Eddie Pearce

Early life

In 1952, Pearce was born in Fort Myers, Florida and grew up in Temple Terrace, Florida, where, as an infant, his first golf club was placed in his hands by the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias. By the time he was 12, he was shooting in the 60s and was featured as a child prodigy in Professional Golfer Magazine. He attended C. Leon King High School in nearby Tampa, Florida and was on the same high school golf team as PGA Tour veteran Gary Koch.

Amateur career

As an amateur, Pearce won the Florida Boys Junior Championship for his age division in three straight years (1964–1966). He also won his age division at the "Future Masters" Tournament in seven straight years (1963–1969).

Pearce then went on to win the 1968 U.S. Junior Amateur, the Florida Open in 1970 and was awarded a golf scholarship to Wake Forest University. In 1971, Pearce was one hole away from winning the U.S. Amateur when Gary Cowan holed a long iron shot from the rough for an eagle and the win. Pearce won the 1971 North and South Amateur. He was a two-time All-American at Wake Forest (third team in 1971 and second team in 1972). He left after his sophomore year and turned pro, with many experts calling him the "next Jack Nicklaus."

Professional career

Pearce played on the PGA Tour from 1974 to 1981 and again in 1993. He also played on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1992.

In 1974, the inaugural year of The Players Championship, Pearce finished in 9th place. In the 1976 Masters Tournament, Pearce was two-under par after the first two rounds before ending up the tournament tied for 28th.

Although he never won on the PGA Tour, Pearce had four runner-up finishes. In 1974, he finished second at the Hawaiian Open (behind Jack Nicklaus) and second at the Tallahassee Open (behind Allen Miller). The following year, he finished second at the Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic (behind Bob Murphy). Then in 1979, he finished second at the San Antonio Texas Open (behind Lou Graham).

In 2002, Pearce tried to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open but missed by one stroke and was named an alternate.

Professional wins (1)

Hooters Jordan Tour wins (1)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" = tied

References

References

1. [http://www.usjunioram.org/2002/history/champions/1968.html 1968 U.S. Junior Amateur]
2. [http://www.usamateur.org/history/past-champions/1971.html 1971 U.S. Amateur]{{Dead link. (August 2019)
3. "Wake Forest Golf - All Americans and National Honors".
4. "GolfObserver.com statistical profile".