Lon Hinkle
Encyclopedia
Lon Hinkle is an American
professional golfer
who has played on both the PGA Tour
and the Champions Tour
.
Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan
. He attended San Diego State University
, where he was a member of the golf
team. He turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1972.
Hinkle won three tournaments in his career on the PGA Tour, all of which came in the late 1970s. In 1979, he earned $247,693, finished 3rd on the money list, and won two Tour events, including the World Series of Golf. That year in the first round of the U.S. Open
he took a shortcut, he cut the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway. Overnight, USGA officials planted a Hinkle tree to block the shortcut. His best finish in a major
was a T-3 at both the U.S. Open
and the PGA Championship
in 1980. During his career on the PGA Tour, he had more than 50 top-10 finishes.
After turning 50 in 1999, Hinkle joined the Champions Tour. His best finish at that level is a T-12 in the 2000 Audi Senior Classic.
Hinkle lives in Bigfork, Montana
in the northwest corner of the state.
PGA Tour playoff record (1-2)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
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 has played on both 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...
and the 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...
.
Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. He attended San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, where he was a member of the golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team. He turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1972.
Hinkle won three tournaments in his career on the PGA Tour, all of which came in the late 1970s. In 1979, he earned $247,693, finished 3rd on the money list, and won two Tour events, including the World Series of Golf. That year in the first round of the U.S. Open
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...
he took a shortcut, he cut the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway. Overnight, USGA officials planted a Hinkle tree to block the shortcut. His best finish in a major
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-3 at both the U.S. Open
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...
and the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
in 1980. During his career on the PGA Tour, he had more than 50 top-10 finishes.
After turning 50 in 1999, Hinkle joined the Champions Tour. His best finish at that level is a T-12 in the 2000 Audi Senior Classic.
Hinkle lives in Bigfork, Montana
Bigfork, Montana
Bigfork is a census-designated place in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,421 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bigfork is located at ....
in the northwest corner of the state.
PGA Tour (3)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 30, 1978 1978 PGA Tour The 1978 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to November 5. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, five, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
First NBC New Orleans Open | 1 stroke |  Gibby GilbertGibby Gilbert C.L. "Gibby" Gilbert II is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.... , Fuzzy ZoellerFuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... |
|
| 2 | Feb 4, 1979 1979 PGA Tour The 1979 PGA Tour season was played from January 11 to October 28. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, five, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | Playoff | Andy Bean Andy Bean Thomas Andrew Bean is an American professional golfer who previously played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour... , Mark HayesMark Hayes (golfer) Mark S. Hayes is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Hayes was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University, where he was a two-time All-American... |
|
| 3 | Sep 30, 1979 1979 PGA Tour The 1979 PGA Tour season was played from January 11 to October 28. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, five, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
World Series of Golf | 1 stroke | Larry Nelson Larry Nelson Larry Gene Nelson is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.Nelson was born in Fort Payne, Alabama and grew up in Acworth, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta... , Bill RogersBill Rogers (golfer) William Charles Rogers is an American professional golfer who is best known as the winner of the 1981 Open Championship.... , Lee TrevinoLee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:... |
PGA Tour playoff record (1-2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1977 | Tallahassee Open | Ed Sneed Ed Sneed Ed Sneed is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and course design consultant, who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.... |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1979 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | Andy Bean Andy Bean Thomas Andrew Bean is an American professional golfer who previously played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour... , Mark HayesMark Hayes (golfer) Mark S. Hayes is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Hayes was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University, where he was a two-time All-American... |
Hinkle won with birdie on third extra hole Bean eliminated with par on second hole |
| 3 | 1986 | Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic | Raymond Floyd Raymond Floyd Raymond Loran "Ray" Floyd is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.... , Mike SullivanMike Sullivan (golfer) Michael James Sullivan is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour, and currently plays on the Champions Tour.Sullivan was born in Gary, Indiana... |
Floyd won with par on first extra hole |
Other (1)
- 1978 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with Pat Bradley)
- 1981 World Long Drive Champion