Marc Turnesa Puts Famous Family Back In Spotlight
Sunday October 19, 2008
PGA Tour rookie Marc Turnesa won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Sunday in Las Vegas. Not many golf fans know the Turnesa name anymore, but it was once one of the best-known names in golf.
Marc Turnesa's grandfather was named Mike, and Mike had brothers. Lots of brothers. And all of them played golf:
- Mike Turnesa: 6 PGA Tour wins; runner-up at 1948 PGA Championship to Ben Hogan
- Jim Turnesa: Winner of 1952 PGA Championship
- Joe Turnesa: 15 PGA Tour wins
- Willie Turnesa: Only one of the brothers not to turn pro, he won the U.S. Amateur in 1938 and 1947, and the British Amateur in 1947
And there were three other Turnesa brothers who turned pro and played on the PGA Tour, Phil, Frank and Doug.
Imagine being a part of that family and not playing golf.
While the golf gene may have skipped a generation, it's shown up again in Marc, who said after his win Sunday:
"I don't really feel like I'm carrying on a name. I guess I am without even thinking about it. I'm just trying to play golf as best I can and that's all I can really do."
Comments
I really had not heard about that bit of information before. What is really surprising is that after having so many names in the list of successful golfers on the PGA Tour, one entire generation did not manage to excel in Golf? I have heard of so many tales of famous fathern-son golfers but even more tales of the uncle-nephew combination. In the Tunesa family it seems a number of combinations could have worked out but surprisingly it did not happen.
But I think the big thing about Marc’s win this week is the number of first time winners coming through. I guess it is that time of the year where a lot of new names emerge. It was around this time last year that Daniel Chopra registers his first win on tour and very soon before anyone realized, he went on to win in the field of champions and now starts as one of the likely candidates to win in each tournament. Not bad for someone who did not have a win till a year back. I guess what I am trying to say is that it provides a great opportunity to some of the journeymen on tour to suddenly be noticed and be taken seriously.
Cheers
Andy
It is nice seeing the name again in the golfing world. I grew up in Albany, NY and was able to caddie a private course(Wolfert’s Roost) and at the time I didn’t know who he was but later found out. He was one of the Turnesa’s. He was so nice and he made the game interesting. If I remember correctly he was a Pro at one of the private courses in the Tri-city area. I think Cohoes CC. Anyway he was one of many local pros that would come and play the Roost.