Charles Owens

Charles Owens (February 22, 1932 – September 7, 2017) was an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.

For the American tennis player, see Charles Owens (tennis).
For the jazz saxophonist born in 1939, see Charles Owens (saxophonist born 1939).
Charles "Charlie" Owens
Personal information
Born(1932-02-22)February 22, 1932
Winter Haven, Florida
DiedSeptember 7, 2017(2017-09-07) (aged 85)
Winter Haven, Florida
Nationality United States
ResidenceTampa, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Career
CollegeFlorida A&M University
Turned professional1967
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins4
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour Champions2
Other2

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.[1]

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.[1]

Owens also is credited with inventing and popularizing the "long (52") style putter"[2] which he used to overcome the yips.

Owens formerly lived in Tampa, Florida and recently resided in Winter Haven until his death on September 7, 2017.[3] He won the Ben Hogan Award in 1987 and was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2007.

Professional wins (4)

Regular career wins (2)
  • 1971 Kemper Asheville Open (a PGA Tour "satellite" event)
  • 1974 Florida Open

Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Feb 9, 1986 Treasure Coast Classic –14 (65-69-68=202) 3 strokes Lee Elder, Don January
2 Mar 16, 1986 Del E. Webb Senior PGA Tour Roundup −14 (71-64-67=202) Playoff Dale Douglass

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1986 Del E. Webb Senior PGA Tour Roundup Dale Douglass Won with par on second extra hole
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References
  1. White Jr., Gordon S. (July 8, 1987). "Handicapped Senior Golfer to Protest Ban on Carts". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  2. Fields, Bill (September 14, 2007). "Charles Owens, An Overlooked Pioneer". Golf Digest. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  3. Fuoco, Roy (September 8, 2017). "Winter Haven native, golfing pioneer Charlie Owens dies at 85". The Ledger.
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