Bobby Allen

His interest in golf came early. He grew up in the shadows of Wannamoisett Country Club and learned the game as a caddy at that course, a member of the group that called itself the Phillipsdale A.C. The first state event he competed in was the RIGA Junior, at age 16, in 1940. Using a borrowed set of clubs, he won the title. He played little golf in his 20s, spending much of that time in the Navy. After completing his tour of duty, he returned home and once again became involved in golf. He was the caddymaster at Wannamoisett before becoming a member in 1949. That same year, he won the first of his five State Amateur titles. He also won the Amateur in 1950, then three years in a row, beginning in 1958. One of the greatest ball strikers the state has ever seen, he also won the State Open in 1950 and three times captured the Four- Ball, with two different partners. In 1961, after moving to Connecticut, he tied for the first-day lead in the PGA Tour event then called the Insurance City Open, now the Greater Hartford Open. He was runner-up in the Connecticut Amateur in 1961 and champion in 1962. He now lives in Newington, Conn.