Richard Horace Sikes (March 6, 1940 – November 2, 2023) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.

R. H. Sikes
Personal information
Full nameRichard Horace Sikes
NicknameR.H. or Dick[1]
Born(1940-03-06)March 6, 1940
Paris, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 2023(2023-11-02) (aged 83)
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight160 lb (73 kg; 11 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Children1
Career
CollegeUniversity of Arkansas
Turned professional1964
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins4
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour2
Other2
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT39: 1966
PGA ChampionshipT13: 1965
U.S. OpenT46: 1967
The Open Championship12th: 1966

A native of Paris, Arkansas, Sikes had a stellar amateur and college career as a member of the golf team at the University of Arkansas. He won the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, he won the NCAA Championship, was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, and played on the victorious Walker Cup team. Sikes' victory at the NCAA Championship was the only Razorbacks national championship recognized by the NCAA until John McDonnell's track and field teams of the mid-1980s to mid-1990s started winning them, and Nolan Richardson's basketball program won the 1994 men's basketball crown.[2]

Sikes was victorious at the 1964 Sahara Invitational during his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and earned Golf Digest's Rookie of the Year Award. He played briefly on the Senior PGA Tour from 1990 to 1992 with his best finish a T36 at Raley's Senior Gold Rush in 1992.

In 2002, Sikes was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.

Sikes died on November 2, 2023, at the age of 83.[3]

Amateur wins

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Professional wins (4)

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PGA Tour wins (2)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Oct 18, 1964 Sahara Invitational −9 (62-71-70-72=275) 2 strokes   Jack McGowan,   Jack Nicklaus,
  Phil Rodgers
2 Aug 7, 1966 Cleveland Open Invitational −16 (69-68-63-68=268) 3 strokes   Bob Goalby

PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1969 IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic   Gay Brewer,   Dave Hill,
  Tommy Jacobs
Hill won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (2)

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U.S. national team appearances

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Amateur

References

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  1. ^ Miller, Hack (October 4, 1964). "Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win". Deseret News. p. B3.
  2. ^ Harris, Jim (May 29, 2007). "Arkansas Business.com blog". Retrieved November 28, 2007.
  3. ^ Hall, Grant (November 3, 2023). "Sikes, national champ at UA, dies at 83". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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