdered, sending shockwaves through the international golf community. Tributes poured in from teammates, coaches and rival professionals, all mourning not only her immense skill and competitive spirit but her warmth, dedication and infectious smile. Remembered for her courage, kindness and unyielding passion for the game, Celia Barquín Arozamena’s legacy endures as an inspiration to young athletes around the world.

Keith Jackson

Legendary American sportscaster Keith Jackson, whose resonant baritone and folksy catchphrases became synonymous with college football for more than half a century, passed away in 2018 at the age of 89. Born on October 18, 1928, in Roopville, Georgia, Jackson began his broadcasting career in radio before joining ABC Sports in 1961. Over the decades, he narrated countless iconic moments—“Whoa, Nellie!” echoing through stadiums as he called Rose Bowls, Sugar Bowls and national championship games—bringing drama, warmth and a genuine appreciation for the athletes he introduced. Beyond the gridiron, Jackson’s versatile career included calls of Olympic events, Major League Baseball and professional bowling, yet it was college football that he defined, earning him the moniker “the dean of college football broadcasters.” An avid amateur enthusiast, he relished the camaraderie of small‑town Friday night games, often attending local matchups to stay grounded in the sport’s roots. Married to Barbara Gibson for over 50 years, he is survived by their four children and seven grandchildren. Jackson’s enduring legacy lies not only in the thousands of broadcasts he delivered but in a timeless style that blended excitement with authenticity, forever shaping the way America experiences its greatest game.

Jarrod Lyle

Jarrod Lyle, born August 21, 1981, in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, was a gifted golfer whose perseverance both on and off the course inspired peers and fans worldwide. Turning professional in 2001, Lyle claimed two Web.com Tour victories—the 2008 Legend Financial Group Classic and the 2012 Midwest Classic—earning his place among the elite on golf’s developmental circuit. His breakthrough onto the PGA Tour showcased moments of brilliance, including near-misses at the Northern Trust and gradual rise through Monday qualifiers. Lyle’s courage transcended sport: first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2007, he fought bravely through treatment to return to competition, only to face a second diagnosis in 2012. Despite ongoing health challenges, he continued to compete, inspiring the golfing community with his trademark grin and unwavering spirit. Off the course, Lyle remained deeply devoted to family and philanthropy, supporting cancer research and mentoring young Australian golfers. He passed away on August 8, 2018, at age 36, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, hope and the reminder that true victory often lies in the fight itself.

Oliver Fezler

Forrest Oliver Fezler was an American professional golfer who enjoyed a standout run on the PGA Tour in the early 1970s. Born September 23, 1949 in Hayward, California, Fezler turned pro in 1969 and earned PGA Rookie of the Year honors in 1973. His career year came in 1974, when he captured his lone Tour title at the Southern Open and finished a stroke behind Hale Irwin in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, marking the best major showing of his career with a runner‑up finish . A trailblazer both on and off the course, Fezler famously protested the USGA’s strict dress code at the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont by slipping into “Larry Bird‑length” shorts before the final hole, an act of defiance that would become golf lore . After stepping back from full‑time competition in 1983, he reinvented himself as a golf‑course designer, partnering with Mike Strantz and later creating his own Golden Eagle layout in Tallahassee, Florida . Fezler’s life was cut short at age 69 after a battle with brain cancer; he passed away in Tallahassee on December 21, 2018, leaving behind a legacy of both competitive excellence and creative vision in course architecture.

Jack Vickers

Jack Vickers, born in Chicago in 1928, was a visionary golf entrepreneur whose passion for the game reshaped Colorado’s landscape and left an indelible mark on Augusta National. After graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in economics, Vickers pursued a career in real estate development, ultimately conceiving Castle Pines Golf Club in 1981. Drawing on traditional Scottish links principles and collaborating with architect Jack Nicklaus, he crafted a 7,200‑yard masterpiece that hosted PGA Tour events and became a proving ground for champions. Beyond Colorado, Vickers’s deep love for golf earned him membership at Augusta National, where he attended numerous Masters Tournaments, forging friendships with the sport’s elite. A devoted husband and father of four, he championed youth golf initiatives and underwrote scholarships for aspiring players. Vickers passed away peacefully on August 15, 2018, at age 90, survived by his wife, Margaret, their children, and nine grandchildren. His commitment to course design, philanthropy, and the spirit of competition endures in every fairway he envisioned.

James R. Hand

James R. Hand, often hailed as the USGA’s “greatest president,” died on November 13, 2018, in Manchester, Vermont, at the age of 101. Born January 12, 1917, in Cutchogue, New York, Hand’s love affair with golf began at age eight, when he chose caddying over potato picking to help support his family. A teenage aspirant to the priesthood and later a decorated World War II Army veteran stationed in England—where he met his wife, Betty—Hand spent decades as a respected banker in Westchester, New York, before turning his talents to golf administration. Elected to the USGA Executive Committee in 1975, he served as Secretary (1978), Vice President (1980), and ultimately as the Association’s 48th president from 1984 to 1985. During his tenure, he led a landmark capital campaign for turfgrass research, oversaw the construction of the USGA Research & Test Center, and administered a major reorganization of the Rules of Golf, earning a reputation as the sport’s moral compass and “guardian of the spirit of the game” . He is remembered for his integrity, self‑deprecating humor, and unwavering commitment to sportsmanship, qualities that continue to guide the USGA today .

Shelley Hamlin

Shelley Lee Hamlin was an American professional golfer whose career spanned three decades and whose pioneering achievements helped elevate women’s golf. Born May 28, 1949 in San Mateo, California, Hamlin dominated the amateur ranks—winning four consecutive California Women’s Amateur Championships from 1967 to 1970, capturing the 1971 AIAW national collegiate title at Stanford University, and representing the United States on back‑to‑back Curtis Cup (1968, 1970) and Espirito Santo Trophy (1966, 1968) teams . As a teen, she carded low-amateur honors and a ninth-place finish in the 1966 U.S. Women’s Open . Turning professional in 1972, she joined the LPGA Tour and notched three wins—at the 1978 Patty Berg Classic, the 1992 Phar‑Mor at Inverrary shortly after recovering from breast cancer surgery, and the 1993 ShopRite Classic—and earned the LPGA William & Mousie Powell Award and Heather Farr Player Award for her perseverance and sportsmanship . A 2002 Legends Tour winner and 1971 Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Hamlin battled breast cancer twice before succumbing at age 69 in Phoenix, Arizona, leaving a legacy of resilience, competitive spirit, and service to women’s sports.