JoAnne Carner

JoAnne Carner
Personal information
Full name	JoAnne Gunderson Carner
Nickname	The Great Gundy, Big Mama
Born	(1939-04-04) April 4, 1939 Kirkland, Washington, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Sporting nationality	United States
Spouse	Don Carner (m. 1963–99, his death)
Career
College	Arizona State University
Turned professional	1970
Former tour(s)	LPGA Tour (1970–2005)
Professional wins	49
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	43
Other	6
Best results in LPGA major championships (wins: 2)
Western Open	T2: 1959
Titleholders C'ship	T10: 1972
Chevron Championship	T2: 1989
Women's PGA C'ship	2nd: 1974, 1982, 1992
U.S. Women's Open	Won: 1971, 1976
du Maurier Classic	2nd/T2: 1980, 1983
Women's British Open	DNP
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 1982 (member page) LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year 1970 LPGA Tour Money Winner 1974, 1982, 1983 LPGA Tour Player of the Year 1974, 1981, 1982 LPGA Vare Trophy 1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983 USGA Bob Jones Award 1981 GWAA Female Player of the Year 1982, 1983 LPGA William and Mousie Powell Award 1995

JoAnne Gunderson Carner (born April 4, 1939) is an American former professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person to win three different USGA championship events. Tiger Woods is the only man to have won the equivalent three USGA titles. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Carol Semple Thompson have also won three different USGA titles.

Carner was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1981, Carner was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. She captained the 1994 U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Amateur career

Born in Kirkland, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle, "The Great Gundy" (as she was known before she married Don Carner) remained an amateur until age 30. In 1960, while attending Arizona State University, she won the national intercollegiate individual golf championship. From 1956 to 1968, she was the dominant woman in amateur golf, and accumulated five U.S. Women's Amateur titles (1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968), ranking her second only to Glenna Collett Vare who had six. She was runner-up two other times (1956, 1964). In 1966, Carner needed 5 extra holes (41 holes in total) to beat Marlene Stewart Streit in the longest final match in U.S. Women's Amateur history. She also won the U.S. Girls' Junior in 1956.

While still an amateur in 1969, Carner won an LPGA Tour event, the Burdine's Invitational. She was the last amateur to win on the LPGA Tour until 15-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko won the CN Canadian Women's Open in 2012.

Professional career

Carner's greatest professional victories were her two U.S. Women's Opens, in 1971 and 1976. She led after each round in 1971 and won easily, finishing seven shots better than Kathy Whitworth who finished in second. In 1976, Carner needed an 18-hole playoff to defeat Sandra Palmer.

Big Mama (her other nickname) was the second player in LPGA history to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings. She had an unusually long career, remaining competitive through the late 1990s. During 2004, she still played 10 tournaments and became the oldest player to make a cut on the LPGA Tour at age 65.

On July 29 and 30, 2021, Carner played in the U.S. Senior Women's Open at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Connecticut and shot her age (82) in the first round, and bettered that by shooting 79 in the second round. Although she did not make the cut, she became the fifth golfer ever to shoot their age or better multiple times in a USGA championship while also being the oldest golfer ever to play in a USGA championship.

Personal

Carner is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She married Don Carner in 1963, and he also served as her coach and business manager. They were married 36 years until his death at age 83 in 1999 after a long illness. The couple was known for driving from tournament to tournament and staying in an Airstream trailer.

Amateur wins (7)

• 1956 U.S. Girls' Junior
• 1957 U.S. Women's Amateur
• 1959 Women's Western Amateur
• 1960 U.S. Women's Amateur
• 1962 U.S. Women's Amateur
• 1966 U.S. Women's Amateur
• 1968 U.S. Women's Amateur

Professional wins (49)

