Tom Nieporte Explained

Tom Nieporte
Fullname:Thomas Nieporte
Birth Date:21 October 1928
Birth Place:Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Death Place:Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Weight:185lb
College:Ohio State University
Yearpro:1953
Extour:PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Prowins:11
Pgawins:3
Otherwins:8
Masters:T26: 1965
Usopen:T17: 1958
Open:DNP
Pga:T5: 1964

Thomas Nieporte (October 21, 1928 – December 21, 2014) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.

Nieporte grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill, Ohio. He attended the Ohio State University and was a distinguished member of the golf team, winning the NCAA Championship in 1951. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1983.

Nieporte turned pro in 1953. He played full-time on the PGA Tour for five years, but like most professional golfers of his generation, he spent most of his career earning his living as a club pro. He won three PGA Tour events. The biggest win of his career came in 1967 at the Bob Hope Desert Classic; the Champions Trophy was presented to Nieporte by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bob Hope. His best finish in a major was T5 at the 1964 PGA Championship.[1]

Nieporte co-authored the book "Mind over Golf" with Donald Sauers.

Nieporte was the head pro at Piping Rock Club on Long Island from 1963 to 1978. From 1978 until his retirement in 2006, he was the head pro at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, the site of five U.S. Opens and one PGA Championship. On December 21, 2014, Nieporte died at the age of 86 in Boca Raton, Florida.[2] [3] He was survived by his wife Joan and their nine children.[4]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (11)

PGA Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Aug 23, 1959Rubber City Open Invitational−13 (67-69-65-66=267)3 strokes Bob Goalby
2Apr 3, 1960Azalea Open−11 (64-68-72-73=277)2 strokes
3Feb 5, 1967Bob Hope Desert Classic−11 (76-68-68-68-69=349)1 stroke Doug Sanders

Other wins (8)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Golf Major Championships. 2008-02-11.
  2. News: Longtime Winged Foot head pro Nieporte dies . Golf Channel . December 22, 2014.
  3. Golf loses a class act with the death of longtime Winged Foot head pro Tom Nieporte . Golf Digest . Sam . Weinman . December 23, 2014.
  4. Web site: Three-time Tour winner Nieporte passes away . PGA Tour . December 27, 2014 . Laury . Livsey.