5’7”...Credits Gordon Jenkins, John Hoetmer, the late Gardner Dickinson and Sam Snead as the individuals most influencing her career...Winner of the 1981 Bob Jones Award, the 1982-83 Seagrams Seven Crowns of Sport Award and the Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year Award in 1982-83...Was the 10th woman to be inducted into the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame in 1982...Honored among GOLF Magazine’s “100 Heroes” during 1988 Centennial of Golf in America celebration...Received the 1991 Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s Gold Tee Award...Recognized during the LPGA’s 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA’s top-50 players and teachers...A Golf Digest playing editor...Received the 2003 Eagle Award from the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Southeast Section membership...Enjoys snorkeling, fishing and yachting.
Career
- In 2005, became the oldest player (age 65) to compete in a LPGA event, when she missed the cut at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
- In 2004, recorded her third LPGA career hole-in-one during the final round of The Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions; set a LPGA record for oldest player to make a cut in an LPGA major and in an LPGA event (age 64), at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, respectively.
- In 1998, best finish was a tie for 18th at the Nabisco Dinah Shore, one of the Tour’s four majors.
- In 1997, tied for 25th at the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions for her best finish of the season.
- In 1996, tied for 27th at the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions.
- In 1995, best finish was a tie for ninth at the Rochester International.
- In 1994, tied for 15th at the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic; captained the victorious U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
- In 1993, placed second at the HEALTHSOUTH Palm Beach Classic after losing to Tammie Green on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- In 1992, tied for second at both the Phar-Mor at Inverrary and Mazda LPGA Championship.
- In 1991, recorded her top performance of the season at the Mazda LPGA Championship, where she finished eighth; carded her second LPGA career hole-in-one during the first round of the du Maurier Ltd. Classic.
- In 1990, tied for second at both the Sara Lee Classic and the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
- In 1989, best finish was a tie for second at the Nabisco Dinah Shore.
- In 1988, tied for second three times: the Sarasota Classic; Orient Leasing Hawaiian Ladies Open; and LPGA Corning Classic.
- In 1987, best finish was a tie for second with Ayako Okamoto at the U.S. Women’s Open following an 18-hole playoff with Laura Davies, which was Carner’s second 18-hole playoff at a U.S. Women’s Open, a distinction no other LPGA player can claim.
- In 1986, became the second player in LPGA history to reach the $2 million mark in career earnings after a runner-up finish at the Henredon Classic, where she lost in a sudden-death playoff to Betsy King.
- In 1985, recorded her most recent victories when she captured the Elizabeth Arden Classic and the SAFECO Classic titles; was 46 years, 5 months and 11 days old, setting a LPGA record for oldest winner (record was broken in 2003 by Beth Daniel).
- In 1984, won the LPGA Corning Classic and finished second in seven other tournaments.
- In 1983, captured two tournament titles, including a sudden-death playoff victory over Charlotte Montgomery at the Portland PING Championship; just missed defending her title at the McDonald’s LPGA Kids Classic, losing to Beth Daniel in a sudden-death playoff.
- In 1982, lost the first event of the season in a sudden-death playoff with Hollis Stacy, but came back the next week to win the Elizabeth Arden Classic; won again at the McDonald’s LPGA Kids Classic, then entered the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame after winning her 35th LPGA title at the Chevrolet World Championship of Women’s Golf; the very next tournament was a Hall of Famer versus Hall of Famer showdown at the Henredon Classic, where Carner defeated Sandra Haynie in a suddendeath playoff; won her third tournament in a row the next week at the Rail Charity Golf Classic.
- In 1981, won four tournaments and became the second player in LPGA history to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings at the Columbia Savings LPGA Classic.
- In 1980, won five events, including three in a row: the Bent Tree Ladies Classic; Sunstar ’80; and Honda Civic Golf Classic.
- In 1979, won a five-way, sudden-death playoff (a record at the time) over Donna Caponi, Jan Stephenson, Nancy Lopez and Chako Higuchi at the Women’s Kemper Open; also captured the Honda Civic Classic title and was a runner-up at the Florida Lady Citrus after losing to Jane Blalock in a sudden-death playoff; posted her career-low round of 63 at the Rail Charity Golf Classic.
- In 1978, won two tournaments; lost the Coca-Cola Classic in a sudden-death playoff to Nancy Lopez, who was in the midst of a historical five-in-a-row winning streak (it was Lopez’s first playoff win).
- In 1977, won three events, plus the LPGA Team Championship with Judy Rankin, an unofficial victory.
- In 1976, captured her second U.S. Women’s Open title by winning an 18-hole playoff over defending champion Sandra Palmer, whom she had defeated earlier that year in a sudden-death playoff at the Orange Blossom Classic; won a total of four tournaments that season; lost to Palmer in a sudden-death playoff at the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Classic.
- In 1975, won three tournaments, two via sudden-death playoffs.
- In 1974, after two years without a victory, had her most successful season when she won six tournaments and finished first on the money list; won the Bluegrass Invitational after a sudden-death playoff with Sandra Spuzich.
- In 1973, best finish was second at the Naples-Lely Classic.
- In 1972, best finish was fourth at the National Jewish Hospital Open.
- In 1971, won her first major championship at the U.S. Women’s Open to become the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship, U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and U.S. Women’s Open; added another win at the Bluegrass Invitational.
- In 1970, joined the LPGA Tour when she was 30 years old; earned her second of 43 wins at the Wendell-West Open, where she defeated Marilynn Smith in a sudden-death playoff.
- In 1969, won the Burdine’s Invitational as an amateur, making her the last amateur to win an LPGA event; this marks her first official LPGA win.
Amateur
Known prior to her marriage as the “Great Gundy” (her maiden name was Gunderson), Carner compiled one of the finest amateur records ever. She captured five U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships (1957, 1960, 1962, 1966 and 1968), the 1956 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship and competed on four U.S. Curtis Cup Teams. She also holds an impressive amateur record in LPGA events. As an amateur, Carner tied for 15th at the 1962 U.S. Women’s Open, finished second at the 1963 Lady Carling Eastern Open and won the 1969 Burdine’s Invitational. She still stands as the last amateur to win an LPGA event.
