Pete Brown, the first African-American to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, died Friday. He was 80.
Brown earned his PGA Tour card in 1963, two years after the circuit abolished its "caucasians only" membership clause. He notched a breakthrough victory at the 1964 Waco Turner Open and went on to enjoy a 17-year career that also included a win at the 1970 San Diego Open in a playoff over Tony Jacklin.
News of Brown's death was first reported in a tweet from PGA of America historian Bob Denney. Brown died at a hospital in Augusta, Ga.