Sonny Skinner Explained

Sonny Skinner
Birth Date:18 August 1960
Birth Place:Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Weight:170lb
Residence:Sylvester, Georgia, U.S.
College:Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Shorter College
Yearpro:1982
Tour:Champions Tour
Extour:PGA Tour
Nationwide Tour
Prowins:4
Nwidewins:2
Otherwins:2
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:DNP
Pga:CUT: 2008, 2010, 2013, 2021
Award1:PGA Professional of the Year
Year1:2008
Award2:Senior PGA Professional
of the Year
Year2:2010

Sonny Skinner (born August 18, 1960) is an American professional golfer who plays on the Champions Tour.

Skinner was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. He turned professional in 1982.

Skinner joined the PGA Tour in 1990 after going through qualifying school. He played on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1991 after a poor performance in his rookie year on the PGA Tour. He went through qualifying school again in 1991 and returned to the PGA Tour in 1992. He returned to the Nationwide Tour in 1993 where he won the first event he entered, the NIKE Shreveport Open. He picked up his second win on Tour in 1994 at the NIKE Dominion Open. He played on the Nationwide Tour until earning his PGA Tour card through qualifying school for the third time in 1996. In the 1997 Buick Open, he tied the course record at the Warwick Hills Golf Course with a 62 but Billy Mayfair shot a 61 in 2001 to break the record. He failed to retain his card in 1997 but went through qualifying school for a fourth time to earn his card for 1998. He returned to the Nationwide Tour in 1999 where he would play full-time until 2004. He played on the Nationwide Tour part-time until 2010.

Skinner joined the Champions Tour in 2010 once he turned 50.

Skinner was named the PGA Professional of the Year in 2008 and the Senior PGA Professional of the Year in 2010, becoming the first person to win both awards. He is a PGA teaching professional at the River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Georgia.

Skinner has been inducted into the Abraham Baldwin Agrircultural College Athletic Hall of Fame, the Shorter College Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (4)

Nike Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Apr 18, 1993Nike Shreveport Open−10 (74-70-69-65=278)1 stroke Bob May
2Jun 19, 1994Nike Dominion Open−17 (70-65-67-69=271)Playoff Jim Carter

Nike Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11993Nike Bakersfield Open Clark Dennis, Jim FurykDennis won with birdie on first extra hole
21994Nike Dominion Open Jim CarterWon with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (2)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut
Note: Skinner only played in the PGA Championship.

U.S. national team appearances

2009 (winners), 2011 (winners)

See also