Player Notes: Started playing golf at age 10 after
his brother gave him a set of clubs. at 17 won the Mexico
National Junior champion and in 1969, was the San Diego
High School golfer of the Year. When he turned pro in 1973
it took him five Q-schools before he got his card. During
his first full year on Tour in 1977, he finished second
to Dave Eichelberger in the Greater Milwaukee Open. Even
though his next year was a disaster (finished 114th on the
money list) he went to Ken Venturi for help. Venturi changed
the fundamental of his swing and his thoughts about how
to play the game and it paid off with a victory in the 1981
Hall of Fame Classic on the famed No. 2 course at Pinehurst.
Two years later in the 1983 Greater Milwaukee Open, he visited
the winners circle again, beating George Cadle in a playoff.
Also in ’83 he led the PGA tour putting category. Hatalsky
experienced five years without a win, until he beat Tom
Kite in a playoff at the Kemper Open and then went into
a tailspin, dropping to 149th on the money list in 1989.
On the verge of retiring from golf he won the 1990 Bank
of Boston Classic. He birdied three of the last four holes
at the Pleasant Valley C.C. for a one-stroke win of Scott
Verplank.
Played on the PGA Tour since 1976 in 489 tournaments.
Along with his four wins he has finished in the top-ten,
32 times.
Went to PGA Tour school qualifying school and didn’t get
his card, finishing T40th.
