Jane Geddes

Last updated

Jane Geddes
Personal information
Born (1960-02-05) February 5, 1960 (age 64)
Huntington, New York, U.S.
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Connecticut, U.S.
Partner Gigi Fernández
Children2
Career
College Florida State University
Turned professional1983
Former tour(s) LPGA Tour (1983–2003)
Professional wins15
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour11
Ladies European Tour1
LPGA of Japan Tour1
ALPG Tour2
Best results in LPGA major championships
(wins: 2)
Chevron Championship T5: 1986
Women's PGA C'ship Won: 1987
U.S. Women's Open Won: 1986
du Maurier Classic 2nd: 1985
Women's British Open T18: 2002

Jane Geddes (born February 5, 1960) is a retired American professional golfer. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1983 and won two major championships and 11 LPGA Tour events overall. Geddes was the Vice President of Talent Relations of WWE. [1]

Contents

Career

Geddes was born in Huntington, New York. She played college golf at Florida State University and was a member of the school's national championship team in 1981. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1983, posting runner-up finishes three times from 1984 to 1985.

Geddes broke through for her first professional victory when she won the 1986 U.S. Women's Open by defeating Sally Little in an 18-hole playoff. Then she won again the very next week. The year 1987 was her best, as she posted five victories, including the Mazda LPGA Championship, and four second-place finishes, finishing third on the money list. In all, seven of Geddes' 11 career wins came from 1986 to 1987.

Geddes won twice in 1991 and her last win was at the 1994 Chicago Challenge. Geddes finished in the Top 20 on the money list nine times, and posted 14 Top 10 finishes in majors in addition to her two major championship wins. In 2000, she was recognized during the LPGA's 50th Anniversary in 2000 as one of the LPGA's top-50 players and teachers. She retired from the LPGA Tour following the 2003 season.

Geddes co-founded an Internet e-commerce company named Planesia, which she sold in 2001. She received a degree in criminology from the University of South Florida in 2003, and later received a law degree from Stetson University College of Law in Florida. She also served as assistant captain of the U.S. Solheim Cup team in 2002 and 2003. In January 2007, she joined the LPGA Tour as Senior Director of Tournament Business Affairs. She was later promoted to Vice-President of Competition. In 2009, she was promoted again to Senior Vice President of Tournament Operations and Players Services.

In September 2011, Geddes left the LPGA to become VP of Talent Relations for World Wrestling Entertainment. [2] On March 4, 2015, it was reported that Geddes had parted ways with the WWE.

In April 2017, Geddes was named CEO of Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA), a Florida not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to connect women to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun. The EWGA was acquired by the LPGA and she became the Executive Director of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

From 2016 to 2019 she served as the Executive Director of the International Association of Golf Administrators.

In 2019 she left both positions in the LPGA Amateur Golf Association and International Association of Golf Administrators. [3]

Personal life

She currently resides near Stamford, Connecticut, with her partner, former professional tennis player Gigi Fernández, and their twins, Karson Xavier and Madison Jane. [4] [5]

Professional wins (15)

LPGA Tour (11)

Legend
LPGA Tour major championships (2)
Other LPGA Tour (9)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Jul 14, 1986 U.S. Women's Open −1 (74-74-70-69=287)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Sally Little
2Jul 20, 1986 Boston Five Classic −7 (71-70-72-68=281)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Deb Richard
3Mar 1, 1987 Women's Kemper Open −12 (67-70-69-70=276)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Cathy Gerring
4Mar 8, 1987 GNA/Glendale Federal Classic −2 (74-74-71-67=286)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Robin Walton
5May 24, 1987 Mazda LPGA Championship −13 (72-68-68-67=275)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Betsy King
6Jul 5, 1987 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic −8 (71-73-69-67=280)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jill Briles-Hinton
Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Taylor
7Jul 19, 1987 Boston Five Classic −11 (73-70-67-67=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jody Rosenthal
Flag of the United States.svg Donna White
8Jan 20, 1991 The Jamaica Classic −6 (71-72-64=207)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Patty Sheehan
9Jun 9, 1991 Atlantic City Classic −8 (71-68-69=208)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Amy Alcott
Flag of the United States.svg Cindy Schreyer
10Jun 6, 1993 Oldsmobile Classic −11 (72-68-68-69=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Tammie Green
Flag of England.svg Trish Johnson
Flag of the United States.svg Alice Ritzman
11Aug 21, 1994 Chicago Challenge −16 (68-69-68-67=272)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dale Eggeling
Flag of the United States.svg Robin Walton

LPGA Tour playoff record (3–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11986 U.S. Women's Open Flag of the United States.svg Sally Little Won 18-hole playoff (Geddes:71, Little:73)
21987 Women's Kemper Open Flag of the United States.svg Cathy Gerring Won with bogey on first extra hole
31987 GNA/Glendale Federal Classic Flag of the United States.svg Robin Walton Won with birdie on first extra hole
41991 The Phar-Mor in Youngstown Flag of the United States.svg Deb Richard Lost to birdie on first extra hole
51996 HealthSouth Inaugural Flag of the United States.svg Martha Nause
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Karrie Webb
Webb won with par on fourth extra hole
Nause eliminated by par on first hole

Ladies European Tour (1)

LPGA of Japan Tour (1)

ALPG Tour (2)

Major championships

Wins (2)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1986 U.S. Women's Open −1 (74-74-70-69=287)Playoff 1 Flag of the United States.svg Sally Little
1987 Mazda LPGA Championship −13 (72-68-68-67=275)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Betsy King

1 In an 18-hole playoff, Geddes 71, Little 73.

Team appearances

Professional

See also

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References

  1. Wertheim, L. Jon (July 8, 2013). "Jane Geddes". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  2. Manahan, Theresa (September 28, 2011). "LPGA's Jane Geddes Leaving The Tour For Role With WWE". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. LinkedIn Profile
  4. Crouse, Karen (August 29, 2010). "A Dream Deferred, Almost Too Long". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  5. Best, Best (March 24, 2013). "Ex-LPGA golfer Jane Geddes now working for WWE". Newsday. Retrieved August 28, 2013.