Pioneer Pete Brown - he once beat Tony Jacklin in play-off - dies at 80
NEWS RELEASE
Pete Brown, the first African-American to win a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event, died Friday. He was 80.
Brown earned his US PGA Tour card in 1963, two years after the circuit abolished its "Caucasians only" membership clause. He earned a breakthrough victory at the 1964 Waco Turner Open and went on to enjoy a 17-year career that also included a win at the 1970 San Diego Open in a play-off against Tony Jacklin.
News of Brown's death was first reported in a tweet from PGA of America historian Bob Denney. Brown died at a hospital in Augusta, Georgia, where the Augusta Chronicle reported he was suffering from the effects of multiple strokes and congestive heart failure.
Brown's death is another loss of one of golf's African-American pioneers this year. Brown's friend and fellow trailblazer, Charlie Sifford, died in February at age 92, while 12-time Tour winner Calvin Peete died earlier this week at age 71.