The best golfer from every U.S. state

Idaho: Babe Hiskey

With a bit more success in his ongoing career, Boise native Troy Merritt could well take the crown for the best golfer from the state of Idaho. As of right now, however, the 32-year old still has just one win on the PGA Tour to his credit, though he did have a win on the Web.com Tour as well previously. Even still, there’s still plenty of golf ahead of him in his career to where he can catch the man who we currently give this nod to, Babe Hiskey.

Born in Burley, ID, Hiskey played golf for the University of Houston before turning professional in 1961. Prior to that, however, is when he really made his mark in his home state. Hiskey was a three-time winner of the Idaho Amateur Championship, capturing the title in 1956, 1960 and 1961. That alone considering the state-specific nature of the victories might be enough to give him the nod for the state of Idaho. However, Hiskey wasn’t done there.

While on the PGA Tour, Hiskey was able to capture three victories. He first won in a playoff over Dudley Wysong in the 1965 Cajun Classic Open Invitational. Thereafter, he went on to win the 1970 Sahara Invitational and the 1972 National Team Championship with partner Kermit Zarley. Though he never won on the Champions Tour (then the Senior PGA Tour), he was still able to compete at a high level there and prove his merit on the links.