Dick Mayer

Dick Mayer, 32, of St. Petersburg, Florida scored 70-68-74-70-282, two over par, was tied by Cary Middlecoff, the defending Champion, and won in a playoff 72 to 79, at the Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio. Jimmy Demaret, 47, of Kiamesha Lake, N. Y., finished one stroke behind. Demaret had shared the lead at 18 holes with 68 and had led Mayer by a stroke at 54 holes with 211.

Mayer and Billy Joe Patton, an amateur, had shared the lead at 36 holes with scores of 138, equaling the record. Middlecoff's 68-68 finish equaled the record of 136 for the last 36 holes; Gene Sarazen did 70-66-136 in 1932. Patton finished in a tie for eighth at 290 and was low amateur for the second time. Ben Hogan, of Fort Worth, Texas, was unable to try for a fifth victory. Pleurisy of the chest wall caused him such pain that he had to withdraw from the first round after his starting time had been postponed an hour to give him an opportunity for medical treatment. A storm near noon on the first day brought not only rain, but also winds of nearly 60 miles per hour. Play was suspended for 1 hour, 10 minutes and five groups were unable to finish until the morning of the second day.

The third day's gallery was estimated at 16,527 and the three-day gallery at 39,696, USGA Championship records for one and three days. The first and second-day attendances were 11,035 and 12,134, slightly under the 1954 figure, which represented the previous high. Each professional prize was again increased by 20% and the total reached a new peak of nearly $30,000. The winner's purse was $7,200. The event was televised nationally for two hours on the last day and for the last half-hour during the playoff.