Bob Friend (born December 5, 1963) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.
Early life Friend's father is the former MLB pitcher Bob Friend (1930–2019).
Professional career In 1990, Friend joined the Ben Hogan Tour. He recorded five top-10 finishes including a second-place finish at the Ben Hogan El Paso Open. The following year, in 1991, he won the Ben Hogan Fort Wayne Open. Late in the year he attended 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School and earned his PGA Tour card.
In 1992, his rookie year on tour, he didn't play well enough to retain full-time status but his 137th-place finish gave him partial status. In 1993, Friend split time between the PGA Tour and its developmental tour. His main highlights of the year coming on the Nike Tour where he recorded a second-place finish and a joint third-place finish. In 1994, Friend played full-time on the Nationwide Tour where he recorded five top-10 finishes and two third-place finishes. He struggled in 1995 but recorded two top-10 finishes. He didn't play on tour in 1996 and returned to the Nike Tour in 1997 where he recorded three top-10 finishes.
He returned to the PGA Tour in 1998, earning his card through qualifying school. He played very well during his second stint on Tour, finishing 57th on the money list. He lost in a playoff to Billy Andrade at the Bell Canadian Open and recorded three top-10 finishes. He didn't play as well the following year and had to go through qualifying school to retain his card. In 2000, his final year on the PGA Tour, he struggled and returned to the Nationwide Tour the following year where he would play until 2003.
Personal life Friend is father of three children. He currently works as a real estate agent for Howard Hanna Real Estate in the Fox Chapel area.
Amateur wins 1984 Western Pennsylvania AmateurLove of golf good reason for Friend to play on 1985 Western Pennsylvania Amateur, Pennsylvania Amateur 1986 SEC Championship, Monroe Invitational, Northeast Amateur, Mid-Atlantic Amateur
Professional wins (2) Nike Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 23, 1991Ben Hogan Fort Wayne Open−12 (71-66-64=201)Playoff Jerry Anderson, Dennis Trixler
Nike Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11991Ben Hogan Fort Wayne Open Jerry Anderson, Dennis TrixlerWon with birdie on fourth extra hole21993Nike Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Jim FurykLost to birdie on first extra hole
Other wins (1) 1998 Panama Open
Playoff record PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11998Bell Canadian Open Billy AndradeLost to par on first extra hole
See also 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1997 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1999 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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