Richie Karl
Richard Karl (born September 28, 1944) is an American professional golfer who is best known as the last golf club professional to win an official PGA Tour event.[1]
| Richie Karl | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Richard Karl |
| Born | September 28, 1944 Johnson City, New York |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | Florida State University |
| Turned professional | 1968 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 6 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| Other | 5 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | 46th: 1975 |
| PGA Championship | T55: 1974 |
| U.S. Open | CUT: 1980 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
Early life
Karl was born in Johnson City, New York. He played college golf at Florida State University.[2] He won the Alaska State Amateur twice while stationed in the Army there.[3]
Professional career
Karl turned professional in 1968.[2] He won the 1974 B.C. Open by sinking a 35-foot putt on the first hole in a playoff with Bruce Crampton. Karl, who worked at the En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York where the B.C. Open was played and lived along the 10th fairway, is the last club professional to win on the PGA Tour.[1]
Karl played briefly on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour) starting after he turned 50 in September 1994. His best finish in this venue was a T-5 at the ACE Group Classic. In 2007, Karl played as a sponsor's exemption in the inaugural Dick's Sporting Goods Open, a Champions Tour event played on his home course.[4]
Amateur wins
- 1965 Alaska State Amateur
- 1966 Alaska State Amateur
Professional wins (6)
PGA Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 21, 1974 | B.C. Open | −11 (70-67-68-68=273) | Playoff | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Bruce Crampton |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1974 | B.C. Open | Bruce Crampton |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (5)
- 1972 Yuma Open (PGA Tour satellite event)
- 1982 Iowa PGA Championship
- 1983 Iowa PGA Championship
- 1984 Iowa PGA Championship
- 1985 Iowa PGA Championship
References
- "BC Open". Golf Today. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- Richie Karl Golf School profile
- Elliott, Len; Barbara Kelly (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. p. 109. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
- "Champions Tour Notes". PGA Tour.com. July 10, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
External links
- Richie Karl at the PGA Tour official site