Don Bliss, Jim Holtgrieve Voted Into the Missouri Golf Association Hall of Fame
Jefferson City, Missouri (December 9, 2013)
At their annual meeting, The Board of Directors of the Missouri Golf Association voted unanimously to induct prominent St. Louisamateurs Don Bliss and Jim Holtgrieve into their Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be June 23rd during the playing of the 2014 Missouri Amateur at Norwood Hills CC (West Course).
Don Bliss has won a record-tying four Missouri State Amateur Championships. He joins Jim Manion, Bob Cochran, Tom Watson, and Jim Jackson in that illustrious group of decoratedMissourigolfers. He has qualified for 29 USGA Championships, including 15 US Amateurs and 5 US Mid-Amateurs. Don holds a USGA record that will be hard to surpass: he made two holes-in-one in a 1985 US Mid-Amateur qualifying round at Brook Hollow CC. Others have made multiple aces in their USGA qualifying history-but none have made two in a single round. Don’s golf ball from that round can be found in theUSGAMuseuminFar Hills,NJ.
Don, upon learning of the MGA honor, said, “It is obviously a great honor to be named to the Hall of Fame and to be included in a group of great players such as Jim Holtgrieve, Bob Cochran, Tom Watson, Jim Jackson, and many more. I greatly appreciate the fact that the MGA promotes the game the way they do throughout the state ofMissouri. To be recognized in this way is very special for me and my family.”
It seems Jim Holtgrieve’s name will always be linked to the US Mid-Amateur Championship. In June, 1981 he won his second Missouri Amateur and followed that victory by winning the inaugural USGA Mid-Amateur at Bellerive in October. Jim was instrumental in bringing that first Mid-Am to Bellerive, as he believed it was time to have a USGA championship for the “working” amateur golfer of 25 and over. It was quite an accomplishment to serve as the de facto host for that first Mid-amateur and then go on to win the championship, 2-up over Bob Lewis. Jim’s Hogan 1-iron from that championship now resides in theUSGAMuseum.
Holtgrieve served as US Walker Cup Team Captain in 2011 in a losing effort to GB&I inScotland. He was again named Captain for 2013 and this past September led his team to a 17-9 victory over GB&I at the National Golf Links of America. He said, “I am honored and humbled to be named to the MGA Hall of Fame and proud to be going in the same year as Don.”
MGA Executive Director Scott Hovis, commented on the action of his Board of Directors. “It’s impossible to think of two more deserving individuals for our Hall of Fame class of 2014. Their respective championship records are simply staggering. More importantly, Don and Jim exemplify the true spirit of amateur golf inMissouriand throughout theUS. They have been, and will continue to be, great ambassadors for our game.”
About the Missouri Golf Association
Founded in 1905, the Missouri Golf Association (MGA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf throughoutMissouri. The MGA conducts 10 statewide Championships each year and also conducts a number of Junior and Senior events. In conjunction with the USGA, it also offers the GHIN handicap service to over 100 golf facilities acrossMissouri.
Scott Hovis
Executive Director
Don Bliss (MGA)
Bliss played college golf at Oklahoma State from 1972-74. Individual Big 8 Champions in 73, Honorable mention All-American 74, 8th at 1974 NCAA.
Bliss played in his first MGA Amateur in 1972 at the age of 21 and clinched his first and one of four Amateur Champion Titles. In 72, 83, 86 when he finished 1st at the qualifier he also went on to win the Amateur Championship.
He was MGA Senior Player of the Year 5 times and he has qualified for 29 USGA Championships.
