Melvin R. "Chick" Harbert (February 20, 1915 – September 1, 1992) was an American professional golfer.
Early life Harbert was born in Dayton, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
Professional career Harbert won seven times on the PGA Tour, including one major championship, the 1954 PGA Championship, then a match play event. A three-time finalist, he was also that event's runner-up twice, in 1947 (falling to Jim Ferrier) and 1952 (to Jim Turnesa). Harbert was one of the great PGA Championship match play competitors, compiling a 24–10 () record between 1946, his first appearance, and 1957, the final year of the match play format.
In 1949, Harbert played on the Ryder Cup team, winning his singles match against Sam King, 4 and 3, at Ganton Golf Club in Scarborough, England. He was playing-captain of the U.S. team in 1955, with a singles victory against Syd Scott (3 and 2) to his credit.
In 1955, he represented the United States at the Canada Cup team competition at Columbia Country Club outside Washington, D.C. He teamed with Ed Furgol, with the duo outdueling Australia's team of Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle by nine strokes. He finished fourth in the individual competition, two strokes out of the Furgol, Thomson and Flory Van Donck playoff that Furgol won.
After turning 50, he made two official Senior PGA Tour appearances. He tied for 43rd at the 1981 Michelob Senior Classic and then tied for 40th in the same tournament the following year. In addition, he played in nine Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf team events, with his top showing a fifth-place performance in the inaugural event in 1978, when he teamed with Bob Toski.
Personal life He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 77 at his home in Ocala, Florida.
Amateur wins this list may be incomplete 1939 Trans-Mississippi Amateur
Professional wins (19) PGA Tour wins (6) 1941 (1) Beaumont Open-Texas 1942 (2) Texas Open, St. Paul Open 1948 (2) Jacksonville Open, Charlotte Open 1954 (1) PGA Championship
Major championship is shown in bold.
Source:
Other wins (13) this list is probably incomplete 1937 Michigan Open (as an amateur) 1942 Michigan Open 1946 Michigan PGA Championship 1947 Michigan PGA Championship 1948 Michigan Open 1949 Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Bob Hamilton), Michigan PGA Championship 1950 Michigan PGA Championship 1953 Michigan Open, Michigan PGA Championship 1954 Canada Cup (with Ed Furgol) 1957 Puerto Rico Open 1959 Michigan PGA Championship
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up 1954 PGA Championship 4 & 3 Walter Burkemo Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
Results timeline Tournament19351936193719381939Masters TournamentT18 LAU.S. OpenCUTCUTPGA Championship
Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949Masters TournamentT33T10NTNTNTT7T343WDU.S. OpenCUTCUTNTNTNTNTT812T28T23PGA ChampionshipNTR642QF
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT24T44T5T12T32T40CUTT17T14U.S. OpenCUTT24T42T34CUTT8T52T26PGA ChampionshipR16R322R641R32R32R128CUTT28
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT393543CUTCUTU.S. OpenT31T29CUTT50CUTCUTPGA ChampionshipT32T52T11CUTT44CUTCUTT67
Tournament1970197119721973Masters TournamentU.S. OpenPGA ChampionshipWD Note: Harbert never played in The Open Championship.
LA = low amateur NT = no tournament WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1958 PGA Championship) R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 1 2 4 9 21 17U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 5 22 13The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 1 2 0 4 5 9 22 17Totals 1 2 1 6 11 23 65 47 Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1951 PGA – 1956 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1942 Masters – 1946 U.S. Open)
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1949 (winners), 1955 (winners, playing captain) Canada Cup: 1955 (winners) Hopkins Trophy: 1955 (winners)
See also List of men's major championships winning golfers
References