Nelson picked up his 2nd win in San Francisco on this day

Byron Nelson struck gold in San Francisco in 1944, winning there twice in just a calendar year. First it was his victory at the San Francisco Victory Open held in January, just eleven months later. With this victory, Nelson held on with a 281 to squeeze out the close trailing Jim Ferrier, a Sergeant of Camp Roberts California. Ferrier led at the halfway mark of the event but ended up faltering on the final nine. It was was only a momentary slip but enough for Nelson to take over the event.

Nelson takes charge…

Byron Nelson was two shots behind when Ferrier chalked up his third successive eagle 3 on the #12. Nelson gained back one at #13 and then squared the match at #15. He jumped off to a lead on the tournament for the first time at the sixteenth where Ferrier lost 2 strokes by hitting his tee shot out of play. In a last bit effort Ferrier got one back at the #17 but it wasn’t enough. Nelson and Ferrier ended up squaring the final hole and the championship belonged to Nelson.