LPGA Tour wins (43)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (2)
Other LPGA Tour (41)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jan 19, 1969	Burdine's Invitational [1]	E (73-73-70=216)	1 stroke	Shirley Englehorn
2	Sep 12, 1970	Wendell-West Open	−2 (72-73-69=214)	Playoff	Marilynn Smith
3	Jun 27, 1971	U.S. Women's Open	E (70-73-72-73=288)	7 strokes	Kathy Whitworth
4	Aug 1, 1971	Bluegrass Invitational	−6 (71-71-68=210)	3 strokes	Sandra Haynie
5	May 19, 1974	Bluegrass Invitational (2)	−4 (72-70-73=215)	Playoff	Sandra Spuzich
6	May 26, 1974	Hoosier LPGA Classic	−6 (73-72-68=213)	2 strokes	Donna Caponi Judy Rankin
7	Jun 9, 1974	Desert Inn Classic	−4 (74-68-72-70=284)	1 stroke	Carole Jo Kabler
8	Aug 18, 1974	St. Paul Open	−7 (68-70-74=212)	4 strokes	Laura Baugh
9	Sep 8, 1974	Dallas Civitan Open	+1 (71-72-74=217)	1 stroke	Kathy Whitworth
10	Sep 29, 1974	Portland Ladies Classic	−5 (70-70-71=211)	2 strokes	Donna Caponi
11	May 25, 1975	American Defender Classic	−10 (69-68-69=206)	Playoff	Judy Rankin
12	Jun 8, 1975	Girl Talk Classic	−6 (68-72-73=213)	6 strokes	Sandra Spuzich
13	Jun 29, 1975	Peter Jackson Classic	−5 (73-69-72=214)	Playoff	Carol Mann
14	Feb 15, 1976	Orange Blossom Classic (2)	−7 (65-71-73=209)	Playoff	Sandra Palmer
15	June 21, 1976	Lady Tara Classic	−10 (72-67-70=209)	3 strokes	Silvia Bertolaccini
16	Jun 20, 1976	Hoosier Classic (2)	−6 (72-70-68=210)	2 strokes	Debbie Austin Pat Bradley
17	Jul 11, 1976	U.S. Women's Open (2)	+8 (71-71-77-73=292)	Playoff	Sandra Palmer
18	Jun 5, 1977	Talk Tournament '77	−4 (72-70-68-74=284)	5 strokes	Kathy McMullen
19	Jul 17, 1977	Borden Classic	−9 (66-70-71=207)	1 stroke	Pat Meyers
20	Sep 11, 1977	National Jewish Hospital Open	−6 (69-72-69=210)	2 strokes	Hollis Stacy
21	Jul 4, 1978	Peter Jackson Classic (2)	−14 (73-70-71-64=278)	8 strokes	Hollis Stacy
22	Jul 16, 1978	Borden Classic (2)	−7 (71-67-71=209	1 stroke	Betsy King Pat Bradley
23	Mar 18, 1979	Honda Civic Classic	−7 (72-71-69-69=281)	3 strokes	Pat Bradley Sandra Post
24	Apr 1, 1979	Women's Kemper Open	+2 (72-71-72-71=286)	Playoff	Donna Caponi Hisako Higuchi Nancy Lopez Jan Stephenson
25	Feb 4, 1980	Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek	−10 (69-71-69-73=282)	2 strokes	Sandra Post
26	Feb 24, 1980	Bent Tree Ladies Classic	−8 (72-71-68-69=280)	1 stroke	Sandra Post
27	Mar, 9, 1980	Sunstar Classic	−9 (69-71-67=207)	3 strokes	Debbie Massey Kathy Postlewait
28	Mar 16, 1980	Honda Civic Golf Classic (2)	−71-69-70-69=279)	4 strokes	Judy Rankin
29	Jun 22, 1980	Lady Keystone Open	−9 (67-69-71=207)	4 strokes	Jo Ann Washam
30	Feb 15, 1981	S&H Golf Classic (2)	−1 (69-74-72=215)	Playoff	Dot Germain
31	Jun 21, 1981	Lady Keystone Open (2)	−13 (68-69-66=203)	8 strokes	Martha Nause
32	Aug 30, 1981	Columbia Savings LPGA Classic (2)	−10 (70-70-67-71=278)	2 strokes	Janet Anderson Patty Sheehan Kathy Whitworth
33	Sep 7, 1981	Rail Charity Golf Classic	−11 (70-69-66=205)	2 strokes	Kyle O'Brien
34	Feb 7, 1982	Elizabeth Arden Classic (2)	−5 (70-70-71-72=283)	1 stroke	Jo Ann Washam
35	Jun 6, 1982	McDonald's Classic	−12 (68-73-68-67=276)	6 strokes	Sandra Haynie
36	Aug 22, 1982	Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf	−4 (72-70-71-71=284)	5 strokes	Ayako Okamoto
37	Aug 29, 1982	Henredon Classic	−6 (70-71-69-72=282)	Playoff	Sandra Haynie
38	Sep 6, 1982	Rail Charity Golf Classic (2)	−14 (69-66-67=202)	6 strokes	Susie McAllister
39	Aug 21, 1983	Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf (2)	−6 (73-73-67-69=282)	2 strokes	Ayako Okamoto
40	Sep 11, 1983	Portland Ping Championship (2)	−4 (72-70-70=212)	Playoff	Charlotte Montgomery
41	May 27, 1984	LPGA Corning Classic	−7 (71-69-71-70=281)	4 strokes	Ayako Okamoto
42	Feb 3, 1985	Elizabeth Arden Classic (3)	−8 (70-66-74-70=280)	6 strokes	Jane Blalock
43	Sep 15, 1985	Safeco Classic	−9 (71-71-69-68=279)	2 strokes	Jan Stephenson

¹ Carner won the Burdine's Invitational as an amateur.

Note: Carner won the Peter Jackson Classic (which became the du Maurier Classic) twice before it became a major championship.

