Comment
Rate
Joe Jimenez, longtime head professional at J.C.C.C., dies at age 81
|
||
| Advertisement |
By Tom Rackers
News Tribune
Joe Jimenez, the longtime head professional at the Jefferson City Country Club and the winner of the 1978 PGA of America National Senior Championship, died Saturday at his home in San Antonio. He was 81.
Jimenez, who served as the head professional at Jefferson City Country Club from 1964-1991, died of renal failure brought on by lung cancer. Though never a smoker, he was diagnosed with the disease last spring.
“He was such a kind guy and a friend to everybody,” Bill Wells, the former Executive Director of the Missouri Golf Association, said Monday. “I never heard Joe say a bad word about anybody.
“He was just a heck of a guy.”
Born in Kerryville, Texas, Jimenez was a 1952 graduate of Trinity University with majors in biology and physical education. He will be posthumously inducted into the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame in October.
In his golfing career, Jimenez was a six-time qualifier for the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, and also qualified for the British Open.
In 1978, he captured the PGA of America National Senior Championship in a one-hole playoff at the Walt Disney World complex in Orlando, Fla. Later that year, Jimenez won the World Seniors Championship.
Jimenez also teamed with Charlie Sifford to capture Demaret Division titles at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf from 1998-2000. In 2005 and 2006, he and Sifford combined to take second in the division.
He was a two-time winner of both the Midwest PGA Championship and the Gateway PGA Championship and also won the South Central PGA Championship and the Missouri Open.
One of the Hispanic pioneers in the sport of golf, Jimenez was an outstanding golfer throughout his later years.
Jimenez joined the Senior Tour in 1982 and finished with career earnings in excess of $1.3 million. He won 32 Super-Senior events, the second-most in tour history.
In 1995, at the Ameritech Senior Open, he fired a 10-under-par 62 at age 69 to establish the professional record for lowest score in relation to age.
In an interview at last summer's Joe Jimenez Invitational at the Jefferson City Country Club, he said he was still hitting the links. And still bettering his age.
“But at my age, it's getting easier,” the 80-year-old joked.
Funeral arrangements are pending. His wife, Lydia, died in June.
Jimenez, who served as the head professional at Jefferson City Country Club from 1964-1991, died of renal failure brought on by lung cancer. Though never a smoker, he was diagnosed with the disease last spring.
“He was such a kind guy and a friend to everybody,” Bill Wells, the former Executive Director of the Missouri Golf Association, said Monday. “I never heard Joe say a bad word about anybody.
“He was just a heck of a guy.”
Born in Kerryville, Texas, Jimenez was a 1952 graduate of Trinity University with majors in biology and physical education. He will be posthumously inducted into the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame in October.
In his golfing career, Jimenez was a six-time qualifier for the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, and also qualified for the British Open.
In 1978, he captured the PGA of America National Senior Championship in a one-hole playoff at the Walt Disney World complex in Orlando, Fla. Later that year, Jimenez won the World Seniors Championship.
Jimenez also teamed with Charlie Sifford to capture Demaret Division titles at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf from 1998-2000. In 2005 and 2006, he and Sifford combined to take second in the division.
He was a two-time winner of both the Midwest PGA Championship and the Gateway PGA Championship and also won the South Central PGA Championship and the Missouri Open.
One of the Hispanic pioneers in the sport of golf, Jimenez was an outstanding golfer throughout his later years.
Jimenez joined the Senior Tour in 1982 and finished with career earnings in excess of $1.3 million. He won 32 Super-Senior events, the second-most in tour history.
In 1995, at the Ameritech Senior Open, he fired a 10-under-par 62 at age 69 to establish the professional record for lowest score in relation to age.
In an interview at last summer's Joe Jimenez Invitational at the Jefferson City Country Club, he said he was still hitting the links. And still bettering his age.
“But at my age, it's getting easier,” the 80-year-old joked.
Funeral arrangements are pending. His wife, Lydia, died in June.
 |
||
| Reyes gets rare win as Cardinals beat Dodgers 12-2 |
Article Rating |
|
Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.
To add your comments you must be registered and logged in |
RSS
