Player Notes: One of the great trivia questions
of all times, who played in the United States Open Championship
in both golf and tennis? Why Ellsworth Vines and Frank
Conner, of course. As a youth, tennis was Conner’s game,
he didn’t take up the game of golf until he was 24 years
old. As a sophomore and junior at Trinity University, he
was an All-American in tennis. He won the National Junior
tennis title at 17, and played in three U.S. Opens. He knew
he could earn more money playing golf over tennis and despite
4 failed tries at Q-school he supported himself teaching
tennis and playing mini-tours in Texas. On his 5th try at
Q-school he got his card and had little success on tour,
making just $40,154 for his four years on tour. Things started
to click in 1979 as he finished in a tie for second in the
New Orleans Open, one behind Hubert Green. He led the 1980
IVB Philadelphia Classic after three rounds, but Doug Tewell
came on strong to win. In 1981, he tied with four others
in the Quad Cities Open but lost to Dave Barr in a playoff.
In 1982 he led the Sea Pines Heritage Classic after three
rounds, but Tom Watson caught him and beat Conner’s in a
three hole playoff. . . Even though victory
on the PGA Tour has eluded Conner, he was the winner of
the 1982 King Hassan Open in Morocco and won the 1988 Deposit
Guaranty Classic. . . Finished T-4th in the ’95 Senior Qualifying
tournament which got him his Senior tour card for ’96.
2001 Senior PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered
- 22; Top-10 finishes - 0; stroke average 73.14 (ranked
73rd); money 161,068 (ranked 74th); best finish T12th, Novell
Utah Showdown.
