Longest-serving PGA member dies at 103

A player in golf's first Masters tournament, Samuel Henry 'Errie' Ball has died aged 103 in Florida.

Samuel Henry "Errie" Ball, who played in golf's first Masters, died on Wednesday at the age of 103.

Ball's daughter, Leslie Adams Gogerty, said her father died at Martin Hospital South at Stuart in Florida. Ball was most recently director of golf at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart.

He was a PGA of America member for a record 83 years. Ball was inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame in 2011.

He played in the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934, which later became the Masters. He also competed in 19 Senior PGA Championships and shared second place in the 1962 tournament.

Gogerty said her father, born in Wales, was encouraged to go to the United States by golf great Bobby Jones.


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