Jane Geddes

This article is about the American golfer. For the British art historian, see Jane Geddes (art historian).

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 nationality United States
ResidenceConnecticut, U.S.
PartnerGigi Fernández
Children2
Career
CollegeFlorida 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 ChampionshipT5: 1986
Women's PGA C'shipWon: 1987
U.S. Women's OpenWon: 1986
du Maurier Classic2nd: 1985
Women's British OpenT18: 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]

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. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up
1 Jul 14, 1986 U.S. Women's Open −1 (74-74-70-69=287) Playoff United States Sally Little
2 Jul 20, 1986 Boston Five Classic −7 (71-70-72-68=281) 1 stroke United States Deb Richard
3 Mar 1, 1987 Women's Kemper Open −12 (67-70-69-70=276) Playoff United States Cathy Gerring
4 Mar 8, 1987 GNA/Glendale Federal Classic −2 (74-74-71-67=286) Playoff United States Robin Walton
5 May 24, 1987 Mazda LPGA Championship −13 (72-68-68-67=275) 1 stroke United States Betsy King
6 Jul 5, 1987 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic −8 (71-73-69-67=280) 2 strokes United States Jill Briles-Hinton
United States Nancy Taylor
7 Jul 19, 1987 Boston Five Classic −11 (73-70-67-67=277) 1 stroke United States Jody Rosenthal
United States Donna White
8 Jan 20, 1991 The Jamaica Classic −6 (71-72-64=207) 3 strokes United States Patty Sheehan
9 Jun 9, 1991 Atlantic City Classic −8 (71-68-69=208) 1 stroke United States Amy Alcott
United States Cindy Schreyer
10 Jun 6, 1993 Oldsmobile Classic −11 (72-68-68-69=277) 1 stroke United States Tammie Green
England Trish Johnson
United States Alice Ritzman
11 Aug 21, 1994 Chicago Challenge −16 (68-69-68-67=272) 3 strokes United States Dale Eggeling
United States Robin Walton

LPGA Tour playoff record (3–2)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1986 U.S. Women's Open United States Sally Little Won 18-hole playoff (Geddes:71, Little:73)
2 1987 Women's Kemper Open United States Cathy Gerring Won with bogey on first extra hole
3 1987 GNA/Glendale Federal Classic United States Robin Walton Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1991 The Phar-Mor in Youngstown United States Deb Richard Lost to birdie on first extra hole
5 1996 HealthSouth Inaugural United States Martha Nause
Australia 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)

  • 1987 Treasure Invitational

ALPG Tour (2)

Major championships

Wins (2)

Year Championship Winning score Margin Runner-up
1986 U.S. Women's Open −1 (74-74-70-69=287) Playoff 1 United States Sally Little
1987 Mazda LPGA Championship −13 (72-68-68-67=275) 1 stroke United States Betsy King

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

Team appearances

Professional

See also

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.