National Championship History
Year by Year: 1960's

2000's

1990's

1980's

1970's

1960's

1969: It's "Rossi" by a sneeze

Champion: Bob Rosburg, St. Louis, Mo.
Site: Roadrunner Golf Resort, San Marcos Country Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Date: Nov. 13-16, 1969
Course: Roadrunner; Par: 71 (6,930 yards)
Course: San Marcos; Par: 72 (6,497 yards)
Purse: $50,000
Entries: 248, Cut at 146 (93 players advanced)

Bob Rosburg and Jimmy Wright battled down to the wire for the second annual PGA Club Professional Championship at The Roadrunner Resort in 1969 Scottsdale, Ariz. Nursing a one-stroke lead and standing in the 18th fairway, Rosburg watched as Wright faced a 30-inch par putt. Just as Wright was about to strike the ball, a woman spectator sneezed. Wright flinched, and his ball rolled weakly off the left side of the cup. He ended with a bogey. Rosburg, who won the PGA Championship in 1968, followed by approaching safely to the side of the green, chipped on and two-putted for a one-stroke victory. Rosburg didn’t return to Tour golf until 1975, when he became an on-course reporter for ABC Sports. Wright, who later became a head professional in Osprey, Fla., continued impressive play. In 1970, he became the last PGA Professional to compete in all four major championships in the same calendar year.

	Average of courses	Rounds of 70 & under	Round leader	Bob Rosburg
Rd. 1	74.1	30	66 - Jimmy Wright	71 - T30th
Rd. 2	74.0	29	133 - Jimmy Wright	137 - (66) 2nd
Rd. 3	72.3	27	203 - Jimmy Wright, Bob Roseburg	203 - (66) T1st
Rd. 4	74.6	7	275 - Bob Roseburg	275 - (72) 1st
Totals	73.89	93

1968: Just call me "Ralph"

Champion: Howell Fraser, West Caldwell, N.J.
Site: Century Country Club, Roadrunner Country Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Date: Dec. 5-8, 1968
Course: Century; Par: 72 (6,783 yards)
Course: Roadrunner; Par: 71 (6,930 yards)
Purse: $50,000
Entries: 207, Cut at 147 (95 players advanced)

The PGA Club Professional Championship was born in 1968, and contested at The Century and Roadrunner Country Clubs in Scottsdale, Ariz. The showcase event for PGA Professionals debuted with a talented field containing such notables as former Tour professionals Tommy Bolt, Bob Rosburg and Mike Souchak. But, it was a 28-year-old assistant professional from the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J., Howell Fraser,w ho earned the right to hoist the Walter Hagen Cup. Fraser finished with a final- round,picked up a first-place check of $8,000 and credited his experienced caddie, Ralph, for inspiring him to a strong performance. Fraser met Ralph in the parking lot before the Championship. A veteran Tour caddie, Ralph needed a job and Fraser quickly agreed. Fraser ’s 14-under-par 272 defeated Rosburg and Chuck Malchaski by four strokes. "I wish I had been able to use Ralph again in later years," Fraser said. "I never learned his last name."

	Average of courses	Rounds of 70 & under	Round leader	Howell Fraser
Rd. 1	74.2	33	66 - Chuck Malchaski, Don Bies	72 - T50th
Rd. 2	74.4	31	134 - Chuck Malchaski	138 - (66) T3rd
Rd. 3	72.6	21	203 - Howell Fraser	203 - (65) 1st
Rd. 4	72.8	22	272 - Howell Fraser	272 - (69) 1st
Totals	73.73	107