JoAnne Carner

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.

JoAnne Carner
Personal information
Full nameJoAnne Gunderson Carner
NicknameThe Great Gundy,
Big Mama
Born (1939-04-04) April 4, 1939
Kirkland, Washington, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Sporting nationality United States
SpouseDon Carner
(m. 1963–99, his death)
Career
CollegeArizona State University
Turned professional1970
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour (1970–2005)
Professional wins49
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour43
Other6
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 2)
Western OpenT2: 1959
Titleholders C'shipT10: 1972
Chevron ChampionshipT2: 1989
Women's PGA C'ship2nd: 1974, 1982, 1992
U.S. Women's OpenWon: 1971, 1976
du Maurier Classic2nd/T2: 1980, 1983
Women's British OpenDNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame1982 (member page)
LPGA Tour
Rookie of the Year
1970
LPGA Tour
Money Winner
1974, 1982, 1983
LPGA Tour
Player of the Year
1974, 1981, 1982
LPGA Vare Trophy1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983
USGA Bob Jones Award1981
GWAA Female
Player of the Year
1982, 1983
LPGA William and
Mousie Powell Award
1995

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

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

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

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)

Professional wins (49)

LPGA Tour wins (43)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (2)
Other LPGA Tour (41)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of victoryRunner(s)-up
1 Jan 19, 1969 Burdine's Invitational [1] E (73-73-70=216) 1 stroke United States Shirley Englehorn
2 Sep 12, 1970 Wendell-West Open −2 (72-73-69=214) Playoff United States Marilynn Smith
3 Jun 27, 1971 U.S. Women's Open E (70-73-72-73=288) 7 strokes United States Kathy Whitworth
4 Aug 1, 1971 Bluegrass Invitational −6 (71-71-68=210) 3 strokes United States Sandra Haynie
5 May 19, 1974 Bluegrass Invitational (2) −4 (72-70-73=215) Playoff United States Sandra Spuzich
6 May 26, 1974 Hoosier LPGA Classic −6 (73-72-68=213) 2 strokes United States Donna Caponi
United States Judy Rankin
7 Jun 9, 1974 Desert Inn Classic −4 (74-68-72-70=284) 1 stroke United States Carole Jo Kabler
8 Aug 18, 1974 St. Paul Open −7 (68-70-74=212) 4 strokes United States Laura Baugh
9 Sep 8, 1974 Dallas Civitan Open +1 (71-72-74=217) 1 stroke United States Kathy Whitworth
10 Sep 29, 1974 Portland Ladies Classic −5 (70-70-71=211) 2 strokes United States Donna Caponi
11 May 25, 1975 American Defender Classic −10 (69-68-69=206) Playoff United States Judy Rankin
12 Jun 8, 1975 Girl Talk Classic −6 (68-72-73=213) 6 strokes United States Sandra Spuzich
13 Jun 29, 1975 Peter Jackson Classic −5 (73-69-72=214) Playoff United States Carol Mann
14 Feb 15, 1976 Orange Blossom Classic (2) −7 (65-71-73=209) Playoff United States Sandra Palmer
15 June 21, 1976 Lady Tara Classic −10 (72-67-70=209) 3 strokes Argentina Silvia Bertolaccini
16 Jun 20, 1976 Hoosier Classic (2) −6 (72-70-68=210) 2 strokes United States Debbie Austin
United States Pat Bradley
17 Jul 11, 1976 U.S. Women's Open (2) +8 (71-71-77-73=292) Playoff United States Sandra Palmer
18 Jun 5, 1977 Talk Tournament '77 −4 (72-70-68-74=284) 5 strokes United States Kathy McMullen
19 Jul 17, 1977 Borden Classic −9 (66-70-71=207) 1 stroke United States Pat Meyers
20 Sep 11, 1977 National Jewish Hospital Open −6 (69-72-69=210) 2 strokes United States Hollis Stacy
21 Jul 4, 1978 Peter Jackson Classic (2) −14 (73-70-71-64=278) 8 strokes United States Hollis Stacy
22 Jul 16, 1978 Borden Classic (2) −7 (71-67-71=209 1 stroke United States Betsy King
United States Pat Bradley
23 Mar 18, 1979 Honda Civic Classic −7 (72-71-69-69=281) 3 strokes United States Pat Bradley
Canada Sandra Post
24 Apr 1, 1979 Women's Kemper Open +2 (72-71-72-71=286) Playoff United States Donna Caponi
Japan Hisako Higuchi
United States Nancy Lopez
Australia Jan Stephenson
25 Feb 4, 1980 Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek −10 (69-71-69-73=282) 2 strokes Canada Sandra Post
26 Feb 24, 1980 Bent Tree Ladies Classic −8 (72-71-68-69=280) 1 stroke Canada Sandra Post
27 Mar, 9, 1980 Sunstar Classic −9 (69-71-67=207) 3 strokes United States Debbie Massey
United States Kathy Postlewait
28 Mar 16, 1980 Honda Civic Golf Classic (2) −71-69-70-69=279) 4 strokes United States Judy Rankin
29 Jun 22, 1980 Lady Keystone Open −9 (67-69-71=207) 4 strokes United States Jo Ann Washam
30 Feb 15, 1981 S&H Golf Classic (2) −1 (69-74-72=215) Playoff United States Dot Germain
31 Jun 21, 1981 Lady Keystone Open (2) −13 (68-69-66=203) 8 strokes United States Martha Nause
32 Aug 30, 1981 Columbia Savings LPGA Classic (2) −10 (70-70-67-71=278) 2 strokes United States Janet Anderson
United States Patty Sheehan
United States Kathy Whitworth
33 Sep 7, 1981 Rail Charity Golf Classic −11 (70-69-66=205) 2 strokes United States Kyle O'Brien
34 Feb 7, 1982 Elizabeth Arden Classic (2) −5 (70-70-71-72=283) 1 stroke United States Jo Ann Washam
35 Jun 6, 1982 McDonald's Classic −12 (68-73-68-67=276) 6 strokes United States Sandra Haynie
36 Aug 22, 1982 Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf −4 (72-70-71-71=284) 5 strokes Japan Ayako Okamoto
37 Aug 29, 1982 Henredon Classic −6 (70-71-69-72=282) Playoff United States Sandra Haynie
38 Sep 6, 1982 Rail Charity Golf Classic (2) −14 (69-66-67=202) 6 strokes United States Susie McAllister
39 Aug 21, 1983 Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf (2) −6 (73-73-67-69=282) 2 strokes Japan Ayako Okamoto
40 Sep 11, 1983 Portland Ping Championship (2) −4 (72-70-70=212) Playoff Sweden Charlotte Montgomery
41 May 27, 1984 LPGA Corning Classic −7 (71-69-71-70=281) 4 strokes Japan Ayako Okamoto
42 Feb 3, 1985 Elizabeth Arden Classic (3) −8 (70-66-74-70=280) 6 strokes United States Jane Blalock
43 Sep 15, 1985 Safeco Classic −9 (71-71-69-68=279) 2 strokes Australia Jan Stephenson

