Abe Espinosa | |
Fullname: | Abelard George Espinosa |
Birth Date: | 9 February 1889 |
Birth Place: | Monterey, California |
Death Place: | San Luis Obispo County, California |
Status: | Professional |
Extour: | PGA Tour |
Prowins: | 4 |
Pgawins: | 3 |
Otherwins: | 1 |
Masters: | T38: 1934 |
Usopen: | T7: 1924 |
Open: | DNP |
Pga: | T5: 1926, 1931 |
Abelard George "Abe" Espinsosa (February 9, 1889 – February 13, 1980) was an American professional golfer who is best known as the first Hispanic-American to win a significant professional championship.[1]
Born in Monterey, California, Espinosa was of Mexican-American descent, a club professional in Oakland, Chicago (Columbian Golf Club and Medinah Country Club), and at Shreveport Country Club in Louisiana, where one of his caddies was future U.S. Open Champion Tommy Bolt. Espinosa's younger brother Al (1891–1957) was also a professional golfer; both were known for their dashing, stylish attire on the links.[2]
Espinosa's first PGA Tour win came at the Western Open in 1928.[3] His best finish in a major was a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open in 1924.[4] After his playing days were over, he became involved in golf course architecture and design; his works include Heart River Municipal Golf Course in Dickinson, North Dakota.