Frank Conner (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Frank Conner 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 and Ellsworth Vines
are the only men to play in the U.S. Open in both tennis and golf
.
, 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. He was elected to Trinity's Hall of Fame in 2001.
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 and joining the PGA Tour
in 1975. 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 Ben Hogan Tour (now Nationwide 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 (now Champions 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.
1Defeated Lehman with birdie on second extra hole.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
, and Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
. He was also an accomplished amateur tennis player. He and Ellsworth Vines
Ellsworth Vines
Henry Ellsworth Vines, Jr. was an American tennis champion of the 1930s, the World No. 1 player or the co-No. 1 for four years in 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1937.-Biography:...
are the only men to play in the U.S. Open in both tennis and golf
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Biography
Conner was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army. He competed in the U.S. Open in tennis in 1965
1965 U.S. National Championships - Men's Singles
Manuel Santana defeated Cliff Drysdale 6–2 7–9 7–5 6–1 in the final to win the Men's Singles title at the 1965 U.S. National Championships.See also:-Seeds:The seeded players are listed below...
, 1966
1966 U.S. National Championships - Men's Singles
Fred Stolle defeated John Newcombe 4–6 12–10 6–3 6–4 in the final to win the Men's Singles title at the 1966 U.S. National Championships.See also:-Seeds:The seeded players are listed below...
, and 1967
1967 U.S. National Championships - Men's Singles
John Newcombe defeated Clark Graebner 6-4 6-4 8-6 in the final to win the Men's Singles title at the 1967 U.S. National Championships.-Seeds:The seeded players are listed below...
. He attended Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, graduating in 1970 with a degree in Business Administration. While at Trinity he was an All-American in tennis in 1968. He was elected to Trinity's Hall of Fame in 2001.
Conner gave up playing tennis and turned to golf, turning professional in 1971. He failed four times at qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
before finally getting his tour card and joining the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in 1975. He played on the PGA Tour from 1975 to 1989 and again in 1992. He finished second four times: in 1979 to Hubert Green
Hubert Green
Hubert Myatt Green is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level....
at the First NBC New Orleans Open, in 1981 to Dave Barr
Dave Barr (golfer)
David Allen Barr is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Canadian Tour, PGA Tour and Champions Tour.Barr was born in Kelowna, British Columbia. He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was a member of the golf team. He finished as runner-up in the 1972 Canadian...
in a five-man playoff at the Quad Cities Open, in 1982 to Tom Watson
Tom Watson (golfer)
Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
in a playoff at the Sea Pines Heritage, and in 1984 to George Archer
George Archer
George William Archer was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo...
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
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was a T-6 at the 1981 U.S. Open
1981 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 1981 United States Open Championship was the 81st U.S. Open. The event was held from June 18-21 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. David Graham won his first U.S. Open championship and second major title by three strokes over Bill Rogers and George Burns.-Final leaderboard:-External...
.
Conner played on the Ben Hogan Tour (now Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
) 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 (now Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
) 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.
Nationwide Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 19, 1991 | Ben Hogan Knoxville Open | 1 stroke |  Perry Arthur, Paul GoydosPaul Goydos Paul David Goydos is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.-Early life:... |
|
| 2 | Aug 11, 1991 | Ben Hogan Tulsa Open | Playoff1 | Tom Lehman Tom Lehman Thomas Edward Lehman is an American professional golfer.Lehman was born in Austin, Minnesota, but Alexandria, Minnesota is credited as his official Minnesota hometown. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Business/Accounting and turned professional in 1982. It took... |
1Defeated Lehman with birdie on second extra hole.
Other wins (3)
- 1982 King Hassan Open
- 1983 Texas State OpenTexas State OpenThe Texas State Open is the Texas state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Northern Texas section of the PGA of America...
- 1988 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic (unofficial PGA Tour win)