1944 PGA Championship: Bob Hamilton wins at Manito Golf and Country Club
Bob Hamilton won the 1944 PGA Championship at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington, beating Byron Nelson 1 up in the final.
Updated October 23, 2026
See 1944 in Wanamaker Avenue, the PGA Championship room, or every year on the PGA Championship winners list.
- Dates
- August 14, 1944 to August 20, 1944
- Course
- Manito Golf and Country Club, Spokane, Washington
- Edition
- 26th PGA Championship
- Format
- match play
- Field
- 32
- Match-play field
- 32 · 36 every round
- Stroke-play medalist
- Byron Nelson (138)
- Purse
- $14,500 · winner's share $3,500
- Champion
- Bob Hamilton · age 28 · United States · born Evansville, Indiana
- Champion's title
- 1st PGA Championship
- Final
- 1 up (36-hole final)
- Runner-up
- Byron Nelson
The draw as recorded: Round of 32 to final (complete).
The final, 1944 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Hamilton | def. | Byron Nelson | 1 up |
Semifinals, 1944 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Chuck Congdon | 8 & 7 |
| Bob Hamilton | def. | George Schneiter | 1 up |
Quarterfinals, 1944 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Willie Goggin | 4 & 3 |
| Chuck Congdon | def. | Ed Dudley | 6 & 5 |
| Bob Hamilton | def. | Jug McSpaden | 2 & 1 |
| George Schneiter | def. | Art Bell | 2 & 1 |
Round of 16, 1944 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Mark Fry | 7 & 6 |
| Willie Goggin | def. | Tony Manero | 4 & 3 |
| Chuck Congdon | def. | Sam Byrd | 2 & 1 |
| Ed Dudley | def. | Jimmy Hines | won on 37th hole |
| Jug McSpaden | def. | Fred Annon | 8 & 7 |
| Bob Hamilton | def. | Harry Bassler | 6 & 5 |
| Art Bell | def. | Craig Wood | 3 & 2 |
| George Schneiter | def. | Toney Penna | 4 & 3 |
Round of 32, 1944 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Mike DeMassey | 5 & 4 |
| Mark Fry | def. | Neil Christian | 2 & 1 |
| Willie Goggin | def. | Purvis Ferree | 8 & 7 |
| Tony Manero | def. | Clayton Aleridge | won on 38th hole |
| Sam Byrd | def. | W.A. Stackhouse | 4 & 3 |
| Charles Congdon | def. | Henry Williams Jr. | 7 & 6 |
| Ed Dudley | def. | Steve Savel | 7 & 6 |
| Jimmy Hines | def. | Thurman Edwards | 7 & 6 |
| Harold McSpaden | def. | Bruce Coltart | 7 & 5 |
| Fred Annon | def. | Harry Nettlebladt | 5 & 4 |
| Bob Hamilton | def. | Gene Kunes | 6 & 5 |
| Harry Bassler | def. | Joe Mozel | 6 & 5 |
| Arthur Bell | def. | Joe Zarhardt | won on 37th hole |
| Craig Wood | def. | Jimmy D’Angelo | 5 & 4 |
| Toney Penna | def. | Morrie Gravatt | 3 & 2 |
| George Schneiter | def. | Ted Longworth | 7 & 6 |
What happened at the 1944 PGA Championship
Hamilton, a serviceman who was pro at the Fort Lewis course, beat George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinal.
Hamilton then beat the heavily favoured Nelson 1 up in the 36-hole final, Nelson's third runner-up finish.
How this was built
Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's PGA Championship data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.
Data: pga.json (the PGA Championship room's data: Tables 1A–1H and 2B, every recorded match).