LPGA Tour playoff record (10–10)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1970	Wendell-West Open	Marilynn Smith	Won with bogey on first extra hole
2	1974	Bluegrass Invitational	Sandra Spuzich	Won with bogey on first extra hole
3	1975	Birmingham Classic	Maria Astrologes Judy Rankin	Astrolges won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1975	American Defender Classic	Judy Rankin	Won with par on first extra hole
5	1975	Peter Jackson Classic	Carol Mann	Won with birdie on second extra hole
6	1976	Orange Blossom Classic	Sandra Palmer	Won with par on fourth extra hole
7	1976	U.S. Women's Open	Sandra Palmer	Won an 18-hole playoff (Carner:76, Palmer.:78)
8	1976	Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic	Mary Lou Crocker Sandra Palmer Michelle Walker	Palmer won with birdie on third extra hole Crocker and Walker eliminated by par on first hole
9	1978	Coca-Cola Classic	Nancy Lopez	Lost to par on first extra hole
10	1979	Women's Kemper Open	Donna Caponi Chako Higuchi Nancy Lopez Jan Stephenson	Won with par on second extra hole Caponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated by par on first hole
11	1979	Florida Lady Citrus	Jane Blalock	Lost to par on second extra hole
12	1981	Elizabeth Arden Classic	Sally Little Judy Rankin	Little won with par on third extra hole Carner eliminated by par on second hole
13	1981	S&H Golf Classic	Dot Germain	Won with par on first extra hole
14	1982	Whirlpool Championship of Deer Creek	Hollis Stacy	Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole
15	1982	Henredon Classic	Sandra Haynie	Won with par on fifth extra hole
16	1983	McDonald's Kids Classic	Beth Daniel	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
17	1983	Portland Ping Championship	Charlotte Montgomery	Won with birdie on first extra hole
18	1986	Henredon Classic	Betsy King	Lost to par on second extra hole
19	1987	U.S. Women's Open	Laura Davies Ayako Okamoto	Davies won 18-hole playoff (Davies:71, Carner:73, Okamoto:74)
20	1993	HealthSouth Palm Beach Classic	Tammie Green	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (6)

• 1975 Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open
• 1977 LPGA National Team Championship (with Judy Rankin)
• 1978 Colgate Triple Crown Match-Play Championship
• 1979 Colgate Triple Crown
• 1982 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic (with John Mahaffey)
• 1996 Sprint Titleholders Senior Challenge

Major championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1971	U.S. Women's Open	E (70-73-72-73=288)	7 strokes	Kathy Whitworth
1976	U.S. Women's Open	+8 (71-71-77-73=292)	Playoff1	Sandra Palmer

¹ In an 18-hole playoff, Carner 76, Palmer 78.

Results timeline

Tournament	1962	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
LPGA Championship		T6	39	T12	T47	2	T9		T5	4
U.S. Women's Open	T15	T21	1	T29	T49	T4	T3	1	3	T2

Tournament	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Nabisco Dinah Shore †	...	...	...	...	T4	T5	T26	T42	T47	T12	T2	T31
LPGA Championship	T6	T3	T5	2	T4	T56	CUT	T40	T28	T18	T54	DQ
U.S. Women's Open		T10	T6	T2	T2	T20	T48	T35	T2	T16	T17	18
du Maurier Classic		2	T7	T3	T2	5	T29	T14		CUT	T10	CUT

Tournament	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Nabisco Dinah Shore	CUT	T17	T40	T48	CUT	T79	CUT	T18	CUT
LPGA Championship	8	T2	T37	T26	T38		CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Women's Open	T11	T42	T11	T31	CUT	CUT	CUT
du Maurier Classic	T69	CUT	T71	CUT	CUT		CUT	CUT	T53	CUT

Tournament	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Kraft Nabisco Championship †	DQ		CUT	T70	CUT
LPGA Championship		CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Women's Open
Women's British Open ^

† The Kraft Nabisco Championship was the Nabisco Dinah Shore Championship through 1999. It became the Nabisco Championship in 2000 and adopted the Kraft Nabisco Championship name in 2002.
^The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
DQ = disqualified
... = not yet a major
"T" = tied for place

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Kraft Nabisco Championship	0	1	0	3	3	6	21	14
LPGA Championship	0	3	1	8	12	14	32	23
U.S. Women's Open	2	4	2	9	11	19	28	25
du Maurier Classic	0	2	1	4	6	7	19	11
Totals	2	10	4	24	32	46	100	73

• Most consecutive cuts made – 37 (1962 U.S. Women's Open – 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 24 (1974 LPGA – 1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore)

Team appearances

Amateur

• Curtis Cup (representing the United States): 1958 (tie), 1960 (winners), 1962 (winners), 1964 (winners)

Professional

• Handa Cup (representing the United States): 2006 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2008 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2010 (winners), 2011 (winners)
• Solheim Cup (representing the United States): 1994 (non-playing captain, winners)

See also

• List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins

External links

• JoAnne Carner at the LPGA Tour official site (archived)
• JoAnne Carner at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site)
• JoAnne Carner at golf.about.com at the Wayback Machine (archived February 15, 2008)