JoAnne Carner
JoAnne Carner | |||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
Full name | JoAnne Gunderson Carner | ||||||||||||||||
Nickname | The Great Gundy, Big Mama | ||||||||||||||||
Born | Kirkland, Washington, U.S. | April 4, 1939||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||||||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Don Carner (m. 1963–99, his death) | ||||||||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||||||||
College | Arizona State University | ||||||||||||||||
Turned professional | 1970 | ||||||||||||||||
Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (1970–2005) | ||||||||||||||||
Professional wins | 49 | ||||||||||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||||||||
LPGA Tour | 43 | ||||||||||||||||
Other | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 2) | |||||||||||||||||
Western Open | T2: 1959 | ||||||||||||||||
Titleholders C'ship | T10: 1972 | ||||||||||||||||
Chevron Championship | T2: 1989 | ||||||||||||||||
Women's PGA C'ship | 2nd: 1974, 1982, 1992 | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Women's Open | Won: 1971, 1976 | ||||||||||||||||
du Maurier Classic | 2nd/T2: 1980, 1983 | ||||||||||||||||
Women's British Open | DNP | ||||||||||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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JoAnne Gunderson Carner (born April 4, 1939) is an American former professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to win three different USGA championship events. Tiger Woods is the only man to have won the equivalent three USGA titles. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Carol Semple Thompson have also won three different USGA titles.
Carner was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1969.[1] In 1981, Carner was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. She captained the 1994 U.S. Solheim Cup team.
Amateur career
[edit]Born in Kirkland, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle, "The Great Gundy" (as she was known before she married Don Carner) remained an amateur until age 30. In 1960, while attending Arizona State University, she won the national intercollegiate individual golf championship. From 1956 to 1968, she was the dominant woman in amateur golf, and accumulated five U.S. Women's Amateur titles (1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968), ranking her second only to Glenna Collett Vare who had six. She was runner-up two other times (1956, 1964). In 1966, Carner needed 5 extra holes (41 holes in total) to beat Marlene Stewart Streit in the longest final match in U.S. Women's Amateur history.[2] She also won the U.S. Girls' Junior in 1956.
While still an amateur in 1969, Carner won an LPGA Tour event, the Burdine's Invitational.[3] She was the last amateur to win on the LPGA Tour until 15-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko won the CN Canadian Women's Open in 2012.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Carner's greatest professional victories were her two U.S. Women's Opens, in 1971 and 1976. She led after each round in 1971 and won easily, finishing seven shots better than Kathy Whitworth who finished in second.[5] In 1976, Carner needed an 18-hole playoff to defeat Sandra Palmer.
Big Mama (her other nickname) was the second player in LPGA history to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings. She had an unusually long career, remaining competitive through the late 1990s. During 2004, she still played 10 tournaments and became the oldest player to make a cut on the LPGA Tour at age 65.[6]
On July 29 and 30, 2021, Carner played in the U.S. Senior Women's Open at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Connecticut and shot her age (82) in the first round, and bettered that by shooting 79 in the second round. Although she did not make the cut, she became the fifth golfer ever to shoot their age or better multiple times in a USGA championship while also being the oldest golfer ever to play in a USGA championship.[7]
Personal
[edit]Carner is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.[8] She married Don Carner in 1963, and he also served as her coach and business manager.[9] They were married 36 years until his death at age 83 in 1999 after a long illness.[10][11] The couple was known for driving from tournament to tournament and staying in an Airstream trailer.[9]
Amateur wins (7)
[edit]- 1956 U.S. Girls' Junior
- 1957 U.S. Women's Amateur
- 1959 Women's Western Amateur
- 1960 U.S. Women's Amateur
- 1962 U.S. Women's Amateur
- 1966 U.S. Women's Amateur
- 1968 U.S. Women's Amateur
Professional wins (49)
[edit]LPGA Tour wins (43)
[edit]Legend |
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LPGA Tour major championships (2) |
