Andy Bean
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Thomas Andrew "Andy" Bean (born March 13, 1953) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the amateur and professional level including 11 PGA Tour victories.
Bean was born in LaFayette, Georgia and was raised in Jekyll Island, Georgia, where his father was associated with a golf course. His family moved to Lakeland, Florida when he was 15, and his father bought a golf course there. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and while there won four amateur tournaments. Bean, along with future fellow PGA Tour players Woody Blackburn and Gary Koch, were members of the 1973 NCAA Championship team. He turned pro in 1975.
Bean was a dominant player on the PGA Tour from 1977-1986. He did not finish outside the top 35 on the money list during those years, a stetch that included 5 top-seven finishes on the list. His first PGA Tour victory was at the Doral-Eastern Open in 1977, and his last was at the Byron Nelson Golf Classic in 1986. In 1978, he won three times. He played on the Ryder Cup team in 1979 and 1987.
Bean never won a major championship. He came closest in the 1983 British Open when he and Hale Irwin finished tied for second – one stroke behind Tom Watson.
Since turning 50 in March 2003, Bean has been enjoying a resurgence of his game on the Champions Tour, where he won for the first time at the 2006 Great Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.
Bean still lives in Lakeland in Florida where he enjoys hunting and fishing. He and his wife Debbie, have 3 daughters, Lauren (born 1982), Lindsey (born 1984) and Jordan (born 1985).
[edit] PGA Tour wins (11)
- 1977 (1) Doral - Eastern Open Invitational
- 1978 (3) Kemper Open, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, Western Open
- 1979 (1) Atlanta Classic
- 1980 (1) Hawaiian Open
- 1981 (1) Bay Hill Classic
- 1982 (1) Doral - Eastern Open Invitational
- 1984 (1) Greater Greensboro Open
- 1986 (2) Doral - Eastern Open Invitational, Byron Nelson Golf Classic
[edit] Other regular career wins (3)
- 1978 Dunlop Phoenix (Japan Golf Tour)
- 1986 Isuzu Kapula International
- 1987 Isuzu Kapula International
[edit] Champions Tour wins (1)
- 2006 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
[edit] Amateur wins (4)
- 1974 Eastern Amateur
- 1974 Falstaff Amateur
- 1975 Dixie Amateur, Western Amateur
