Henry Williams Jr.
Fleetwood, PA
1962 Jamaica Open Champion - Henry Williams Jr.
of Fleetwood, PA  captured the Seagram-Chivas Cup
at the Jamaica Open which was completed on
March 11, 1962

 

     Henry Williams, born in Reading 85 years ago, made Fleetwood his home. Mr. Williams lived here for over 50 years. He died on February 8, 2002. He and Betsy King were the greatest golfer's ever produced in Berks County. His golfing ability put Fleetwood on the national golfing map.     

     Mr. Williams Jr. was a longtime professional golfer and retired head professional at Moselem Springs Golf Club. He and his wife Louise lived on Vine Street in Fleetwood. 

     He was the winner of many Philadelphia Professional Golf Association sectional tournaments and played in 8 PGA Championships, 6 U.S. Opens and twice was selected to play in the Masters. He played on the winter tour of the PGA from 1950 to 1960. He finished second in the 1950 PGA Championship and won the Tucson Open in 1952. Cary Middlecoff was runnerup to Williams in the 1952 Tucson Open. He also won the Jamaica Open in 1962 and the Salisbury (Maryland) Open in 1968. 

     During his career he set five different course records and is the record holder at Plymouth Country Club with a 63; New Smyrna Beach (Florida) Golf Course with a 62 and the Phoenixville Country Club with a 62. 

     From 1951 to 1975 he was the head pro at the Berkleigh Country Club, than the head pro at Moselem Springs Country Club from 1976 until he retired in 1993. 

     His biggest golf accomplishment occurred at the 1950 PGA Championship at the Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio.

     Henry Williams Jr. defeated Henry Picard 1-up in a semifinal match that may rank as one of the Championship's greatest comebacks. Williams was six holes down with eight holes to play before catching fire. He won the 29th hole when Picard bogeyed, and birdied the 30th hole. Williams missed a five-foot birdie putt on the following hole before trimming the deficit to one with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 32nd hole, a par at the 33rd and another 20-foot birdie putt at the 34th. Picard bogeyed the 35th to square the match. The twosome birdied the 36th hole to send the match into overtime. Picard three-putted the 38th hole, missing a par from 20 inches to give the match to Williams.

     For Chandler Harper, the other semifinal winner, his 2 and 1 victory over Jimmy Demaret wasn't as dramatic. In the finals, neither player had a memorable round. Harper was 3-up on Williams after a morning 75. Williams hit only one green in regulation and five bunkers in the first 11 holes. Harper closed out Williams at the 33rd hole 4 and 3.

     In 1985 he was inducted into the Berks County Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also a member of the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame. He was a life member of the PGA.