.gif)
Charles Owens (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Owens is an American
professional golfer
who has played on the PGA Tour
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Owens was born in Winter Haven, Florida
. He played football at Florida A&M University
and served in the U.S. Army. He suffered injuries to both knees and his left ankle during a parachute jump at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
in 1952 which left him handicapped.
Owens turned professional in 1967 and joined the PGA Tour in 1970. During his seven years on the Tour, he won the 1971 Kemper Asheville Open, a "satellite" PGA Tour event. Owens played with a limp and played all golf shots cross-handed. The biggest year of his professional career came on the Senior PGA Tour in 1986, when he won twice in a three tournament span, and finished eighth on the money list with $207,813.
Owens was allowed to use a cart while competing in most instances due to his disability, and once staged a protest at the 1987 U.S. Senior Open against the USGA
for its ban on carts at that event.
Owens also is credited with inventing and popularizing a "belly putter" which he used to overcome the yips
.
Owens lives in Tampa, Florida
. He won the Ben Hogan Award in 1987 and was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who has played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Owens was born in Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
. He played football at Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
and served in the U.S. Army. He suffered injuries to both knees and his left ankle during a parachute jump at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
in 1952 which left him handicapped.
Owens turned professional in 1967 and joined the PGA Tour in 1970. During his seven years on the Tour, he won the 1971 Kemper Asheville Open, a "satellite" PGA Tour event. Owens played with a limp and played all golf shots cross-handed. The biggest year of his professional career came on the Senior PGA Tour in 1986, when he won twice in a three tournament span, and finished eighth on the money list with $207,813.
Owens was allowed to use a cart while competing in most instances due to his disability, and once staged a protest at the 1987 U.S. Senior Open against the USGA
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
for its ban on carts at that event.
Owens also is credited with inventing and popularizing a "belly putter" which he used to overcome the yips
Yips
Yips or the yips is an expression used to describe the apparent loss of certain fine motor skills seemingly without explanation in one of a number of different sports....
.
Owens lives in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. He won the Ben Hogan Award in 1987 and was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2007.
Regular career wins (2)
- 1971 Kemper Asheville Open (a PGA Tour "satellite" event)
- 1974 Florida OpenFlorida OpenThe Florida Open is the Florida state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is now organized by the Florida State Golf Association . It has been played annually since 1942 at a variety of courses around the state...
Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
- 19861986 Senior PGA TourThe 1986 Senior PGA Tour was the seventh season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 28 official money events with purses totalling $6,450,000, including three majors. Bruce Crampton won the most tournaments, seven...
Treasure Coast ClassicTreasure Coast ClassicThe Treasure Coast Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1985 to 1986. It was played in Fort Pierce, Florida at the TPC at Monte Carlo.The purse for the 1986 tournament was US$225,000, with $33,750 going to the winner...
, Del E. Webb Senior PGA Tour Roundup