Gary Hallberg

Started playing the game at age 9 when his dad brought home a set of old clubs. When he was 15, he and his dad turned some of their 15 acres into a course where he could play and practice at home all the time. With all of his hard work, he earned a scholarship to Wake Forest, where he became the first four-time, first team All-American selection. He was the NCAA champion in 1979, won a total of 14 college tournaments and played on the 1977 U.S. Walker Cup Team.
Turned professional in 1980 and was the first player to earn his Tour card by winning the minimum $8,000 needed at that time to obtain playing privileges without going through Q-School. In his first 11 tournaments, he won $64,244 and finished the year with six top-10 finishes. Also won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1980. Won the 1983 Andy Williams-San Diego Open, thanks to a 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole. He nearly won the same title again the next year, but Gary Koch shot a final-round 65 and beat him on the second playoff hole with a birdie. In 1987, he won the Greater Milwaukee Open, thanks to chipping in from 50 feet on the 17th hole during the final round.
Played full-time on the PGA Tour between 1980 and 2006. In 567 events played, he won three times and had earnings of $2.5 million.
Earned his first and only Champions Tour victory at the 2010 Ensure Classic at Rock Barn with a sizzling final-round 61, giving him a one-stroke victory over Fred Couples.
2011 Notes: Played in every event except the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship and finished 48th on the money list. That forced a visit to the 2011 Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz., and he finished T-2nd, earning exempt status for the 2012 season.
2012 Notes: Finished among the top 30 money-winners for the first time in his five seasons on the Champions Tour with six top-10 finishes. Enjoyed his best finish since his victory at the 2010 Ensure Classic when he was second to Fred Couples at the Senior Open Championship at Turnberry.
Has four top 10s on the Champions Tour this season.
2013 Notes: A year after finishing 20th on the money list, dropped to 43rd, with just one top-10 finish for the year. That top 10 did not come until October, at the SAS Championship, when he worked his way up the leaderboard with three straight rounds in the 60s and eventually finished 4th. Only other top-20 outing came in April, at the Greater Gwinnett Championship (T-17th).
2014 Notes: Finished outside the top 50 for the first time since 2009 when he placed 57th on the money list and 64th in Schwab rankings in 21 starts. Turned in his best performance in almost a year when he was among the leaders after two rounds of the 3M Championship. Started the week as the second alternate, as he eventually finished T9. Closed with rounds of 68-69 at Prestonwood CC to finish T-10 at the SAS Championship. Underwent surgery for prostate cancer in December.
2015 Notes: Bounced back from his surgery and came back on tour at the ACE Group Classic. In 13 starts didn't have a top 10, best finish was T-15 at the Greater Gwinnett Championship. Was 81st on the money list and tried to get his tour status back at Champions Tour Q-School. Finished T-36th, had a disappointing 73 in the last round that dropped him out of the top 30.
2016 Notes: Played in 17 events his best finish was T-7th at the Regions Tradition only top-ten of the year. Finished 66th in the money race and Schwab Rankings.
2017 Notes: Played in 12 events, best finish T-13th at Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Finished 75th in the money race and Schwab Rankings.
2018 Notes: Played in 17 PGA Tour Champions events with one top-ten finish, 8th at Pure Insurance Championship. Was 63rd in the Charles Schwab Cup, returned to Q-School and finished T-38th.
2019 Notes: Best finish T-33rd Regions Tradition.