Steven Nicholas Melnyk (born February 26, 1947) is an American former professional golfer and golf sportscaster best known for his success as an amateur golfer. Melnyk won both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur.
Early life
Melnyk was born in Brunswick, Georgia.
[Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Inductees, Steve Melnyk (2000). Retrieved July 18, 2011.] He is of Russian ancestry.
Melnyk attended
Glynn Academy in Brunswick for his high school education.
[ He won the Georgia Open as an 18-year-old amateur golfer in 1965.][Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, Members, Steve Melnyk. Retrieved July 18, 2011.]
Amateur career
Melnyk attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 1967 to 1969.[ Florida Men's Golf 2011 Media Supplement , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 37, 39, 40, 41, 43 (2010). Retrieved July 11, 2011.] He was a two-time All-American at Florida,[ 2008–09 Florida Gators Men's Golf Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 36 (2008). Retrieved July 14, 2011.] and was the number one golfer on the 1968 team that won their first NCAA Division I Golf Championship.[Robbie Andreu, " Top 25 Gator teams: #20 1968 Men's golf," The Gainesville Sun (June 5, 2009). Retrieved July 20, 2011.] Melnyk graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in industrial management in 1969.
Melnyk won the 1969 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club, shooting a 2-over-par 286 to beat Vinny Giles by five shots at stroke play. He claimed the British Amateur with a 3 & 2 victory over fellow American Jim Simons at Carnoustie Golf Links in 1971. Melnyk also had wins at the Western Amateur and Eastern Amateur and played on the 1969 and 1971 Walker Cup teams. He won the 1965 Georgia Open as an amateur. He was low amateur in the 1970 British Open (tie for 41st) and at the 1971 Masters Tournament (tie for 24th).
Professional career
In 1971, Melnyk turned professional after his British Amateur win and started playing on the PGA Tour. He did not find the success he had as an amateur carried over to his professional career. He never won a tournament on the PGA Tour but he did place second four times: the 1973 Phoenix Open, 1974 Houston Open, 1979 First NBC New Orleans Open and 1981 Pensacola Open. His best finish in a major was a tie for 12th at the 1972 Masters Tournament. He did win the 1972 Masters Par 3 Contest.
At the 1982 Phoenix Open, Melnyk slipped and broke his right elbow. While recuperating from the injury, he became an on-course reporter for CBS Sports. He resumed playing later that year and both played and reported through the 1984 season when he retired from playing. He stayed with CBS until 1992, when joined ABC Sports. He retired from television in 2004, after 22 years as a reporter and analyst for CBS Sports, ABC Sports and ESPN. He has also designed or co-designed several golf courses.[WorldGolf.com, Golf Architects, Steve Melnyk – Courses Built. Retrieved July 18, 2011.]
Reinstated amateur status
In the late 2000s, Melnyk retired from professional golf and broadcasting. He regained his amateur golfer status and continued to play.[Fred Seely, " Steve Melnyk: A good pro, now an amateur ," Jacksonville Golf (June 12, 2011). Retrieved July 18, 2011.] As of 2011, he remained actively involved as a University of Florida alumnus and serving a ten-year stint on the board of directors of the Gators athletic boosters, including a term as its president.
Personal life
Melnyk lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
Awards and honors
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In 1970, Melnyk was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
[F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 15, 2014.]
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In 1992, he was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
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In 2000, Melnyk was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
Tournament wins
Results in major championships
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| Masters Tournament | 43 | T24LA | T12 | T34 | | | | | 51 | |
| U.S. Open | CUT | | | | T35 | T29 | CUT | T16 | T35 | CUT |
| The Open Championship | T41LA | T49 | | | | | | | | |
| PGA Championship | | | | | | T17 | | T44 | | |
LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
See also
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1971 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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List of Florida Gators men's golfers on the PGA Tour
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List of University of Florida alumni
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List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
External links
