‘CHAMPAGNE TONY’ DEAD Colourful Golfer Killed In Crash

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 19

‘CHAMPAGNE TONY’ DEAD Colourful Golfer Killed In Crash

(NZ.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) LANSING (Illinois), July 25. “Champagne Tony” Lema, one of America’s leading professional golfers and 1964 British open champion, was killed last night when a plane crashed and burned on the seventh green of the Lansing Sportsmen’s Club.

Ixima, aged 32, was flying to Holiet, Illinois, from Akron, Ohio, where he played earlier in the day in the Professional Golf Association tournament.

"I’ve forced myself to accept the good with the bad,” he once said. Lema won the 1964 British Open by five strokes with a nine-under scratch aggregate of 279 for the 72 holes. He had rounds of 73, 68, 68, and 70. He drifted into golf almost by accident in the casual way he did almost everything. His talent was evident from the beginning but he had the reputation of not being entirely dedicated: of enjoying the good things in life too much. He once celebrated victory in Seattle by driving golf balls from a hotel window.

His wife, Betty, and two other occupants of the private plane also died in the crash.

Lema was scheduled to play tn the one-day Lincolnshire tournament at Crete, Illinois.

The twin-engined plane was piloted by Mrs Doris Mullen, of Illinois.

The colourful golfer earned his nickname because of his habit of buying champagne for the press room when he won tournaments.

Gary Player described him as “perhaps the sweetest swinger of a club since Sammy Snead was showing us the way home. In this age of power; his driving was grace; elegance and sophistication. It also has length and accuracy. He has a full range of all the shots and a control of flight that makes him, for my money, just about the complete golfer.” Above Hopes Lema was in such a hurry to catch the plane in which | he died that he left his golf shoes Ln his locker in Akron. After his last tournament win, the Oklahoma City open, Lema said: “If I never win again, I won’t be so disappointed it will kill me, because golf has been good to me. I’ve won more than I ever hoped to win.” Also killed in the crash were the pilot, Mrs Mullen, and the co-opilot, Dr. G. Bard. The plane belonged to Mainline Aviation, Inc., owned by Mis Mullen’s husband, Dr. W. Mullen, and Dr. Bard.

During the 1962 Orange County open tournament in California he told reporters that if he won “we’ll have champagne in here.” He did win, in a three-hole, sudden-death play-off. There was champagne in the press room and he was immediately dubbed “Champagne Tony.” Born on the San Francisco waterfront. Lema was a shipyard worker before he served as a marine.

moved to fifteenth on the P.G.A. money list, and won four tournaments, including his first two official titles. In the next three years he won six more official tides—in 1964 taking the Bing Crosby open, the British Open at his first attempt, and the World Series of Golf.

He turned professional in 1955 but did not win more than 12.000 dollars in any of his first five seasons. In 1962 he took his official earnings to 28,923 dollars.

He did not do well in yesterday’s P.G.A.. earning only 775 dollars with a score of 275.

Lema credited his “winning mental attitude” for his emergence as a tournament star.

Witnesses said the plane, a twin-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, burst into flames while a landing attempt was being made on the Lansing Sportsmen's Club golf course. It skidded into a small lake. Dr. Bard and Mrs Mullen, aged 45, left Joliet Municipal Airport at 2 p.m. for CantonAkron airport to bring Lema, aged 32, and his wife for tomorrow's tournament and promotional activities.

The Federal Aviation Agency spokesman said there had been no radio contact with the plane.