He also took his talents overseas, playing in the British and French Amateur Championships.
On May 27, a few weeks before the Open was to be held at the Canterbury Golf Club in Ohio, Strafaci issued Hogan an "Insurance Policy".
In a letter to Hogan, Strafaci told him "Go ahead to Cleveland and get ready for the Open Championship.
[2] With no other player withdrawing, Strafaci withdrew on June 6 from the Open which enabled Hogan to play.
Palmer later stated that his toughest match was against Strafaci, who was all square with him entering the 17th hole.
[3][4] In 1957, Strafaci teamed up with his brother Thomas, the head professional at Dyker Beach Golf Club to capture the Long Island Golf Associations Amateur-Professional Championship at Nassau Country Club.
This event was also won in 1933 at Lido Golf Club by Strafaci’s older brother Ralph who teamed with Wiffy Cox who was the head professional at Dyker Beach GC at the time.
His brother, Thomas U. Strafaci, was the only brother to turn professional and became the head golf pro with his son Thomas Strafaci, Jr. at Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn.
His older brother Dominic was the 1941 MGA Public Links Champion winning the title at Bethpage Black.
Source for 1955 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, June 2, 1955, pg.
Source for “Blue Monster“ Naming: NY Times Online Edition March 16, 2008 Sports Section article by Larry Dorman Event’s Stars: Monster and Woods