Demaret & Hogan win Miami Four Ball; 2nd Year Straight

By: Mark Baron

On March 9, 1947 Ben Hogan teamed with Jimmy Demaret to win their second consecutive Miami Four-Ball Tournament at the Miami Spring Course in Florida and earned $1,250.00 each. The Hogan/Demaret team defeated Lloyd Mangrum and Lawson Little 3-2 in the finals. Neither Sam Snead nor Byron Nelson participated in the tournament. Ben won this event three times, twice teaming with Demaret and once with Gene Sarazen.

In the first round Hogan-Demaret shot a best ball 10-under par 62 to take a 4-up lead after the first 18 holes over Jimmy Thomson and Jimmy Hines and finished with a 4-3 victory. Other matches included Jim Ferrier and Fred Haas, Jr defeating Ed Oliver and George Fazio 3-2. Dick Metz and Chick Harbert defeated Henry Ransom and Lew Worsham 3-2. E. J. Harrison and Bob Hamilton defeated Vic Ghezzi and Harold McSpaden 1-up. Lloyd Mangrum and Lawson Little defeated Charles Ward and Dai Rees 5-4. Toney Penna and George Schoux defeated Clayton Heafner and Johnny Palmer 5-4. Johnny Bulla and Harry Todd defeated Ellsworth Vines and Ed Furgol in 43 holes. Sam Byrd and Johnny Revolta defeated Herman Barron and Herman Keiser 2-1.

In the second round Hogan and Demaret defeated Ferrier and Haas 5 and 4. Hogan and Demaret were 13 under par for the 32 holes they played, including 10 birdies and an eagle. In other matches Metz and Harbert won 4 and 3 over E. J. Harrison and Hamilton. Mangrum and Little defeated Penna and Schoux 5 and 4. Byrd and Revolta defeated Bulla and Todd 4 and 2.

In the semifinals Hogan and Demaret defeated Metz and Harbert 1-up and Mangrum Little defeated Byrd Revolta 2-up.

In the 36 hole final match Hogan-Demaret defeated Mangrum-Little 3-2 for their second consecutive victory in this event. In typical Hogan style, the victory was steady birdie and par golf that had the interest of approximately 5,000 fans who watched.

The first two holes were halved in birdie and par.

Little knocked in a 15-footer on the third for a birdie for a one-up advantage.

They halved the next three holes with pars.

On the seventh hole Mangrum chipped in from off the green 40- feet from the cup for an eagle three and a half a case of rum to give them a two-up advantage. Ben came up short and missed an easy putt to tie.

On the eight hole Ben did not come up short and knocked in a putt to cut the lead to one. Ben was quoted, “You know, I never saw a hole come up to meet the ball, yet.”

The ninth was halved with birdie threes.

The next four holes were halved with pars.

On the 14th hole, Ben’s approach shot hit the flag stick and holed out for a birdie three to square the match.

The 16th hole was halved with birdie fours as both Hogan and Little missed 10-foot putts for eagles.

Little won the 17th with an easy three to give them a one-up advantage.

The long 18th hole was halved with birdie four’s and the defending champions went to lunch one down, the first time they were ever behind this week.

In the afternoon round Demaret and Little halved the first hole with birdies.

They halved the 19th hole with pars.

On the 20th hole, Hogan hit his second shot to the green from the rough. Little from under a small tree knocked his ball out of bounds and Mangrum bogied from a sand trap squaring up the match.

The 22nd hole was halved in par four’s.

The 25th hole both Hogan and Demaret were on the green in two and Little and Mangrum were off the green. Both failed to get up and down for par giving the Hogan Demaret team the lead for the first time in the match.

They halved the next three holes.

Mangrum and Little bogied the 28th hole to fall two down.

Ben birdied the 31st hole and his team went three-up.

They halved the next three holes ending the match winning by 3 and 2.

Over a span of 135 holes the Hogan/Demaret played over the four day tournament, they carded an amazing 56 holes under par.