Frank Nobilo

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Frank Ivan Joseph Nobilo (born on May 14, 1960) is a professional golfer and current analyst for The Golf Channel's Champions Tour and PGA Tour coverage. He is of Croat origin and Italian descent. He is a member of the famed Nobilo Wines family which has been involved in viticulture for more than 300 years.

Nobilo was born in Auckland, New Zealand and educated at St Peter's College. In 1978, he won the New Zealand Amateur Championship at 18, the second-youngest winner of this title. In November 1979, he turned professional.

In 1985, Nobilo joined the European Tour as a full-time player, having played in selected events in 1982 and 1983. He recorded his first win on the Tour in the 1988 PLM Open (not to be confused with the KLM Open). Nobilo subsequently won four other European Tour events. He joined the American PGA Tour in 1997, where he won the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic, his only win on that Tour. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

Nobilo played for the International Team in the first three Presidents Cups (1994, 1996, 1998). He contributed significantly to the international appeal of the event when in 1998 and paired with fellow kiwi Greg Turner he holed a 70 foot putt on the final green to defeat the American pairing.

Nobilo was awarded the CNZM (The Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in 1998.

Nobilo retired from professional golf in 2003 because of injuries. He subsequently joined The Golf Channel, where, as mentioned above, he works as an analyst for the network's Champions Tour coverage. He also works as an analyst on the Sprint Post Game and Golf Central.

Frank has a daughter, Bianca Nobilo, born in 1990. Nobilo and his wife, Selena, married in 1998. One week after their marriage, Frank was struck above the left eye by an errant tee shot at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Central Florida. His injury required 30 stitches, and his play afterwards was affected. At birth, Frank's right leg was shorter than his left.

Nobilo is also an Ambassador for Nobilo Wines, one of New Zealand's leading wineries and is a relative of founder Nikola Nobilo. The announcement to take Nobilo on board was announced at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington D.C.

On 9 October 2007, it was reported that Nobilo had announced he would be coming out of retirement, and attempt to gain a card for the U.S. PGA Tour through qualifying school. However, in a statement issued on the Golf Channel's website, Nobilo denied the report: "I have not, nor did I have any intention of entering this years PGA Tour Qualifying school."[1]

Frank Nobilo currently endorses the Element 21 Golf Company[2] and has lent his voice to New Zealand Airline advertisements.


Contents

[edit] Amateur wins (2)

  • 1978 New Zealand Amateur Championship
  • 1979 New Zealand Under-25 Stroke Play Championship

[edit] Professional wins (13)

[edit] European Tour wins (5)

[edit] PGA Tour wins (1)

[edit] Asian Tour wins (1)

[edit] PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)

  • 1982 Reschs Pilsner New South Wales PGA Championship

[edit] Other wins (5)

[edit] Team appearances

[edit] Amateur

  • World Amateur Team (representing New Zealand): 1978

[edit] Professional

  • World Cup (representing New Zealand): 1982, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000
  • Dunhill Cup (representing New Zealand): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • Presidents Cup (International team): 1994, 1996, 1998 (winners)

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Golf Channel's Nobilo Denies Return", golfchannel.com, 9 October 2007. 
  2. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200712/ai_n21136685 December 2007

[edit] External links

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