Gavan Neil Levenson (born 18 December 1953) is a South African professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career Levenson was born in Johannesburg. He represented South Africa in the 1976 Eisenhower Trophy and won several major amateur tournaments including the French and Rhodesian Open Amateur Championships in 1978.
Professional career In 1978, Levenson turned professional and joined the European Tour the following year. He won the Belgian Open and finishing in 29th place on the Order of Merit in his rookie season.
After two seasons in Europe, Levenson qualified for the United States-based PGA Tour. He spent four largely unsuccessful years on the tour, only recording one top ten finish when he tied for 4th place at the 1982 Greater Hartford Open. He returned to Europe in 1985, and although he consistently finished inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit, he did not win again on the European Tour until the 1991 Open de Baleares.
Levenson also played on the Southern Africa Tour during the Northern Hemisphere winters. He won five titles in South Africa, including one South African Open Championship and one South African PGA Championship, and topped the Order of Merit in 1983/84.
Since turning fifty, Levenson has played on the European Seniors Tour, where he has one victory, achieved in just his second tournament, the 2004 DGM Barbados Open.
Amateur wins 1975 South African Amateur Stroke-Play Championship 1978 French Amateur Open Championship, Rhodesian Amateur Open Championship
Professional wins (8) European Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up110 Jun 1979Belgian Open−5 (68-71-68-72=279)3 strokes Bobby Cole, Nick Faldo, Michael King210 Mar 1991Open de Baleares−6 (72-74-67-69=282)1 stroke Steven Richardson
Southern Africa Tour wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up112 Feb 1983Sigma Vaal Reefs Open−14 (75-67-70-62=274)2 strokes Nick Price24 Feb 1984Lexington PGA Championship−9 (70-66-68-67=271)3 strokes Nick Price326 Jan 1985South African Open−8 (69-68-72-71=280)3 strokes Phil Simmons419 Jan 1986ICL International−18 (71-65-67-67=270)1 stroke David Frost513 Jan 1990ICL International (2)−19 (67-68-66-68=269)2 strokes Wayne Westner
European Seniors Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up128 Mar 2004DGM Barbados Open−12 (69-64-71=204)2 strokes Denis Durnian, Carl Mason
Results in major championships Tournament19751976197719781979U.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTCUTPGA Championship Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989U.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT36CUT79PGA ChampionshipCUT Tournament19901991U.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTT57PGA Championship Note: Levenson never played in the Masters Tournament.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Team appearances Amateur Commonwealth Tournament (representing South Africa): 1975 Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Africa): 1976
See also Spring 1981 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1983 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
External links