Richie Karl

Richie Karl
Personal information
Full nameRichard Karl
Born (1944-09-28) September 28, 1944 (age 80)
Johnson City, New York
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeFlorida State University
Turned professional1968
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins6
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
Other5
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament46th: 1975
PGA ChampionshipT55: 1974
U.S. OpenCUT: 1980
The Open ChampionshipDNP

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]

Early life

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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

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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

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  • 1965 Alaska State Amateur
  • 1966 Alaska State Amateur

Professional wins (6)

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PGA Tour wins (1)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Jul 21, 1974 B.C. Open −11 (70-67-68-68=273) Playoff Australia Bruce Crampton

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1974 B.C. Open Australia Bruce Crampton Won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (5)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "BC Open". Golf Today. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Richie Karl Golf School profile
  3. ^ Elliott, Len; Barbara Kelly (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. p. 109. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
  4. ^ "Champions Tour Notes". PGA Tour.com. July 10, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
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