Jeffrey Craig Lewis (born October 25, 1953) is an American professional golfer. In his youth, Lewis originally intended on becoming a doctor and did not take the game of golf very seriously. However, in the middle of his studies at Franklin College, he switched career paths and decided to become a professional golfer. Late in college, Lewis had much success as an amateur golfer, culminating with a runner-up finish at the NAIA tournament. Shortly thereafter, Lewis turned pro and had good results, winning a number of state opens across New England. In 1986, at the age of 33, Lewis earned his PGA Tour card but only maintained membership for two years. For the remainder of his career, Lewis primarily played on mini-tours in Florida and the Northeast with extraordinary success, ultimately earning the moniker "King of the Mini-tours" by The Boston Globe.

Early life Lewis was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. However, he was raised in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is one of five children. His father was Dr. John H. Lewis. Lewis started playing golf as a child. He began playing the game at White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He met Allan Stewart, the local pro, who served as his mentor throughout his career. "He's been like a second father to me," he later said. Lewis notes that he was "good at a young age." However, in his teens the quality of his play decelerated. "From 12 until 20, I was average," he later said.

Lewis attended Sandwich High School. He also played on the high school's golf team. Despite being an "average" golfer during this era he had some highlights. At the end of his senior year, Lewis attempted to qualify for Massachusetts' annual schoolboy golf Individual Championship. At his site, which was held at his home course of Pocasset Golf Course in Bourne, Massachusetts, Lewis overcame "the heavy winds" to shoot a 77 to earn medalist honors. The tournament proper was held at Saddle Hill Country Club in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Playing against the top high school golfers in the state, Lewis opened with a 69 to take the lead. Shortly thereafter, Lewis graduated from high school. In the summer, Lewis played the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) tournament in the intermediate division. Lewis won his first three matches. He faced Ray Odell of Needham, Massachusetts, in the finals. According to The Boston Globe, among all the divisional finalists, "[p]robably the best round of the morning was turned in by Lewis." Lewis was three-under-par through 15 holes and won it, 2 & 1.

Amateur career Lewis attended university at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. Lewis entered as a pre-med student with the intention of becoming a doctor and taking over the family business. He also played on the golf team. In the fall of 1972, Lewis returned to Franklin for his sophomore year. During the year, he elected to withdraw from his pre-med program. Lewis decided to stay in school, however, and continued to play on the golf team. Around this time, Lewis began taking his golf game more seriously. During his junior and senior years, Lewis began receiving renown for his play. In April 1974, during the end of his junior year, Franklin played the DePauw Invitational at Windy Hills Country Club. Lewis birdied the final two holes to record a three-under-par 67, defeating the runner-up by four strokes. The Daily Journal noted that, "It was the best round ever shot by a Franklin golfer in a tournament." Days later, Lewis fired a three-under-par 68, leading to a victory over Earlham College. At the end of his senior year, Lewis played the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) golf tournament. The tournament was hosted by Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. Playing against 164 golfers, Lewis finished in joint second place, one back of the champion. In late May, he graduated from Franklin.

In the summer of 1975, Lewis decided to play "the amateur golf circuit" in New England. He continued to practice full time in an effort to become a professional golfer. According to The Republican, during this era he was referred to as "one of the state's top amateurs." In June, Lewis played the Northeast Amateur held at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island. The tournament possessed an elite amateur field including Curtis Strange, Andy Bean, and Bob Byman. In the second round, playing against "[g]usty winds," Lewis was the only player to match par and moved into contention. He ultimately finished in the top five. Days later, Lewis began play at the Massachusetts Open. Lewis was in contention the whole tournament and ultimately finished joint second, two back. In August, he won the Governor's Cup, a pairs event, with teammate John Sances. In the winter of 1975–76, Lewis moved to Florida in an effort to improve his game. Around this time he was thinking about turning professional. By the spring he had returned to Massachusetts. In June 1976, Lewis attempted to qualify for the Massachusetts Amateur. At Woods Hole Golf Club, Lewis shot consecutive rounds of 71 to earn medalist honors, defeating Peter Teravainen by five. It also tied for the lowest scores among all players at all sites. He reached the third round of the tournament proper.

