Buddy Gardner

Started playing the game at age 5, everyone in his family played golf, and since he lived about 100 yards from the first tee of the Bonnie Crest C.C., it was natural for him to play the game. He played Junior golf with Bill Rogers, Mike Reid and Mac McLendon and won the Alabama State high school golf championship. In 1976 he beat Ron Streck for the Dixie Amateur championship and went to Auburn on a scholarship. Gardner first qualified for the Tour in 1977, but in his first full year (1978) on Tour, he won only $5,637, finishing 170th on the money list and lost his playing privileges. He went back to Q-school, and earned his card back. In the first four tournaments he entered in 1979 he failed to make a cut, and the doubts came back. He then tied for second, behind Bruce Lietzke in the Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open, which set up a good year for him. He lost in a playoff in the Magnolia Classic and finished second again in the Anheuser-Busch Classic. He had disappointing years in 1980, '81, '82 & '83 but regained some of his lost confidence in finishing 1984, 55th on the money list. Since then, he hasn't dropped out of the top 125, but he hasn't won yet. He came close in the 1987 Big "I" Houston Open. He was leading Jay Haas by one stroke and on the final hole, Haas holed a putt of 70 feet to force a playoff. Jay won it on the first extra Hole... 1990 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 32; in money - 21; top ten finishes - 1; stroke average 70.86 (ranked 58th); money $159,737 (ranked 99th); best finish, T-5th Canadian Open... 1991 PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 30; in money - 22; top ten finishes - 2; stroke average 70.77 (ranked 55th); money $201,700 (ranked 83rd); best finish, T-5th Southern Open.