Frank Conner

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.
1996 Senior Tour Summary: tournaments entered - 35; top 10 finishes - 6; stroke average 71.34 (ranked 21st); money $561,465 (ranked 20th); best finish T5th, American Express Invitational, First of America Classic & Boone Valley Classic.
1997 Senior Tour Summary: tournaments entered - 35; top 10 finishes - 8; stroke average 71.52 (ranked 32nd); money $528,346 (ranked 30th); T2nd at The Transamerica.
1998 Senior PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 34; top ten finishes - 5; stroke average 71.66 (ranked 39th); money $492,634 (ranked 35th); best finish T2nd, Kroger Senior Classic.
1999 Senior PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 35; top ten finishes - 3; stroke average 71.78 (ranked 51st); money $419,631 (ranked 47th); best finish T4th, Las Vegas Senior Classic.
2000 Senior PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 31; top ten finishes - 1; stroke average 71.78 (ranked 51st); money $287,989 (ranked 59th); best finish T6th, Audi Senior Classic.
2001 Senior PGA Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 22; top ten finishes - 0; stroke average 73.14 (ranked 73rd); money 161,068 (ranked 74th); best finish T12th, Novell Utah Showdown.