Dow Finsterwald Obituary

Dow Finsterwald, Sr. was an American professional golfer who won the PGA Championship in 1958.

Finsterwald was born and raised in the Ohio town of Athens. He attended Ohio University in his hometown, where he was a member of the golf team and graduated in 1952.

Finsterwald turned professional in 1951 and went on to win 11 times on the PGA Tour. In his career, he finished fifth or better more than 50 times.

He was a member of four Ryder Cup teams (1957, 1959, 1961, and 1963), and he served as the non-playing captain of the 1977 team. In 1957, he won the Vardon Trophy, which is given to the tour professional with the lowest scoring average. He was named PGA Player of the Year in 1958.

He was inducted into the Ohio University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1969, joining his father, Russ Finsterwald, who was among the first inductees as a football player and later as a basketball and football head coach.

Dow Finsterwald died Friday, November 4, 2022 night at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was 93. Dow Finsterwald Jr., his son, said his father died peacefully in his sleep.