Vinny_Giles
Vinny Giles
American amateur golfer and golf administrator
Marvin M. "Vinny" Giles III (born January 4, 1943) is an American amateur golfer. He is best known for winning both the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur.
Giles was born in Lynchburg, Virginia.[1] He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966, where he was a three-time All-American on the golf team.[2] He also graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1969.[3]
Giles finished second in the U.S. Amateur three straight years, 1967 to 1969, before finally winning in 1972. This was in the stroke play era. His victory in the British Amateur came in 1975. He won numerous other amateur tournaments, including seven Virginia State Amateurs, as well as three Virginia Open titles.
Giles played on four Walker Cup teams (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975), winning three times, and captained the 1993 team to victory. He also played on three winning Eisenhower Trophy teams (1968, 1970, 1972) and captained the 1992 team to a runner-up finish.
Giles played in 11 professional majors, making the cut in three of nine Masters Tournament appearances and in both U.S. Open appearances. He was low amateur in the 1968 Masters Tournament (tied for 22nd) and in the 1973 U.S. Open (17th). He was also low amateur in three U.S. Senior Opens (1993, 1996, 1997)
Giles served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia State Golf Association for over 20 years, and then was first an Associate Director and then a Director of the Southern Golf Association for three years.
Giles was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1976[4] and the Southern Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1984.[5]
Giles is owner and president of a golf management firm which represents such golfers as Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Lanny Wadkins, Beth Daniel, and Meg Mallon. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.