Pat McGowan
Encyclopedia
Patrick Ray McGowan is a professional golf instructor and former PGA Tour
player.
McGowan was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota
. He attended Brigham Young University
. He played on the golf team with fellow PGA Tour player Mike Reid
and graduated in 1977.
McGowan developed his game under the tutelage of Warren McCarty, head pro at Colusa Golf and Country Club, and Karl Tucker, golf coach at Brigham Young University
. During more recent years, his game and career have been influenced by Peggy Kirk Bell
, his mother-in-law and one of golf’s leading instructors, and David Orr, Head Teaching Professional at Pine Needles. McGowan qualified for the PGA Tour on his first attempt in the fall of 1977, playing at Pinehurst, where he met his wife, Bonnie, daughter of Peggy Kirk
and late "Bullet" Bell. McGowan had an excellent rookie year and was named Golf Digest / Rolex Rookie-of-the-Year in 1978.
One highlight of McGowan's career came in the 1984 Sacramento Classic in the Tournament Players Series during which he defeated Steve Hart in a playoff. Other highlights include a 2nd place finish in the 1978 Canadian Open to Bruce Lietzke
. During the Quad Cities Open in 1982, he was tied for the lead after three rounds with Calvin Peete
and Jeff Mitchell. A final round 67 left him tied for second behind Payne Stewart
who finished with a 63. McGowan also finished second to Calvin Peete
in the 1986 New Orleans Open
, while his best finish in a major was 4th in the 1983 PGA Championship
at Riviera Country Club
.
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
player.
McGowan was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
. He attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. He played on the golf team with fellow PGA Tour player Mike Reid
Mike Reid (golfer)
Michael Daniel Reid is an American professional golfer.Reid was born in Bainbridge, Maryland. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1976 and turned professional the same year. During his collegiate golf career, Reid was selected for All-American honors from 1973-1976...
and graduated in 1977.
McGowan developed his game under the tutelage of Warren McCarty, head pro at Colusa Golf and Country Club, and Karl Tucker, golf coach at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. During more recent years, his game and career have been influenced by Peggy Kirk Bell
Peggy Kirk Bell
Margaret Anne "Peggy" Kirk Bell is a former American professional golfer and golf instructor and is a strong advocate of women's golf....
, his mother-in-law and one of golf’s leading instructors, and David Orr, Head Teaching Professional at Pine Needles. McGowan qualified for the PGA Tour on his first attempt in the fall of 1977, playing at Pinehurst, where he met his wife, Bonnie, daughter of Peggy Kirk
Peggy Kirk Bell
Margaret Anne "Peggy" Kirk Bell is a former American professional golfer and golf instructor and is a strong advocate of women's golf....
and late "Bullet" Bell. McGowan had an excellent rookie year and was named Golf Digest / Rolex Rookie-of-the-Year in 1978.
One highlight of McGowan's career came in the 1984 Sacramento Classic in the Tournament Players Series during which he defeated Steve Hart in a playoff. Other highlights include a 2nd place finish in the 1978 Canadian Open to Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Alan Lietzke is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas...
. During the Quad Cities Open in 1982, he was tied for the lead after three rounds with Calvin Peete
Calvin Peete
Calvin Peete is an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods....
and Jeff Mitchell. A final round 67 left him tied for second behind Payne Stewart
Payne Stewart
William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42....
who finished with a 63. McGowan also finished second to Calvin Peete
Calvin Peete
Calvin Peete is an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, before the emergence of Tiger Woods....
in the 1986 New Orleans Open
New Orleans Open
The New Orleans Open is a defunct tennis tournament for male tennis players, held in New Orleans, United States. It was established in 1978 and was played until 1980. Wojtek Fibak, John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner all won the tournament during its run....
, while his best finish in a major was 4th in the 1983 PGA Championship
1983 PGA Championship
The 1983 PGA Championship was the 65th PGA Championship held from August 4-7 at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California. Hal Sutton won his first major championship by one stroke over Jack Nicklaus.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*...
at Riviera Country Club
Riviera Country Club
The Riviera Country Club is a country club with a championship golf course. It is located in Pacific Palisades, California, a community within the city limits of Los Angeles. The country club opened in 1926, with George C. Thomas, Jr. as the course architect. The course has been the primary host...
.