Edgar Rudolph

Edgar Mason Rudolph | TUSCALOOSA Edgar Mason Rudolph, age 76, passed away Monday, April 18, 2011. A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn. with a Memorial Reception at the Golf House of Tennessee (400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN) immediately following the service. Visitation will be at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home in Clarksville, Tenn. Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. in Greenwood Cemetery with McReynolds- Nave & Larson Funeral Home directing. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol Griffin Rudolph; sons, Edgar Mason Rudolph, Jr. and Griffin Hill Rudolph; and six grandchildren, Charles Hunter Rudolph, John Myers Rudolph, Griffin Hill Rudolph, Jr., Mary Rodgers Rudolph, William Mason Rudolph and James Goodman Rudolph. He was preceded in death by his parents, Susan Mason Rudolph and Jacob Courtnay Rudolph, Sr.; his brother, Jacob Courtnay Rudolph, Jr.; and son, Craig Goodman Rudolph. Rudolph grew up in Clarksville, Tenn. He was an outstanding young athlete at Clarksville High School and President of the Student Body. After graduating from CHS, he attended Memphis State University on a golf scholarship. His golf career began at the young age of 13 when he won the Clarksville Country Club Championship. This was the beginning of a long and distinguished golf career. Rudolph won the USGA Junior Championship in 1950 and the Tennessee State Amateur and State Open in 1956, also claiming an additional five State Open titles (1956, '59, '63, '64, '66, and '72). Rudolph is the youngest player (16 years and six days) ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Open, held at Merion Golf Club in 1950. He was a member of the 1957 Walker Cup team and 1971 Ryder Cup teams. He won five PGA Tour titles and was third in the 1973 PGA Championship, fourth in the 1965 Masters, and eighth in the 1966 U.S. Open. He won the Western Amateur in 1956 and the All Armed Forces Service Championship in 1958. Rudolph joined the PGA Tour in 1959 and was Rookie of the Year in 1960. He won the 1968 Tennessee PGA Section Championship. Mason was inducted as a Charter Member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame in 1990. On the PGA Tour, his streak of finishing in the money in 52 straight events is a remarkable accomplishment. He also played in 105 straight tournaments in the 1960's without ever hitting a ball out of bounds. Sports Illustrated named him one of the top 25 athletes of the century in the State of Tennessee. After playing on the Senior PGA Tour, Rudolph worked as the Director of Instruction at Gaylord Springs Golf Links. He became the Golf Coach for Vanderbilt University and was instrumental in grooming both the men's and women's golf programs to be contenders in the Southeastern Conference, including a 2004 SEC Championship for the ladies' golf team. He was able to attract nationally recognized talent to the program, including PGA Tour player and local favorite, Brandt Snedeker. Upon his retirement, Vanderbilt University dedicated its annual collegiate golf tournaments, naming them the Mason Rudolph Championships. In his hometown of Clarksville, a nine hole city course bears his name. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Tennessee Junior Golf; Golf House of Tennessee, 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069; and Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404. www.hospiceofwestalabama.org . Published in Tuscaloosa News on April 19, 2011