Andy Bean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andy Bean |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Thomas Andrew Bean |
| Born | March 13, 1953 LaFayette, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | October 14, 2023 (aged 70) Lakeland, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 260 lb (120 kg; 19 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Debbie |
| Children | 3 |
| Career | |
| College | University of Florida |
| Turned professional | 1975 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 18 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 11 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 2 |
| Champions Tour | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T10: 1982 |
| U.S. Open | T6: 1978 |
| The Open Championship | T2: 1983 |
| PGA Championship | 2nd/T2: 1980, 1989 |
Thomas Andrew Bean (born March 13, 1953 – died October 14, 2023), known as Andy Bean, was an American professional golfer. He played on the top golf tours, including the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
Andy Bean won many golf tournaments as both an amateur and a professional. He earned 11 victories on the PGA Tour, like the 1986 Byron Nelson Golf Classic. He also won three events on the Champions Tour, including a big 9-stroke win at the 2008 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
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Early Life and Family
Andy Bean was born in LaFayette, Georgia, on March 13, 1953. He grew up on Jekyll Island, Georgia, where his dad worked at a golf course. When Andy was 15, his family moved to Lakeland, Florida. There, his father bought a golf course, which meant golf was always a big part of Andy's life.
College Golf Star
Andy Bean went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He was part of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. From 1972 to 1975, he played for the Florida Gators men's golf team under coach Buster Bishop.
While in college, Andy won four amateur tournaments. He and his teammates, including future PGA Tour players Woody Blackburn, Phil Hancock, and Gary Koch, helped the Gators win two big championships in 1973: the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the NCAA Championship. Andy was recognized as a top player, earning "All-SEC" honors in 1973 and 1975, and "All-American" in 1973, 1974, and 1975.
He earned a degree in marketing in 1975. In 1978, he was honored by being added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
Professional Golf Career
Andy Bean became a professional golfer in 1975. For many years, from 1977 to 1986, he was one of the top players on the PGA Tour. In five of those years, he was among the top seven earners.
His first PGA Tour win was in 1977 at the Doral-Eastern Open. His last PGA Tour victory came in 1986 at the Byron Nelson Golf Classic. In 1978, he had an amazing year, winning three tournaments. Andy also represented the United States in the Ryder Cup team in 1979 and 1987. He was even ranked among the top 10 golfers in the world for several weeks in 1986 and 1987.
While Andy never won a major championship, which are golf's biggest tournaments, he came very close! He finished second three times.
- In the 1980 PGA Championship, he was second to golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
- At the 1983 British Open, he tied for second place, just one shot behind Tom Watson.
- In the 1989 PGA Championship, he tied for second again, one shot behind Payne Stewart.
After turning 50 in March 2003, Andy started playing on the Champions Tour, a tour for older professional golfers. He won his first Champions Tour event in 2006 at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. In 2008, he won two more Champions Tour titles: the Regions Charity Classic and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. His win at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship was very impressive, as he won by nine shots!
In recognition of his great career, Andy Bean was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Amateur Wins
- 1974 Eastern Amateur, Falstaff Amateur
- 1975 Dixie Amateur, Western Amateur
Professional Wins (18 Total)
Andy Bean won 11 times on the PGA Tour, 2 times on the PGA of Japan Tour, and 2 other tournaments. He also won 3 times on the Champions Tour.
Personal Life
Andy Bean lived in Lakeland, Florida. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his free time. He was married to Debbie, and they had three daughters named Lauren, Lindsay, and Jordan.
Andy Bean passed away on October 14, 2023, at the age of 70. He died from complications after having double lung transplant surgery in Lakeland, Florida.
See Also
In Spanish: Andrew Bean para niños
- Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- 1995 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- List of American Ryder Cup golfers
- List of Florida Gators men's golfers on the PGA Tour
- List of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
