David Oakley
| David Oakley | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | David K. Oakley |
| Nickname | "Oak" |
| Born | April 27, 1945 New York |
| Died | July 2, 2006 (aged 61) Orlando, Florida |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | University of Florida |
| Turned professional | 1970 (reinstated amateur) 1996 |
| Former tour(s) | European Seniors Tour |
| Professional wins | 4 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| European Senior Tour | 4 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | DNP |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
| U.S. Open | CUT: 1973 |
| The Open Championship | T46: 1972 |
David K. Oakley (April 27, 1945 – July 2, 2006) was an American professional golfer whose greatest success came on the European Seniors Tour.
Early life
[edit]Oakley was born in New York, but grew up in Panama City, Florida. He got started in golf by his mother, who thought a nine-hole course near their home would make a fine babysitter for Oakley and his brother. Oakley was the older brother of American professional golfer Pete Oakley.
Amateur career
[edit]Oakley attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he was a walk-on member of coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team from 1965 to 1967.[1] As a Gator golfer, he was a member of teams that won Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships in 1965 and 1967.[1] He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1967.
Professional career
[edit]In 1970, Oakley turned pro. He played in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States. In 1976, he stopped working as a touring professional to concentrate on a business career unrelated to golf.
Re-instated amateur status
[edit]Oakley regained his amateur status during this era. He worked for ten years as a hotel liquidator and then nine years as a furniture store manager.
Second professional career
[edit]In 1996, Oakley returned to professional golf and played on various senior circuits.[2] He had much success on the European Senior Tour where he won four times. He was fifth on the European Seniors Tour career money list at one point.
Personal life
[edit]Oakley died in Orlando, Florida, from prostate cancer at the age of 61.[3] He was survived by his wife Doris and sons James and Christopher.
Professional wins (4)
[edit]European Seniors Tour wins (4)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 May 1999 | MDIS & Partners Festival of Golf | −8 (68-71-69=208) | 6 strokes |  Jerry Bruner,  David Huish
|
| 2 | 20 Aug 2000 | De Vere Hotels Seniors Classic | −17 (67-64-65=196) | 4 strokes |  Noel Ratcliffe
|
| 3 | 19 Aug 2001 | Energis Senior Masters | −8 (68-69-71=208) | 3 strokes |  Malcolm Gregson
|
| 4 | 2 Sep 2001 | Scottish Seniors Open | −6 (65-70-75=210) | Playoff | Keith MacDonald
|
European Seniors Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001 | Scottish Seniors Open | Keith MacDonald
|
Won with par on second extra hole |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Florida Men's Golf 2011 Media Supplement Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 35 & 41 (2010). Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ "Oakley passes away Archived 2006-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, " PGATour.com (July 5, 2006). Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "David Oakley, 61, pursued love of golf," The Washington Times (July 5, 2006). Retrieved November 21, 2010.
External links
[edit]- David Oakley at the European Tour official site