Sonny Skinner (born August 18, 1960) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.
Early life Skinner was born in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Professional career In 1982, Skinner turned professional. In 1990, Skinner joined the PGA Tour after going through qualifying school. He played on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1991 after a poor performance in his rookie year on the PGA Tour. He went through qualifying school again in 1991 and returned to the PGA Tour in 1992. He returned to the Nationwide Tour in 1993 where he won the first event he entered, the Nike Shreveport Open. He picked up his second win on Tour in 1994 at the Nike Dominion Open. He played on the Nationwide Tour until earning his PGA Tour card through qualifying school for the third time in 1996. In the 1997 Buick Open, he tied the course record at the Warwick Hills Golf Course with a 62 but Billy Mayfair shot a 61 in 2001 to break the record. He failed to retain his card in 1997 but went through qualifying school for a fourth time to earn his card for 1998. He returned to the Nationwide Tour in 1999 where he would play full-time until 2004. He played on the Nationwide Tour part-time until 2010.
Skinner joined the Champions Tour in 2010 once he turned 50.
Skinner was named the PGA Professional of the Year in 2008 and the Senior PGA Professional of the Year in 2010, becoming the first person to win both awards. He is a PGA teaching professional at the River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Georgia.
Awards and honors Skinner has been inducted into the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Athletic Hall of Fame He has been inducted into the Shorter College Athletic Hall of Fame Skinner has been inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame In 2008, he was named the PGA Professional of the Year In 2010, Skinner was named the Senior PGA Professional of the Year
Professional wins (4) Nike Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Apr 18, 1993Nike Shreveport Open−10 (74-70-69-65=278)1 stroke Bob May2Jun 19, 1994Nike Dominion Open−17 (70-65-67-69=271)Playoff Jim Carter
Nike Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11993Nike Bakersfield Open Clark Dennis, Jim FurykDennis won with birdie on first extra hole21994Nike Dominion Open Jim CarterWon with birdie on first extra hole
Other wins (2) 2009 Georgia PGA Championship 2012 Georgia PGA Championship
Results in major championships Tournament20082009PGA ChampionshipCUT Tournament2010201120122013201420152016201720182019PGA ChampionshipCUTCUT Tournament20202021PGA ChampionshipCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut Note: Skinner only played in the PGA Championship.
U.S. national team appearances PGA Cup: 2009 (winners), 2011 (winners)
See also 1989 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1996 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1997 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
External links