May 24, 2007

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio men's golf legend Dow Finsterwald will return to the area this coming week and will be honored at the Memorial Tournament.

A 1952 graduate of Ohio University, and one of the most-decorated golfers in the history of the Bobcat program, Finsterwald has been retired since 1993 after 28 years as the director of golf at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. He will return to Athens this weekend before taking part in ceremonies at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin.

The Memorial, a PGA Tour event held at Muirfield Village Golf Club, was established by Jack Nicklaus in 1976 as a way to honor great golfers of the past. This year Finsterwald will be recognized along with LPGA co-founder Louise Suggs in a ceremony on Tuesday, May 29, following that day's practice round.

Finsterwald helped lead Ohio to its first Mid-American Conference title by 24 strokes in 1951 under Head Coach Kermit Blosser. He then went on to win 12 career PGA events. His highlight season as a pro was 1958 when he captured the tour championship and was named the PGA Player of the Year. Finsterwald was also a four-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

In 1969 Finsterwald joined his father, Russ, in the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame.