Joe Jimenez

Joe Jimenez
Personal information
Born June 10, 1926(1926-06-10)
Kerrville, Texas
Died August 11, 2007(2007-08-11) (aged 81)
San Antonio, Texas
Nationality  United States
Career
College Trinity University
Status Professional
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins 4
Best results in Major Championships
Masters Tournament DNP
U.S. Open T45: 1958
The Open Championship CUT: 1978
PGA Championship T65: 1970

Joe Jimenez (June 10, 1926 – August 11, 2007) was an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1978 PGA Seniors' Championship.

Jimenez, who was of Mexican American descent, was born in Kerrville, Texas.[1] He was a 1952 graduate of Trinity University with majors in biology and physical education.[2] Jimenez played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He spent many years (1964–1991) as the club pro at the Jefferson City Country Club in Jefferson City, Missouri. His best showing in a major championship was a T-45 at the 1958 U.S. Open. The highlight of his career came when he won the 1978 PGA Seniors' Championship in a playoff over Manuel de la Torre and Joe Cheves with a birdie on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Jimenez holds or formerly held two of golf's "shoot below your age" records. At the 1991 GTE Northwest Classic, a Senior PGA Tour event, 65-year-old Jimenez became the youngest player to shoot his age or lower in a tournament on one of golf's major professional circuits by shooting a 63. This record was later broken when 61-year-old Walter Morgan shot a 60 in the AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship. Jimenez still holds the most-strokes-below-age (7) record. He shot a 62 during the 1995 Ameritech Senior Open at the age of 69.[3]

Since 1974, the Jefferson City Country Club has hosted a tournament in his honor, the Joe Jimenez Invitational[4] He holds several Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions records.

Jiminez died at his home in San Antonio, Texas from renal failure brought on by lung cancer. He was 81 years old.[2]

Senior wins

References

  1. ^ Willis, George, Newsday - Long Island, N.Y., "Fade to Black" (Jul 25, 1993, Sports Section, Page 16); "Other prominent minority players include Mexican-Americans Lee Trevino, Joe Jimenez, Homero Blancas and Fred Ruiz.."
  2. ^ a b Jefferson City, Missouri News Tribune: Joe Jimenez, longtime head professional at J.C.C.C., dies at age 81 (URL last accessed August 14, 2007)
  3. ^ Article from golf.about.com: Golf Age Shooters - What are the Records for Age Shooters in Golf? (URL last accessed October 28, 2006)
  4. ^ Jefferson City, Missouri News Tribune: At age 80, Jimenez still has game (URL last accessed October 28, 2006)

External links