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Top Golfers from Each State: Delaware Golf and Ed Oliver

By Christopher O'Day

Members of the American Ryder Cup team arriving at London Airport (now Heathrow), 26th September 1953. Left to right: Lloyd Mangrum (captain, 1914 - 1973), Cary Middlecoff (1921 - 1998), Ed Oliver (1916 - 1961), Sam Snead (1912 - 2002) and Jim Turnesa (1912 - 1971). (Photo by Ron Burton/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Members of the American Ryder Cup team arriving at London Airport (now Heathrow), 26th September 1953. Left to right: Lloyd Mangrum (captain, 1914 - 1973), Cary Middlecoff (1921 - 1998), Ed Oliver (1916 - 1961), Sam Snead (1912 - 2002) and Jim Turnesa (1912 - 1971). (Photo by Ron Burton/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /
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Our next entry in the top golfer series brings us to the first state that was recognized in the USA, Delaware. When it comes to Delaware golf, Ed Oliver is number one.

You might think Delaware golf would have produced a handful of professional golfers throughout the years. The list is shorter than you would think, and Ed Oliver tops it.

No, not Ed Oliver, the Defensive tackle in the NFL that has played on a handful of teams. Although, Ed “Porky a.k.a. Pork Chops” Oliver had the build of a defensive lineman. Standing around 5’9″ and 240 lbs, the nickname was one that fit.

It wasn’t tough for Oliver to take the reigns as the top golfer from Delaware, as he is actually the only professional golfer born in Delaware.

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When it comes to Delaware Golf, Ed Oliver is the best the state has produced.

Oliver easily earned his spot as the top golfer in the state, and there shouldn’t be any argument to be made, as there could’ve been with Jennifer Kupcho in Colorado.

Even though he is the only one to make it in professional golf, he still compiled a decent career as a pro, especially for someone of such a large stature being born in 1915.

Oliver was one of the most positive players on tour, and in turn, that led to him being one of the most liked as well.

The positive attitude that he held was needed, as he faced some rough events during his life, both on and off the tour. He would lose a kidney during a car accident in 1948, which wasn’t enough to keep him from winning his 4th career PGA event that same year.

Oliver never made it over to play in the Open Championship but found himself on the doorstep of greatness at the other three majors. Unfortunately for Oliver, some players are never able to open that door.

It started in 1946 when he lost the finals at the PGA Championship to Ben Hogan, one of the all-time greats. This would be the first of three second-place finishes. The next would come in 1952 at the U.S. Open to the best golfer to come from Connecticut, Julius Boros. He would finish off at the 1953 Masters, where he lost to Hogan once again.

Oliver still found his way to 15 total professional wins, eight of which came on the PGA Tour. He also found some success in the Ryder Cup, playing on three different occasions. He compiled a record of 3-2-0 after playing in the 1947, 1951, and 1955 events.

Next. Top Golfers from Each State: California Golf and Tiger Woods. dark

Although Delaware golf has only produced Ed Oliver as a professional golfer, he had quite the career, and easily earned his spot as the best to come out of the first state in America.

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