Lon Currey Hinkle (born July 17, 1949) is an American professional golfer. He played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
Early life and amateur career In 1949, Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan. He attended Santana High School in Santee, California and graduated in 1967.
Hinkle attended nearby San Diego State University for college. He was a member of the golf team.
Professional career In 1972, Hinkle turned professional. He joined the PGA Tour after his success at 1972 PGA Tour Qualifying School.
In the late 1970s, Hinkle won three tournaments on the PGA Tour. In 1979, he earned $247,693, finished 3rd on the money list, and won two tour events, including the World Series of Golf. That year in the first round of the U.S. Open at Inverness Club he took a shortcut, cutting the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway. Overnight, USGA officials planted a tree (known ever afterwards as The Hinkle Tree) to block the shortcut.The Hinkle Tree His best finish in a major was a T-3 at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1980. During his career on the PGA Tour, he had more than 50 top-10 finishes. He also played on the European Tour occasionally. Though he never won he finished runner-up at the 1975 German Open and 1980 European Open.
In 1981, Hinkle won the World Long Drive Championship.
After turning 50 in 1999, Hinkle joined the Champions Tour. His best finish at that level is a T-12 in the 2000 Audi Senior Classic.
Personal life Hinkle lives in Bigfork, Montana in the northwest corner of the state.
Professional wins (5)
PGA Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Apr 30, 1978First NBC New Orleans Open−17 (74-67-64-66=271)1 stroke Gibby Gilbert, Fuzzy Zoeller2Feb 4, 1979Bing Crosby National Pro-Am−4 (70-68-69-77=284)Playoff Andy Bean, Mark Hayes 3Sep 30, 1979World Series of Golf−8 (67-67-71-67=272)1 stroke Larry Nelson, Bill Rogers, Lee Trevino
PGA Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11977Tallahassee Open Ed SneedLost to birdie on first extra hole 21979Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Andy Bean, Mark HayesWon with birdie on third extra holeBean eliminated by par on second hole31986 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic Raymond Floyd, Mike SullivanFloyd won with par on first extra hole
Source:
Ben Hogan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 2, 1991Ben Hogan Quicksilver Open−6 (70-68-72=210)2 strokes Andy Morse, Rick Pearson, Joey Rassett
Other wins (1) 1978 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with Pat Bradley)
Results in major championships Tournament1975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987Masters TournamentCUTWDT28CUTU.S. OpenT38CUTT53T3T6T45The Open ChampionshipT19CUTCUTPGA ChampionshipT3163T65T3T39T9T4770T5173
WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1U.S. Open 0 0 1 1 2 2 6 5The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1PGA Championship 0 0 1 1 2 2 10 10Totals 0 0 2 2 4 5 23 17 Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1982 U.S. Open – 1987 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990The Players ChampionshipCUT3CUTT39CUTT56CUTT7CUTCUTCUTCUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
See also 1972 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links