ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The name of Sam Urzetta is one that will long be remembered at St. Bonaventure where he is enshrined in the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame for his accomplishments both in golf and basketball. Now his accomplishments will further be recognized with his induction into the New York State Golf Association (NYSGA) Hall of Fame.
The NYSGA will posthumously honor Urzetta, a St. Bonaventure Class of 1950 graduate, on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Country Club of Rochester as one of five 2015 inductees.
Urzetta more than made his mark while at St. Bonaventure. On the basketball court, he led the nation in free throw shooting during his junior year and still holds the school record for career free throw percentage at .903, finishing his career with 556 points.
But it was in golf where Urzetta truly shined. He won the New York Amateur Championship in 1948 and, in the summer of 1950, he captured the U.S. Amateur Championship at Minneapolis Golf Club. He earned the 1950 U.S. Amateur crown by defeating Frank Stranahan of Toledo, Ohio, 1-up on the 39th hole in what was the longest championship match until 2000 when it was tied. He also played on two winning Walker Cup teams.
After turning professional in 1954, Urzetta went on to play in four U.S. Opens, four Masters (highlighted by a tie for 12th in 1956) and four PGA Championships. He became the head professional at the Country Club of Rochester in 1956 and remained there until his retirement in 1993.
He continued his playing career in later years as well, earning Western New York Player of the Year honors in 1971 and was the WNYPGA Senior Championship Runner-Up in 1982.
In 1969, he became a member of the first induction class of the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame and was elected into the Western New York PGA Hall of Fame in 1986. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 85.