Other LPGA Tour (41) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jan 19, 1969 | Burdine's Invitational [1] | E (73-73-70=216) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
2 | Sep 12, 1970 | Wendell-West Open | −2 (72-73-69=214) | Playoff | ![]() |
3 | Jun 27, 1971 | U.S. Women's Open | E (70-73-72-73=288) | 7 strokes | ![]() |
4 | Aug 1, 1971 | Bluegrass Invitational | −6 (71-71-68=210) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
5 | May 19, 1974 | Bluegrass Invitational (2) | −4 (72-70-73=215) | Playoff | ![]() |
6 | May 26, 1974 | Hoosier LPGA Classic | −6 (73-72-68=213) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
7 | Jun 9, 1974 | Desert Inn Classic | −4 (74-68-72-70=284) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
8 | Aug 18, 1974 | St. Paul Open | −7 (68-70-74=212) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Sep 8, 1974 | Dallas Civitan Open | +1 (71-72-74=217) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
10 | Sep 29, 1974 | Portland Ladies Classic | −5 (70-70-71=211) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
11 | May 25, 1975 | American Defender Classic | −10 (69-68-69=206) | Playoff | ![]() |
12 | Jun 8, 1975 | Girl Talk Classic | −6 (68-72-73=213) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
13 | Jun 29, 1975 | Peter Jackson Classic | −5 (73-69-72=214) | Playoff | ![]() |
14 | Feb 15, 1976 | Orange Blossom Classic (2) | −7 (65-71-73=209) | Playoff | ![]() |
15 | June 21, 1976 | Lady Tara Classic | −10 (72-67-70=209) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
16 | Jun 20, 1976 | Hoosier Classic (2) | −6 (72-70-68=210) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
17 | Jul 11, 1976 | U.S. Women's Open (2) | +8 (71-71-77-73=292) | Playoff | ![]() |
18 | Jun 5, 1977 | Talk Tournament '77 | −4 (72-70-68-74=284) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
19 | Jul 17, 1977 | Borden Classic | −9 (66-70-71=207) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
20 | Sep 11, 1977 | National Jewish Hospital Open | −6 (69-72-69=210) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
21 | Jul 4, 1978 | Peter Jackson Classic (2) | −14 (73-70-71-64=278) | 8 strokes | ![]() |
22 | Jul 16, 1978 | Borden Classic (2) | −7 (71-67-71=209 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
23 | Mar 18, 1979 | Honda Civic Classic | −7 (72-71-69-69=281) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
24 | Apr 1, 1979 | Women's Kemper Open | +2 (72-71-72-71=286) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25 | Feb 4, 1980 | Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek | −10 (69-71-69-73=282) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
26 | Feb 24, 1980 | Bent Tree Ladies Classic | −8 (72-71-68-69=280) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
27 | Mar, 9, 1980 | Sunstar Classic | −9 (69-71-67=207) | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
28 | Mar 16, 1980 | Honda Civic Golf Classic (2) | −71-69-70-69=279) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
29 | Jun 22, 1980 | Lady Keystone Open | −9 (67-69-71=207) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
30 | Feb 15, 1981 | S&H Golf Classic (2) | −1 (69-74-72=215) | Playoff | ![]() |
31 | Jun 21, 1981 | Lady Keystone Open (2) | −13 (68-69-66=203) | 8 strokes | ![]() |
32 | Aug 30, 1981 | Columbia Savings LPGA Classic (2) | −10 (70-70-67-71=278) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
33 | Sep 7, 1981 | Rail Charity Golf Classic | −11 (70-69-66=205) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
34 | Feb 7, 1982 | Elizabeth Arden Classic (2) | −5 (70-70-71-72=283) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
35 | Jun 6, 1982 | McDonald's Classic | −12 (68-73-68-67=276) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
36 | Aug 22, 1982 | Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf | −4 (72-70-71-71=284) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
37 | Aug 29, 1982 | Henredon Classic | −6 (70-71-69-72=282) | Playoff | ![]() |
38 | Sep 6, 1982 | Rail Charity Golf Classic (2) | −14 (69-66-67=202) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
39 | Aug 21, 1983 | Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf (2) | −6 (73-73-67-69=282) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
40 | Sep 11, 1983 | Portland Ping Championship (2) | −4 (72-70-70=212) | Playoff | ![]() |
41 | May 27, 1984 | LPGA Corning Classic | −7 (71-69-71-70=281) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
42 | Feb 3, 1985 | Elizabeth Arden Classic (3) | −8 (70-66-74-70=280) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
43 | Sep 15, 1985 | Safeco Classic | −9 (71-71-69-68=279) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1 Carner won the Burdine's Invitational as an amateur.
- Note: Carner won the Peter Jackson Classic (which became the du Maurier Classic) twice before it became a major championship.
