Fran Quinn Explained

Fran Quinn
Fullname:Francis Quinn Jr.
Birth Date:11 March 1965
Birth Place:Worcester, Massachusetts
Weight:175lb
Residence:Holden, Massachusetts
Spouse:Lori
Children:Owen, Katie, Sean
College:Northwestern University
Yearpro:1988
Tour:PGA Tour Champions
Extour:PGA Tour
Nationwide Tour
Prowins:8
Asiawins:2
Nwidewins:4
Otherwins:2
Masters:DNP
Usopen:43rd: 1994
Open:CUT: 1994
Pga:DNP

Francis Quinn Jr. (born March 11, 1965) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He previously played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Early life and education

Quinn was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and graduated from Saint John's High School in 1983.

Amateur career

Quinn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Northwestern University in 1987

Professional career

In 1988, Quinn turned pro. He played his first full season on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1991, where he made 13 of 25 cuts. Later in the year he finished T8 at 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School obtaining his PGA Tour card for 1992. He made six of 18 cuts in 1992 and lost his tour card for 1993.

Quinn between the PGA Tour and its developmental tour from 1993 to 1997, until he shifted his focus mainly to the Nationwide Tour. In 1999, Quinn picked up his first win on the developmental tour at the Nike Dakota Dunes Open in a playoff. He had three top-10s on the season.

Quinn won his first start of 2000 at the Buy.com Florida Classic, but it was his only top 10 of the season. He finished with $125,000 in season-long earnings. After his 2000 win, Quinn saw his game come to a standstill. From 2002 to mid-2009, he played in over 300 events, without another win, finishing in the top-10 17 times.

Quinn saw his career be resurrected in late 2009 at the Albertsons Boise Open in September. He went head-to-head in the final round with Blake Adams, who had led after all three rounds. Quinn found himself tied for the lead at the 18th hole. He hit his approach within 10 feet and knocked in his birdie putt after Adams failed to make his. It was Quinn's third career Nationwide Tour win, and it put him to over $1,000,000 in Nationwide Tour career earnings. It also vaulted him from 92nd to 18th on the 2009 money list. He finished the year 25th on the money list to earn his 2010 PGA Tour card.

Stress fractures limited Quinn to seven PGA Tour events in 2010, where he made two cuts. Quinn also played in three Nationwide Tour events in 2010, where he won his fourth career Nationwide Tour event, the Panama Claro Championship. He played the 2011 and 2012 seasons on a Major Medical Exemption, which he was unable to satisfy.

At the 2014 U.S. Open, Quinn had to go through local and sectional qualifying just to make the field. He ended the first round tied for second. It was his first U.S. Open since 1996. In 2022, Quinn became the oldest player to earn entry to the U.S. Open via qualifying, at age 57.[1]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (8)

Asian PGA Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Dec 4, 1999Mittweida Thailand Open−13 (71-66-67-71=275)1 stroke Christian Peña, Jim Rutledge,
Simon Yates
2Dec 12, 1999Omega PGA Championship−18 (69-67-69-65=270)3 strokes Simon Yates

Nationwide Tour wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Aug 1, 1999Nike Dakota Dunes Open−18 (65-69-68-68=270)Playoff Ryan Howison, Craig Kanada
2Feb 6, 2000Buy.com Florida Classic−13 (69-67-69-66=271)3 strokes Mark Hensby
3Sep 20, 2009Albertsons Boise Open−14 (68-65-68-69=270)1 stroke Blake Adams
4Feb 29, 2010Panama Claro Championship−15 (66-66-62-71=265)2 strokes Brian Smock

Nationwide Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11991Ben Hogan Texarkana Open Jerry AndersonLost to par on first extra hole
21999Nike Dakota Dunes Open Ryan Howison, Craig KanadaWon with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (2)

Results in major championships

Tournament19921993199419951996199719981999
U.S. OpenCUT43CUT
The Open ChampionshipCUT
Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
Tournament2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
U.S. OpenT56
The Open Championship
Tournament202020212022
U.S. OpenCUT
The Open ChampionshipNT
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Note: Quinn never played in the Masters Tournament or the PGA Championship.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-06-14 . 57-year-old from Mass. earns spot in US Open at The Country Club . 2023-02-08 . WCVB . en.