Below is Don’s Tournament History by Jack Garvin, historian, MGA Board of Directors
Missouri Amateur
(Qualifying results)
1972 1st Westwood………………… 75-75 – 150
1973 Jefferson City CC……………. Exempt
1974 1st Twin Hills………………… 65-70 – 135
1975 2nd Indian Hills……………….. 67-75 – 142
1976 4th St. Joseph CC……………. 73-73 – 146
1982 1st Kansas City CC……….. 73-68 – 141
1983 1st Jefferson City CC…….. 71-73 – 144
1984 Bellerive………………………… Exempt
1985 5th Twin Oaks………………… 75-73 – 148
1986 1st Oakwood…………………. 67-68 – 135
1987 3rd Westwood…………………. 74-71 – 145
1988 3rd St. Joseph CC……………. 73-73 – 146
1989 2nd Lodge of the 4 Seasons…….. Exempt
1990 2nd Hallbrook………………….. 74-72 – 146
1991 15th Highland Springs……….. 74-74 – 148
1992 6th CC at the Legends……… 72-74 – 146
1993 2nd Jefferson City CC………. 70-71 – 141
1994 8th Milburn…………………….. 73-71 – 144
1995 2nd CC of St. Albans………… 71-69 – 140
1996 1st Hickory Hills……………. 71-71 – 142
1997 3rd Kansas City CC…………. 73-71 – 144
1999 14th Highland Springs……….. 72-77 – 149
2001 23rd Sunset………………………. 73-78 – 151
2002 25th Twin Oaks………………… 72-74 – 146
2003 2nd Hickory Hills…………….. 73-69 – 142
2004 15th Persimmon Woods……… 73-71 – 144
2005 47th Millwood………………….. 74-74 – 148
2008 18th Winghaven………………… 71-77 – 148
2010 53rd Twin Oaks………………… 72-75 – 147
Missouri Amateur Champion
1972 Westwood………… def Richard Dalton 6&4
1983 Jefferson City CC……..def Stan Utley 2&1
1986 Oakwood………….def Mike Freed 1 up (38)
1988 St. Joseph CC…………def John Valuck 8&7
Missouri Amateur Won-Loss record of 49-25
MGA Mid Amateur Champion: 1996, 1997
Missouri 4 Ball Champion: 1992, 1995
MGA Senior 4-Ball Champion: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007
Dawson Champion: 1986, 1990, 1995
Dawson Senior Champion: 2012
Phil Cotton Champion: 1999
Phil Cotton Senior Champion: 2007, 2008
Ozark Senior Champion: 2010
Payne Stewart Senior Champion: 2010
Qualified for 29 USGA Championships
15 US Amateurs
5 US Mid-Amateurs
Runner-Up, stroke play, US Mid-Amateur
4 U.S. Sr. Amateurs
1 US Open
2 US Senior Open
Two hole in ones in same USGA round
1987 US Mid-Am. ( USGA record )
Made the cut at the 1981 Los Angeles Open
at Riviera, as an amateur
Jim Holtgrieve (Mummert/USGA)
Holtgrieve played in his first MGA Amateur in 1976 at the age of 29 and clinched his first Amateur Champion Title in 1978 at Sunset CC and again at Norwood Hills CC in 1981.
Below is Jim’s Tournament History by Jack Garvin, historian, MGA Board of Directors
Missouri Amateur
(Qualifying: Medalist 3 times, Runner Up 5 times.)
1976 1st St. Joseph CC…………..70-75 – 145
1977 2nd CC of Missouri…………..72-70 – 142
1978 1st Sunset………………………67-74 – 141
1979 2nd Wolf Creek………………..74-79 – 153
1981 3rd Norwood Hills……………78-69 – 147
1982 3rd Kansas City CC………….68-74 – 142
1984 1st Bellerive…………………..73-72 – 145
1987 10th Westwood………………….72-77 – 149
1989 2nd Lodge of 4 Seasons…….72-70 – 142
1990 6th Hallbrook………………….78-72 – 150
1992 2nd CC at the Legends………74-67 – 141
1993 4th Jefferson City CC……….71-71 – 142
1995 2nd CC of St. Albans………..72-68 – 140
1996 7th Hickory Hills……………..74-74 – 148
1997 39th Kansas City CC………….75-77 – 152
1998 25th Lake Forest………………..76-74 – 150
Missouri Amateur Champion
1978 Sunset………….def Spencer Sappinton 6&5
1981 Norwood Hills…….def Dennis Moore 3&1
.
Missouri Amateur Won-Loss record of 34-15
Missouri Four Ball Champion 1989 with Jim Mason 1990 with Jim Mason
Ozark Invitational Champion
1983 72-70 – 142
1984 72-68 – 140
1985 70-67 – 137
1988 67-71 – 138
45 USGA Championships
US Amateur
1980 – semifinalist
1983 – quarterfinalist
U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion
1981 at Bellerive CC, St. Louis
U.S. Open
1978 2nd low amateur
at Cherry Hills, Denver
79-71-78-76 – 304
The Masters
1980 T44 74-72-77-70 – 293
1981 47th 70-77-79-75 – 301
1982 T41 74-76-72-80 – 302
1983 MC 78-80
1984 MC 78-73
U.S. Walker Cup
1979, 1981, 1983
U.S. Walker Cup Captain
2011, 2013
British Amateur
1983 – Runner Up
.
Eisenhower World Amateur Team
1980, 1982
Western Amateur
Sweet 16 four times
Memorial Tournament
made cut three times