Al Espinosa (full identify Abel Ruben) was one of many earliest Hispanic golfers to play on the professional tour in the US. He was energetic on the PGA Tour within the Twenties and Thirties, with a number of victories.
Born in Monterey in 1891, Espinosa’s wins included:
- 1924 Missouri Open
- 1926 Oklahoma Metropolis Open
- 1928 Florida West Coast Open
- 1928 Mid-America Open
- 1930 Houston Open
- 1932 Ohio Open
- 1933 Ohio Open
- 1934 Miami Worldwide 4-Ball*
- 1935 Indianapolis Open
*with companion Denny Shute
These characterize Espinosa’s 9 credited PGA Tour victories. He additionally received the Mexican Open 4 instances, plus the Washington Open twice and yet another Ohio Open after that occasion dropped from PGA Tour standing, amongst different skilled victories.
Espinosa by no means received a significant championship, however he did file 11 Prime 10 finishes in majors. That features two second-place showings: on the 1928 PGA Championship (dropping to Leo Diegel in championship match) and on the 1929 U.S. Open. (misplaced in playoff to Bobby Jones).
Espinosa was a a number of winner on the PGA circuit of the Twenties and Thirties, however it’s two tournaments he misplaced for which he’s finest remembered.
On the 1929 U.S. Open, Bobby Jones struggled by means of a final-round 79 and wanted to make a twisting 12-foot putt on the ultimate inexperienced to tie Espinosa. Jones rolled that putt in to power a playoff – then beat Espinosa within the 36-hole playoff by a whopping 23 strokes.
Two years earlier, Espinosa reached the match-play semifinals of the 1927 PGA Championship, the place he confronted Walter Hagen. Hagen conceded each putt of three ft or much less to Espinosa – till the thirty sixth gap. There Espinosa had a 3-footer to win the match, however Hagen made him putt this one. Espinosa missed, then three-putted the primary further gap to lose the match.
Espinosa was a member of three U.S. Ryder Cup groups (1927, ’29 and ’31), compiling a 2-1-1 file in Ryder Cup matches. … Was the primary membership skilled at Inglewood Golf Membership in Kenmore, Wash., holding that job 1921-24. … His brother, Abe, additionally received a number of tournaments on the PGA Tour. … Whereas head professional at Portage Nation Membership in Akron, Ohio, within the early Nineteen Forties, Espinosa employed as his assistant future Masters champion Herman Keiser.