LPGA Tour playoff record (10–10)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1970 | Wendell-West Open | ![]() |
Won with bogey on first extra hole |
2 | 1974 | Bluegrass Invitational | ![]() |
Won with bogey on first extra hole |
3 | 1975 | Birmingham Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Astrolges won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 1975 | American Defender Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
5 | 1975 | Peter Jackson Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
6 | 1976 | Orange Blossom Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on fourth extra hole |
7 | 1976 | U.S. Women's Open | ![]() |
Won an 18-hole playoff (Carner:76, Palmer.:78) |
8 | 1976 | Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole Crocker and Walker eliminated by par on first hole |
9 | 1978 | Coca-Cola Classic | ![]() |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
10 | 1979 | Women's Kemper Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Won with par on second extra hole Caponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated by par on first hole |
11 | 1979 | Florida Lady Citrus | ![]() |
Lost to par on second extra hole |
12 | 1981 | Elizabeth Arden Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Little won with par on third extra hole Carner eliminated by par on second hole |
13 | 1981 | S&H Golf Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
14 | 1982 | Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole |
15 | 1982 | Henredon Classic | ![]() |
Won with par on fifth extra hole |
16 | 1983 | McDonald's Kids Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
17 | 1983 | Portland Ping Championship | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
18 | 1986 | Henredon Classic | ![]() |
Lost to par on second extra hole |
19 | 1987 | U.S. Women's Open | ![]() ![]() |
Davies won 18-hole playoff (Davies:71, Carner:73, Okamoto:74) |
20 | 1993 | HealthSouth Palm Beach Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (6)
[edit]- 1975 Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open
- 1977 LPGA National Team Championship (with Judy Rankin)
- 1978 Colgate Triple Crown Match-Play Championship
- 1979 Colgate Triple Crown
- 1982 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with John Mahaffey)
- 1996 Sprint Titleholders Senior Challenge
Major championships
[edit]Wins (2)
[edit]Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | U.S. Women's Open | E (70-73-72-73=288) | 7 strokes | ![]() |
1976 | U.S. Women's Open | +8 (71-71-77-73=292) | Playoff1 | ![]() |
1 In an 18-hole playoff, Carner 76, Palmer 78.
Results timeline
[edit]Tournament | 1962 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LPGA Championship | T6 | 39 | T12 | T47 | 2 | T9 | T5 | 4 | ||
U.S. Women's Open | T15 | T21 | 1 | T29 | T49 | T4 | T3 | 1 | 3 | T2 |
Tournament | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nabisco Dinah Shore † | ... | ... | ... | ... | T4 | T5 | T26 | T42 | T47 | T12 | T2 | T31 |
LPGA Championship | T6 | T3 | T5 | 2 | T4 | T56 | CUT | T40 | T28 | T18 | T54 | DQ |
U.S. Women's Open | T10 | T6 | T2 | T2 | T20 | T48 | T35 | T2 | T16 | T17 | 18 | |
du Maurier Classic | 2 | T7 | T3 | T2 | 5 | T29 | T14 | CUT | T10 | CUT |
Tournament | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nabisco Dinah Shore | CUT | T17 | T40 | T48 | CUT | T79 | CUT | T18 | CUT | |
LPGA Championship | 8 | T2 | T37 | T26 | T38 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | |
U.S. Women's Open | T11 | T42 | T11 | T31 | CUT | CUT | CUT | |||
du Maurier Classic | T69 | CUT | T71 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | T53 | CUT |
Tournament | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kraft Nabisco Championship † | DQ | CUT | T70 | CUT | |
LPGA Championship | CUT | CUT | CUT | ||
U.S. Women's Open | |||||
Women's British Open ^ |
† The Kraft Nabisco Championship was the Nabisco Dinah Shore Championship through 1999. It became the Nabisco Championship in 2000 and adopted the Kraft Nabisco Championship name in 2002.
^The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = disqualified
... = not yet a major
"T" = tied for place
Summary
[edit]Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kraft Nabisco Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 14 |
LPGA Championship | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 32 | 23 |
U.S. Women's Open | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 28 | 25 |
du Maurier Classic | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 11 |
Totals | 2 | 10 | 4 | 24 | 32 | 46 | 100 | 73 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 37 (1962 U.S. Women's Open – 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 24 (1974 LPGA – 1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore)
Team appearances
[edit]Amateur
- Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1958 (tie), 1960 (winners), 1962 (winners), 1964 (winners)
Professional
- Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2006 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2008 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2010 (winners), 2011 (winners)
- Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1994 (non-playing captain, winners)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame: Joanne Carner, Inducted 1969". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ Ward, Andrew (1999). Golf's Strangest Rounds. London: Robson Books. pp. 198–200. ISBN 1861051840.
- ^ Ryan, Pat (February 10, 1969). "Gundy's victory was no fluke". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Lydia Ko, 15, wins in Canada". ESPN. August 26, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ "2006 U.S. Women's Open Championship". 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
- ^ Bastable, Alan (February 28, 2005). "Following Up With 'Big Mama': JoAnne Carner". USGA. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ Schreiber, Max. "JoAnne Carner, 82, sets records at U.S. Senior Women's Open despite missing cut". Microsoft News. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "Blog".
- ^ a b Pileggi, Sarah (October 21, 1974). "Golden Goad For The Great Gundy". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "Washington's finest, JoAnne Carner, returns home for LPGA Legends event". The Seattle Times. July 28, 2012. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "Golf's Not Top Priority As Carner Returns To Course". The Seattle Times. January 12, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
External links
[edit]- JoAnne Carner at the LPGA Tour official site (archived)
- JoAnne Carner at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site)
- JoAnne Carner at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived February 15, 2008)