Professional career In July 1976, Lewis turned professional. By his own admission, he "did not have a fast start as a pro." Lewis' first professional tournament was the New Hampshire Open. He finished outside the top ten. Days later, Lewis began play at the Greater Bangor Open. He was never on contention and finished T-23. At his following tournament, the Maine Open, he played better, recording a top five. In early 1977, he returned to Florida, this time to play on the mini-tours, including the Space Coast Tour. By the summer, he had returned to New England. In August, he played the Maine Open again. He failed to match par in the first two rounds and only made the cut on the number. He finished T-55. In May 1978, Lewis attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open. At the two-round qualifier, he recorded 154 strokes and missed the cut-off by four strokes. Lewis later said, "I had no business being there." In June, he played the three-round Massachusetts Open. Lewis opened with an even-par round to put him only two off the lead. However, he followed with a five-over-par 77 to fall out of contention. He then concluded the tournament with an 88 to finish in last place among those that made the cut.

In 1979, however, Lewis had a sterling season, dominating local New England events. In June, he recorded a top five at the Vermont Open. The following week Lewis finished solo third at the Massachusetts Open. In July, he played some significant events in New Hampshire. On July 17, he played the inaugural Cold Spring Classic at White Mountain Country Club in Ashland, New Hampshire. He shot four-under-par 68 to break the course record and win by one. Later in the summer, he recorded runner-up finishes at the New Hampshire Open and Rhode Island Open. By now he was "the leading money-winner on the New England pro circuit." In August, he played the three-round Maine Open. In the second round, Lewis shot a four-under-par 68 to take the solo lead. Despite an erratic final round, Lewis birdied the 16th hole to secure the win. He defeated three golfers by a stroke. He earned $1,500. He ultimately won the money list for "the New England professional golf circuit."

In the early 1980s, Lewis continued with "slow but steady progress." In the spring of 1980, however, he "suffered a torn ligament in his left hand." Partially due to this affliction he had a "disappointing summer." In June, he played the Massachusetts Open. Lewis closed with a 77 to fall out of contention. In July, he began play at the Greater Bangor Open. At the pro-am, Lewis shot a seven-under-par 65 to earn medalist honors. Lewis, however, "faltered" in the tournament proper. On August 12, Lewis played the one-round Hampden Open in Hampden, Massachusetts. At the end of regulation, Lewis was tied with Ken Diskin and Peter Teravainen. On the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, despite "a sort of comedy of errors," Lewis won with a bogey. By now he had "fully recovered from his injuries." Days later, at the Maine Open he recorded a top five finish. Shortly thereafter, he began playing on the Old Colony Bank mini-tour, a Cape Cod-located mini-tour he founded the previous year. In October, Lewis finished joint runner-up in a tour event. In general, the tour was known for its success. In 1981, he began playing extensively on the mini-tours in Florida as well. In early September, he won an event on the Tournament Golfers Association (TGA). He earned $1,000. The following day, on September 4, he earned "low pro honors" at the Jim Dent–Frank Hampton Open. In March 1982, Lewis played the California Country Club Pro-am in California Country Club in North Miami Beach, Florida. The professional portion of the event possessed a strong field, which included PGA Tour pros like Scott Hoch, Jerry Pate, and Hal Sutton. Lewis shot a seven-under-par 65 to win the event by two over Bob Eastwood, Sutton, and Bill Britton. His 65 also broke the course record previously set by Jerry Heard. In August, he won the Greater Bangor Open by five strokes over Jeff Sluman and Fran Marello. He earned $2,500. During the era, The Lewiston Daily Sun referred to him as "one of the most talented golfers to come out of New England in the past 20 years."

Asia Golf Circuit In the mid-1980s, Lewis played on the Asia Golf Circuit. In 1983, he played on the circuit for three months. In February, he played the Philippine Open, the first of the season. At the pro-am, Lewis shot a seven-under-par 65 to earn medalist honors. He broke the course record. At the Malaysian Open, in March, he shot a "sizzling" 67 to move into the top five. He finished in the top ten. The following week, he recorded a top 15 finish at the Singapore Open. Lewis ultimately finished 19th on the circuit's money list. In early 1984, Lewis committed to the Asia Golf Circuit for another season. In March, he recorded a joint third-place finish at the Thailand Open. After the first four events he was in fifth place on the Order of Merit. At the fifth event, the Singapore Open, Lewis recorded joint sixth-place finish. He finished in 9th place on the Order of Merit. In 1985, he played the Asia Golf Circuit for the final time. In March, he played the Singapore Open. Lewis finished solo third, four out of a playoff between T.M. Chen and Greg Turner. He ultimately finished 10th on the money list. Lewis appreciated his time on the Asian circuit and felt it prepared him for the PGA Tour. "Being on the Asian golf tour has given me a lot of needed experience," he later said. "I now feel that I can go after my PGA tour card."

PGA Tour