Frank Conner (born January 11, 1946) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour. He was also an accomplished amateur tennis player. He, Ellsworth Vines and G. H. "Pete" Bostwick Jr. are the only men to play in the U.S. Open in both tennis and golf.2004 U.S. Senior Open profile
Early life and amateur career Conner was born in Vienna, Austria, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army. He competed in the U.S. Open in tennis in 1965, 1966, and 1967. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, graduating in 1970 with a degree in Business Administration. While at Trinity he was an All-American in tennis in 1968.
Professional career Conner gave up playing tennis and turned to golf, turning professional in 1971. He failed four times at qualifying school before finally getting his tour card at 1974 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He played on the PGA Tour from 1975 to 1989 and again in 1992. He finished second four times: in 1979 to Hubert Green at the First NBC New Orleans Open, in 1981 to Dave Barr in a five-man playoff at the Quad Cities Open, in 1982 to Tom Watson in a playoff at the Sea Pines Heritage, and in 1984 to George Archer at the Bank of Boston Classic. He won the 1988 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic which was played opposite the Masters Tournament - it was an official money event but not an official win on the PGA Tour. His best finish in a major championship was a T-6 at the 1981 U.S. Open.
Conner played on the PGA Tour's developmental tour from 1990–91 and 1993-95. He won twice in 1991 at the Ben Hogan Knoxville Open and the Ben Hogan Tulsa Open and finished fifth on the money list to regain his PGA Tour card.
After turning 50 in 1996, Conner played on the Senior PGA Tour from 1996 to 2002. His best finishes on this tour were a pair of second places: at the 1997 The Transamerica and the 1998 Kroger Senior Classic in a five-man playoff.
Awards and honors In 2001, Conner was elected to Trinity University Hall of FameTrinity University's Hall of Fame
Professional wins (7)
Ben Hogan Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1May 19, 1991Ben Hogan Knoxville Open−15 (63-68-67=198)1 stroke Perry Arthur, Paul Goydos2Aug 11, 1991Ben Hogan Tulsa Open−6 (75-68-67=210)Playoff Tom Lehman
Ben Hogan Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11991Ben Hogan Tulsa Open Tom LehmanWon with birdie on second extra hole
Other wins (5) 1978 Southern Texas PGA Championship 1982 King Hassan Open, Southern Texas PGA Championship 1983 Texas State Open 1988 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic (unofficial PGA Tour win)
Playoff record PGA Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11981Quad Cities Open Dave Barr, Woody Blackburn, Dan Halldorson, Victor RegaladoBarr won with par on eighth extra holeConner, Halldorson and Regalado eliminated by birdie on first hole21982Sea Pines Heritage Classic Tom WatsonLost to par on third extra hole
Champions Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11998Kroger Senior Classic Hugh Baiocchi, Bob Charles, Larry Nelson, Bruce SummerhaysBaiocchi won with birdie on second extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTT58T48The Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT23 Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987Masters TournamentCUTU.S. OpenCUTT6CUTT50T46T59CUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTWDCUTT40
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew "T" = tied
See also 1974 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1991 Ben Hogan Tour graduates
References
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