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Buddy Allin, a former PGA TOUR and Champions Tour member, died in Hemet, Calif., March 10. He was 62.

After playing golf for two and a half years at Brigham Young University, where he was teammates with Johnny Miller and Mike Reasor, Allin left Provo to join the U.S. Army in 1967. He volunteered for service in Vietnam, spending 18 months there as an artillery officer. For his efforts in Vietnam, the Army awarded Allin--who reached the ranks of Executive Officer, 1st Lieutenant--four decorations, including the Bronze Star and an Air Medal.

Though service to his country called Allin away from golf, a game he picked up at age 13 while working as a caddy at the Santa Barbara Municipal Golf Course, he returned to California in 1969 and began his career in the sport he loved.

Allin joined the PGA TOUR in 1971 and went on to win five events. His victories included the 1971 Greater Greensboro Open, the 1973 Florida Citrus Open (now the Arnold Palmer Invitational) and the 1976 Pleasant Valley Classic. Allin's best season was 1974, when he finished ninth on the money list after winning the Doral-Eastern Open Invitational and the Byron Nelson Golf Classic.

Upon turning 50 in late 1994, Allin played in 157 Champions Tour events, winning the 1997 American Express Invitational in Sarasota, Fla. He last played on Tour in 2000 and had been working as a teacher.

"Bud Allin's life was one of service and commitment, whether it was serving his country in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Officer and being awarded two, bronze stars, one with "V" for valor, being awarded winners' trophies on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and European Tour or serving the members of the various clubs with which he was affiliated," said Champions Tour President Rick George. "All of us will miss Buddy and are saddened to learn of his passing. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Carol and the entire Allin family for their loss that has affected all of us associated with professional golf."

Allin is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren.