| Jane Blalock | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 19, 1945 Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Residence | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Career | |
| College | Rollins College |
| Turned professional | 1969 |
| Retired | 1986 |
| Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (joined 1969) |
| Professional wins | 34 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| LPGA Tour | 27 |
| LPGA of Japan Tour | 3 |
| Other | 4 |
| Best results in LPGA Major Championships |
|
| Titleholders C'ship | T7: 1972 |
| Kraft Nabisco C'ship | T34: 1985, 1986 |
| LPGA Championship | 2nd: 1972, 1980 |
| U.S. Women's Open | 3rd/T3: 1971, 1976 |
| du Maurier Classic | 4th: 1980 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year |
1969 |
Jane Blalock (born September 19, 1945) is a retired American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1969 and won 27 LPGA Tour events in all.
Contents |
Blalock was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She began golfing at age 13, and won the New Hampshire Amateur five straight times beginning in 1965, plus the New England Amateur in 1968. She attended Rollins College in Florida, graduating in 1967 with a degree in history. She tied for fifth at the 1969 LPGA Burdine's Invitational as an amateur. She then turned pro and earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 1969.
Blalock won her first tournament in 1970. She won 25 tournaments during the 1970s and never missed a cut through 1980, making 299 straight cuts, which remains a Tour record. She went winless from 1981 to 1984, then won twice in 1985 for what would be her final victories. She retired from competition in 1987.
Blalock has won the most times on the LPGA without winning a major. She finished second twice at the LPGA Championship. She did win the Dinah Shore Colgate Winner's Circle in 1972, an event later upgraded to major status. With 27 wins, she matches the current point total required for World Golf Hall of Fame membership, but lacks a major win or Player of the Year or Vare Trophy necessary for consideration.[1] It is now up to a Veterans Committee to vote on her Hall credentials.
Blalock owns a golf event management firm and started the LPGA Golf Clinics for Women program. She also played a role in founding the Women's Senior Golf Tour (now called the Legends Tour). She is a member of the New England Sports Hall of Fame.
At the 1972 Bluegrass Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, Blalock was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Tourney director Gene McAuliff said Blalock did not mark her ball properly on the 17th green and then failed to take a two-stroke penalty for the infraction as required.[2] Twice in the weeks after the Louisville tournament, Blalock had to appear before the LPGA executive committee and Blalock admitted her guilt.[3] Twenty-seven tour players signed a petition[4] asking that Blalock be harshly punished but Sandra Palmer defended her.[5] Blalock was suspended for one year. She sued the LPGA Tour[6] and was allowed to continue playing.[7] A federal court in 1974 ruled that the LPGA had violated antitrust laws.[8] The litigation was settled in 1975[9] and eventually led to the hiring of the first Tour commissioner.[10]
In 1976, Blalock testified for the LPGA Tour in a suit against a sponsor trying to start a Women's Masters Tournament.[11]
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 9, 1970 | Lady Carling Open | +2 (72-79-70=221) | 1 stroke | Betsy Rawls |
| 2 | Jun 11, 1971 | George Washington Classic | -11 (68-72-68=208) | 2 strokes | JoAnne Carner |
| 3 | Aug 8, 1971 | Lady Pepsi Open | -5 (72-70-72=214) | 1 stroke | JoAnne Carner |
| 4 | Apr 16, 1972 | Dinah Shore Colgate Winner's Circle | -3 (71-70-72=213) | 3 strokes | Carol Mann Judy Rankin |
| 5 | May 14, 1972 | Suzuki Golf Internationale | -8 (68-70-70=208) | 1 stroke | Kathy Whitworth |
| 6 | Sep 10, 1972 | Dallas Civitan Open | -5 (68-74-69=211) | Playoff1 | Kathy Whitworth |
| 7 | Nov 5, 1972 | Lady Errol Classic | -2 (71-70-73=214) | Playoff2 | Sandra Palmer Kathy Whitworth |
| 8 | Mar 17, 1974 | Bing Crosby International Classic | -1 (74-74-67=215) | 2 strokes | Jo Ann Prentice |
| 9 | Apr 28, 1974 | Birmingham Classic | -5 (73-68-70=211) | 3 strokes | Sandra Palmer |
| 10 | Sep 2, 1974 | Southgate Ladies Open | -2 (70-72=142) | Tie3 | Sue Roberts |
| 11 | Nov 24, 1974 | Lady Errol Classic | -1 (70-75-70=215) | Playoff4 | Jo Ann Prentice |
| 12 | Mar 29, 1975 | Karsten-Ping Open | -7 (70-71-68=209) | 1 stroke | JoAnne Carner |
| 13 | Aug 15, 1976 | Wheeling Classic | +1 (72-72-73=217) | Playoff5 | Pat Bradley |
| 14 | Sep 12, 1976 | Dallas Civitan Open | -11 (67-67-71=205) | 9 strokes | Kathy Whitworth |
| 15 | May 15, 1977 | Greater Baltimore Golf Classic | -10 (69-72-68=209) | 3 strokes | Joyce Kazmierski Takako Kiyamoto |
| 16 | Sep 25, 1977 | The Sarah Coventry | -10 (72-70-69-71=282) | 3 strokes | Debbie Austin Pat Meyers |
| 17 | Feb 20, 1978 | Orange Blossom Classic | -4 (71-71-70=212) | 2 strokes | Gloria Ehret |
| 18 | Jul 3, 1978 | Mayflower Classic | -7 (69-72-68=209) | 3 strokes | Joyce Kazmierski |
| 19 | Jul 9, 1978 | Wheeling Classic | -9 (68-67-72=207) | 7 strokes | Kathy Martin |
| 20 | May 29, 1978 | Golden Lights Championship (California) | -12 (67-68-70-71=276) | 2 strokes | Hollis Stacy |
| 21 | Feb 25, 1979 | Orange Blossom Classic | -11 (66-69-70=205) | 6 strokes | Sandra Post |
| 22 | Apr 22, 1979 | Florida Lady Citrus | -6 (74-68-74-70=286) | Playoff6 | JoAnne Carner |
| 23 | Apr 29, 1979 | Otey Crisman Classic | -11 (68-65-72=205) | 6 strokes | Pat Bradley |
| 24 | Jun 17, 1979 | The Sarah Coventry | -12 (69-70-69-72=280) | 6 strokes | Alice Ritzman |
| 25 | Feb 10, 1980 | Elizabeth Arden Classic | -5 (70-66-73-74=283) | 1 stroke | Jerilyn Britz Debbie Massey |
| 26 | Mar 17, 1985 | Women's Kemper Open | -5 (71-69-72-75=287) | 1 stroke | Pat Bradley |
| 27 | Nov 10 1985 | Mazda Japan Classic | -10 (72-70-64=206) | 2 strokes | Ai-Yu Tu |
1 Defeated Whitworth with birdie on first extra hole.
2 Defeated Palmer and Whitworth with birdie on first extra hole.
3 The 1974 Southgate Ladies Open was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. Since a playoff was not possible, Blalock and Sue Roberts were declared co-champions.
4 Defeated Prentice with birdie on first extra hole.
5 Defeated Bradley with par on first extra hole.
6 Defeated Carner with par on second extra hole.