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Pete Oakley

Pete Oakley
Oakley in 2010
Personal information
Full namePeter Hal Oakley
Born (1949-06-28) June 28, 1949 (age 75)
Panama City, Florida, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Sporting nationality United States
ResidencePalm City, Florida, U.S.
SpouseSandra Jane
Children2
Career
CollegeSanta Fe Community College
Turned professional1974
Former tour(s)Champions Tour
European Seniors Tour
Professional wins17
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour Champions1
European Senior Tour1
Other16
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipCUT: 1983, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1997
U.S. OpenCUT: 1975, 1980, 1983
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 2005
Achievements and awards
European Seniors Tour
Rookie of the Year
2004

Peter Hal Oakley (born June 28, 1949) is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 2004 Senior British Open, one of the major championships in senior men's professional golf. He is the younger brother of golfer David Oakley.

Early life

Oakley was born in Panama City, Florida. He got started in the game at age 11 by his mother, who thought a nearby nine-hole course would be a great babysitter for him and his brother David.

Professional career

Oakley was a long-time club pro in the Philadelphia-Delaware area where he won numerous sectional titles including the Delaware State Open six times and the Shawnee Open six times. He played some on the Nationwide Tour in his forties to prepare himself for the Champions Tour.[1]

The biggest win of his career was his first on the Champions Tour, and came in a major – The 2004 Senior British Open played at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.[2][3] Oakley sank a 10-foot par putt on the final hole to win by one stroke and avoid a playoff with Tom Kite and Eduardo Romero. The victory made him only the 10th open qualifier to win a Champions Tour event.[4]

In 2008, he had his best season since 2004, when he finished fifth in the Russian Seniors Open en route to ending the year 29th in the 2008 European Senior Tour Order Of Merit.[5]

Oakley has done some golf course design work. In 2001, he completed and opened (with partner Chris Adkins) a public course in Milton, Delaware, called The Rookery Golf Club.[6]

Awards and honors

  • Oakley was awarded the Player of the Year for the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America in 1980, 1984, 1999, and 2000.
  • Oakley was awarded 2004 European Seniors Tour Rookie of the Year.

Personal life

His wife has caddied for him in professional tournaments.[7] His son's, Zachary (Zac) and Jeremy Joseph (J.J.), are also golfers. Zac was a three-time All-American at Wesley College, and J.J. played at the University of Delaware. Oakley is a man of strong religious faith.[5]

He formerly lived in Lincoln, Delaware and has moved to Palm City, Florida.[7]

Professional wins (18)

Regular career wins (14)

Champions Tour wins (1)

Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other Champions Tour (0)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runners-up
1 Jul 25, 2004 The Senior British Open Championship −4 (73-68-73-70=284) 1 stroke United States Tom Kite, Argentina Eduardo Romero

European Seniors Tour wins (1)

Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other European Seniors Tour (0)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runners-up
1 Jul 25, 2004 The Senior British Open Championship −4 (73-68-73-70=284) 1 stroke United States Tom Kite, Argentina Eduardo Romero

Other senior wins (2)

  • 1999 PGA Senior Club Pro Championship
  • 2000 PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship

Results in major championships

!Tournament 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
!Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
U.S. Open CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUT CUT CUT
!Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUT CUT CUT
!Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
Note: Oakley never played in the Masters Tournament.

Senior major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runners-up
2004 Senior British Open Championship −4 (73-68-73-70=284) 1 stroke United States Tom Kite, Argentina Eduardo Romero

U.S. national team appearances

References

  1. ^ "Who's who in Golf / Pete Oakley". Where2Golf. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard – Results". European Tour. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Past results, The Senior Open". PGA Tour. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Unknown Oakley wins Senior British". ESPN. Associated Press. July 25, 2004. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Meet Pete". European Tour. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Rookery, Golf Course, Great Golf & Conditions". The Rookery Golf Club. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Oakley penalized for delay by caddie -- his wife". PGA Tour. July 27, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2022.