Richard Horace Sikes (March 6, 1940 – November 2, 2023) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.
| R. H. Sikes | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Richard Horace Sikes |
| Nickname | R.H. or Dick[1] |
| Born | March 6, 1940 Paris, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 2023 (aged 83) |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Children | 1 |
| Career | |
| College | University of Arkansas |
| Turned professional | 1964 |
| Former tours | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 4 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 2 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | T39: 1966 |
| PGA Championship | T13: 1965 |
| U.S. Open | T46: 1967 |
| The Open Championship | 12th: 1966 |
Early life and amateur career
editSikes was born in Paris, Arkansas. He had a stellar amateur and college career as a member of the golf team at the University of Arkansas. He won the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, he won the NCAA Championship, was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, and played on the victorious Walker Cup team. Sikes' victory at the NCAA Championship was the only Razorbacks national championship recognized by the NCAA until John McDonnell's track and field teams of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s started winning them, and Nolan Richardson's basketball program won the 1994 men's basketball crown.[2]
Professional career
editIn 1964, Sikes turned pro. He was victorious at the 1964 Sahara Invitational during his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and earned Golf Digest's Rookie of the Year Award.
Sikes played briefly on the Senior PGA Tour from 1990 to 1992. His best finish was a T-36 at the 1992 Raley's Senior Gold Rush.
Death
editSikes died November 2, 2023. He was 83. His obituary stated he was a resident of Springdale, but did not specify he died there.[3]
Awards and honors
edit- In 1964, Sikes earned Golf Digest's Rookie of the Year Award
- In 2002, Sikes was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame
Amateur wins
editProfessional wins (4)
editPGA Tour wins (2)
edit| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 18, 1964 | Sahara Invitational | −9 (62-71-70-72=275) | 2 strokes |  Jack McGowan, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Rodgers |
| 2 | Aug 7, 1966 | Cleveland Open Invitational | −16 (69-68-63-68=268) | 3 strokes | Bob Goalby |
PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1969 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic | Gay Brewer, Dave Hill, Tommy Jacobs |
Hill won with birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (2)
edit- 1962 Arizona Open (as an amateur)
- 1981 Southern California PGA Championship
U.S. national team appearances
editAmateur
- Walker Cup: 1963 (winners)
- Eisenhower Trophy: 1962 (winners)
- Americas Cup: 1963 (winners)
References
edit- ↑ Miller, Hack (October 4, 1964). "Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win". Deseret News. p. B3.
- ↑ Harris, Jim (May 29, 2007). "Arkansas Business.com blog". Retrieved November 28, 2007.
- ↑ Hall, Grant (November 3, 2023). "Sikes, national champ at UA, dies at 83". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
External links
edit- R. H. Sikes at the PGA Tour official site