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.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1970 Wendell-West Open United States Marilynn Smith Won with bogey on first extra hole
2 1974 Bluegrass Invitational United States Sandra Spuzich Won with bogey on first extra hole
3 1975 Birmingham Classic United States Maria Astrologes
United States Judy Rankin
Astrolges won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1975 American Defender Classic United States Judy Rankin Won with par on first extra hole
5 1975 Peter Jackson Classic United States Carol Mann Won with birdie on second extra hole
6 1976 Orange Blossom Classic United States Sandra Palmer Won with par on fourth extra hole
7 1976 U.S. Women's Open United States Sandra Palmer Won an 18-hole playoff (Carner:76, Palmer.:78)
8 1976 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic United States Mary Lou Crocker
United States Sandra Palmer
England Michelle Walker
Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole
Crocker and Walker eliminated by par on first hole
9 1978 Coca-Cola Classic United States Nancy Lopez Lost to par on first extra hole
10 1979 Women's Kemper Open United States Donna Caponi
Japan Chako Higuchi
United States Nancy Lopez
Australia Jan Stephenson
Won with par on second extra hole
Caponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated by par on first hole
11 1979 Florida Lady Citrus United States Jane Blalock Lost to par on second extra hole
12 1981 Elizabeth Arden Classic South Africa Sally Little
United States Judy Rankin
Little won with par on third extra hole
Carner eliminated by par on second hole
13 1981 S&H Golf Classic United States Dot Germain Won with par on first extra hole
14 1982 Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek United States Hollis Stacy Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole
15 1982 Henredon Classic United States Sandra Haynie Won with par on fifth extra hole
16 1983 McDonald's Kids Classic United States Beth Daniel Lost to birdie on first extra hole
17 1983 Portland Ping Championship Sweden Charlotte Montgomery Won with birdie on first extra hole
18 1986 Henredon Classic United States Betsy King Lost to par on second extra hole
19 1987 U.S. Women's Open England Laura Davies
Japan Ayako Okamoto
Davies won 18-hole playoff (Davies:71, Carner:73, Okamoto:74)
20 1993 HealthSouth Palm Beach Classic United States Tammie Green Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (6)

Major championships

Wins (2)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1971U.S. Women's OpenE (70-73-72-73=288)7 strokesUnited States Kathy Whitworth
1976U.S. Women's Open+8 (71-71-77-73=292)Playoff1United States Sandra Palmer

1 In an 18-hole playoff, Carner 76, Palmer 78.

Results timeline

Tournament1962197019711972197319741975197619771978
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
Tournament197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990
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
Tournament1991199219931994199519961997199819992000
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
Tournament20012002200320042005
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.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = disqualified
... = not yet a major
"T" = tied for place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Kraft Nabisco Championship0103362114
LPGA Championship031812143223
U.S. Women's Open242911192825
du Maurier Classic0214671911
Totals210424324610073

Team appearances

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

References

  1. "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.
  2. Ward, Andrew (1999). Golf's Strangest Rounds. London: Robson Books. pp. 198–200. ISBN 1861051840.
  3. 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.
  4. "Lydia Ko, 15, wins in Canada". ESPN. August 26, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  5. "2006 U.S. Women's Open Championship". 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  6. 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.
  7. Schreiber, Max. "JoAnne Carner, 82, sets records at U.S. Senior Women's Open despite missing cut". Microsoft News. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  8. "Blog".
  9. Pileggi, Sarah (October 21, 1974). "Golden Goad For The Great Gundy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  10. "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.
  11. "Golf's Not Top Priority As Carner Returns To Course". The Seattle Times. January 12, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
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