Joe Jimenez
Encyclopedia
Joe Jimenez 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
. He was a 1952 graduate of Trinity University
with majors in biology and physical education. 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.
Since 1974, the Jefferson City Country Club has hosted a tournament in his honor, the Joe Jimenez Invitational 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
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;...
best known for winning the 1978 PGA Seniors' Championship.
Jimenez, who was of Mexican American descent, was born in Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
. He was a 1952 graduate of Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
with majors in biology and physical education. 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
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. His best showing 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 a T-45 at the 1958 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. The highlight of his career came when he won the 1978 PGA Seniors' Championship in a playoff over Manuel de la Torre
Manuel de la Torre (golfer)
Manuel de la Torre is recognized as being one of golf's top teachers. His career includes playing competitively on tour, head golf professional at Milwaukee Country Club one of America's most esteemed golf clubs, and a career of teaching both tour professional and amateur golfers. Among the tour...
and Joe Cheves
Joe Cheves
Joe Cheves was a professional golfer and co-founder of the American Golf Association. He was born on May 23, 1918 in Cheraw, South Carolina and died in Morganton, North Carolina on July 31, 2007...
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
GTE Northwest Classic
The GTE Northwest Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1986 to 1995. It was played in Redmond, Washington at the Sahalee Country Club and in Kenmore, Washington at the Inglewood Country Club ....
, 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
Walter Morgan (golfer)
Walter T. Morgan is an American professional golfer who has played on the Senior PGA Tour .Morgan was born in Haddock, Georgia, where he played baseball in his youth. He served 20 years in the United States Army including two tours of duty in Vietnam. He began playing golf at the age of 30 after...
shot a 60 in the AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship
AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship
The AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1981 to 1985 and 1996 to 2002. It was played at a different golf course in Canada each year....
. 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.
Since 1974, the Jefferson City Country Club has hosted a tournament in his honor, the Joe Jimenez Invitational He holds several Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions records
Champions Tour records
These are achievements of play on Champions Tour and Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions events.Records of 2010 are as of the date of the record unless otherwise noted...
.
Jiminez died at his home in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
from renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
brought on by lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He was 81 years old.
Senior wins
- 1978 PGA Seniors' Championship
- 1998 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Charlie SiffordCharlie SiffordCharles Sifford is an African American former professional golfer who helped to desegregate the PGA of America.Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen...
) - 1999 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Charlie SiffordCharlie SiffordCharles Sifford is an African American former professional golfer who helped to desegregate the PGA of America.Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen...
) - 2000 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Charlie SiffordCharlie SiffordCharles Sifford is an African American former professional golfer who helped to desegregate the PGA of America.Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen...
)