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Mike Sullivan (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Michael James Sullivan is an American professional golfer
who has played on the PGA Tour
and Nationwide Tour
, and currently plays on the Champions Tour
.
Sullivan was born in Gary, Indiana
. He attended Forest High School in Ocala, Florida
, where he played for the Forest Wildcats high school golf team.
He received an athletic scholarship
to attend the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, and played for coach Buster Bishop
's Florida Gators men's golf team in 1974. While attending Florida, Sullivan was a roommate of fellow future PGA Tour player Andy Bean
. He turned professional in 1975 and joined the PGA Tour in 1976.
Sullivan won three PGA Tour events during his career. His first win came at the 1980 Southern Open which he calls the biggest thrill of his career due to being paired with golf legend Arnold Palmer
in the third round. He had more than forty top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career. His best finish in a major championship
was T12 at the 1989 PGA Championship
.
Sullivan played some on the Nationwide Tour
in his forties. His best finish in a Nationwide Tour event was a second-place tie in the 1998 NIKE Dominion Open.
Sullivan played on the Champions Tour
in 2005 and 2006. His best finish was T9 at the 2005 Blue Angels Classic.
Sullivan has been plagued by back trouble throughout his career. He credits fellow golfer Don Pooley
for mentoring him and enhancing his Christian faith. He lives in Ocala, Florida
.
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 Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
, and currently plays on the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
.
Sullivan was born in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. He attended Forest High School in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
, where he played for the Forest Wildcats high school golf team.
He received an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, and played for coach Buster Bishop
Buster Bishop
Bernays Emery "Buster" Bishop was an American college golf coach. Bishop was best known for leading the Florida Gators men's golf team of the University of Florida to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championships in 1968 and 1973.- Early life and education :Bishop was born in...
's Florida Gators men's golf team in 1974. While attending Florida, Sullivan was a roommate of fellow future PGA Tour player Andy Bean
Andy Bean
Thomas Andrew Bean is an American professional golfer who previously played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour...
. He turned professional in 1975 and joined the PGA Tour in 1976.
Sullivan won three PGA Tour events during his career. His first win came at the 1980 Southern Open which he calls the biggest thrill of his career due to being paired with golf legend Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
in the third round. He had more than forty top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was T12 at the 1989 PGA Championship
1989 PGA Championship
The 1989 PGA Championship was the 71st PGA Championship held from August 10-13 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Long Grove, Illinois. Payne Stewart won his first major championship by one stroke over Andy Bean, Mike Reid, and 1989 U.S. Open champion, Curtis Strange.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*...
.
Sullivan played some on the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
in his forties. His best finish in a Nationwide Tour event was a second-place tie in the 1998 NIKE Dominion Open.
Sullivan played on the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
in 2005 and 2006. His best finish was T9 at the 2005 Blue Angels Classic.
Sullivan has been plagued by back trouble throughout his career. He credits fellow golfer Don Pooley
Don Pooley
Sheldon George "Don" Pooley, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
for mentoring him and enhancing his Christian faith. He lives in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 5, 1980 1980 PGA Tour The 1980 PGA Tour season was played from January 10 to October 19. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, seven, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Southern Open | 5 strokes |  Dave EichelbergerDave Eichelberger Martin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels.... , Johnny MillerJohnny Miller John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf... |
|
| 2 | Apr 2, 1989 1989 PGA Tour The 1989 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Steve Jones and Tom Kite won the most tournaments, three, and there were nine first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
Independent Insurance Agent Open | 1 stroke | Craig Stadler Craig Stadler Craig Robert Stadler is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... |
|
| 3 | Sep 18, 1994 1994 PGA Tour The 1994 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to October 30. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Nick Price won the most tournaments, six, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
B.C. Open B.C. Open The Dick's Sporting Goods Open is a Champions Tour event. It debuted in July 2007, supplanting the B.C. Open, a now-defunct PGA Tour event, which was held annually from 1971 to 2006. It is sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods.... |
4 strokes | Jeff Sluman Jeff Sluman Jeffrey George Sluman is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments including six PGA Tour victories.-Early years:... |