Pete Oakley
Encyclopedia
Peter H. Oakley is an American
professional golfer
best known for winning the 2004 Senior British Open, one of the major championships
in senior men's professional golf. He is the younger brother of golfer David Oakley
.
Oakley was born in Panama City, Florida
. He got started in the game at age 11 by his mother who thought a nearby nine-hole course would be a great babysitter for him and his brother David.
Oakley was a long-time club pro in the Philadelphia-Delaware area where he won numerous sectional titles including the Delaware State Open four times. He played some on the Nationwide Tour
in his forties to prepare himself for the Champions Tour
.
The biggest win of his career was his first on the Champions Tour, and came in a major
– The 2004 Senior British Open played at Royal Portrush Golf Club
in Northern Ireland
. Oakley sank a 10-foot par putt on the final hole to win by one stroke and avoid a playoff with Tom Kite
and Eduardo Romero
. The victory made him only the 10th open qualifier to win a Champions Tour event.
Oakley has done some golf course design work. In 2001, he completed and opened (with partner Chris Adkins) a public course in Milton, Delaware
called The Rookery.
Oakley was awarded the Player of the Year for the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America in 1980, 1984, 1999 and 2000. His son's, Zac and J.J., are also golfers. Zac was a three-time All-American at Wesley College, and J.J. played at the University of Delaware
. Oakley is a man of strong religious faith. He lives in Lincoln, Delaware
.
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;...
best known for winning the 2004 Senior British Open, one of the major championships
Senior major golf championships
Men's professional senior golf is for players aged 50 and above. Golf differs from all other sports in having lucrative competitions for this age group. The leading senior tour is the U.S. based Champions Tour, which was established in 1980 . It has established a roster of five major championships...
in senior men's professional golf. He is the younger brother of golfer David Oakley
David Oakley
David K. Oakley was an American professional golfer whose greatest success came on the European Seniors Tour....
.
Oakley was born in Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
. He got started in the game at age 11 by his mother who thought a nearby nine-hole course would be a great babysitter for him and his brother David.
Oakley was a long-time club pro in the Philadelphia-Delaware area where he won numerous sectional titles including the Delaware State Open four times. He played some on the 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...
in his forties to prepare himself for 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...
.
The biggest win of his career was his first on the Champions Tour, and came in a major
Senior major golf championships
Men's professional senior golf is for players aged 50 and above. Golf differs from all other sports in having lucrative competitions for this age group. The leading senior tour is the U.S. based Champions Tour, which was established in 1980 . It has established a roster of five major championships...
– The 2004 Senior British Open played at Royal Portrush Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club is a private golf club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is the only golf club outside of the UK Mainland which has hosted The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships. The club has two links courses, the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links.The...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Oakley sank a 10-foot par putt on the final hole to win by one stroke and avoid a playoff with Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
and Eduardo Romero
Eduardo Romero
Eduardo Alejandro Romero is an Argentine professional golfer.Romero was born in Córdoba. He turned professional in 1982 at a relatively advanced age...
. The victory made him only the 10th open qualifier to win a Champions Tour event.
Oakley has done some golf course design work. In 2001, he completed and opened (with partner Chris Adkins) a public course in Milton, Delaware
Milton, Delaware
Milton is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. The population was 2,576 at the 2010 census, an increase of 55.5% over the previous decade. It is part of the Seaford, Delaware Micropolitan Statistical Area. Delaware Route 5 passes through Milton.- History :Located at the head of...
called The Rookery.
Oakley was awarded the Player of the Year for the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America in 1980, 1984, 1999 and 2000. His son's, Zac and J.J., are also golfers. Zac was a three-time All-American at Wesley College, and J.J. played at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
. Oakley is a man of strong religious faith. He lives in Lincoln, Delaware
Lincoln, Delaware
Lincoln is a small unincorporated community in northern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. It is part of the Seaford, Delaware Micropolitan Statistical Area. The planner that originally laid out the town planned for it to become the county seat. Lincoln lies on U.S. Route 113 between...
.
Regular career wins (non-PGA Tour events)
- 1989 Philadelphia Open ChampionshipPhiladelphia Open ChampionshipThe Philadelphia Open Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. It is organized by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. It has been played annually since 1903 at member clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It was considered a PGA Tour...
- 1990 Philadelphia Open ChampionshipPhiladelphia Open ChampionshipThe Philadelphia Open Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. It is organized by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. It has been played annually since 1903 at member clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It was considered a PGA Tour...
- Delaware State Open in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995 and 2000
Champions Tour wins
EWLINE
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 25, 2004 2004 Champions Tour The 2004 Champions Tour was the 25th season since the Champions Tour officially began in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour. The season consisted of 30 official money events with purses totalling $53,932,400, including five majors. Craig Stadler won the most tournaments, five... |
Senior British Open | 1 stroke |  Tom KiteTom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... ,  Eduardo RomeroEduardo Romero Eduardo Alejandro Romero is an Argentine professional golfer.Romero was born in Córdoba. He turned professional in 1982 at a relatively advanced age... |
Other senior wins
- 1999 PGA Senior Club Pro Championship
- 2000 PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Senior British Open Championship Senior British Open Championship The Senior Open Championship, or simply The Senior Open is a professional golf tournament for men aged 50 and over. It is run by The R&A, the same body that organises The Open Championship. Prize money won in the event is official money on both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour... |
−4 (73−68−73−70=284) | 1 stroke | Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... , Eduardo RomeroEduardo Romero Eduardo Alejandro Romero is an Argentine professional golfer.Romero was born in Córdoba. He turned professional in 1982 at a relatively advanced age... |