| Joe Jimenez | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 10, 1926 Kerrville, Texas |
| Died | August 11, 2007 (aged 81) San Antonio, Texas |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | Trinity University |
| Status | Professional |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 12 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| PGA Championship | T65: 1970 |
| U.S. Open | T45: 1958 |
| The Open Championship | CUT: 1978 |
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]
- ^ Willis, George (July 25, 1993). "Fade to Black". Newsday. Long Island, New York. p. 16 (Sports).
Other prominent minority players include Mexican-Americans Lee Trevino, Joe Jimenez, Homero Blancas and Fred Ruiz..
- ^ a b "Joe Jimenez, longtime head professional at J.C.C.C., dies at age 81". Jefferson City News-Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2007.
- ^ "Golf Age Shooters - What are the Records for Age Shooters in Golf?". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2006.
- ^ "At age 80, Jimenez still has game". Jefferson City News-Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. Retrieved October 28, 2006.[permanent dead link]