Jane Blalock

Jane Blalock was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on September 19, 1945. Raised in Portsmouth, her father, Richard Blalock, worked as a newspaper editor in town. She began golfing at age 13, and credits her family with being supportive of her different endeavors, including athletics. After years of practicing golf at the nearby country club, Blalock attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She continued to play amateur golf as she studied, winning the New Hampshire Amateur in 1965, 1966, and 1968, and also winning the Florida Intercollegiate Championship in 1966. She graduated from Rollins College in 1967 with a degree in history. Blalock began working as a high school history teacher upon graduation, and a year later she borrowed money to return from New Hampshire to Florida, where she spent five weeks taking lessons from golfer and instructor Bob Toski. She won the New England Amateur tournament in 1967 and 1968. The following winter, Blalock returned to work at a country club in Florida, laboring on the driving range and doing odd jobs while listening to Toski advise students. ==Professional golf career==

First purses and LPGA wins (1969–72) Though she had yet to win a tournament outside of New England, at age 23 and the Lady Errol Classic. her 26th LPGA victory in sixteen years. as one of her two final victories on the LPGA tour. In 1985, Golf Digest named her Comeback Player of the Year. Leaving the LPGA tour in 1985 but not the sport, she retired from full-time competition in 1987. By April 1987, she had won 27 events and accumulated $1,300,000 in prize money, with 11 holes-in-one. In early 1988, she retired from women's professional golf to become a financial consultant. Since retiring, Blalock continues to hold the world record for "most consecutive cuts made on a professional [golf] tour," with her 299 cuts considered the longest streak for any LPGA Tour or PGA Tour player in history, beating the second-best record held by Tiger Woods by over 150 cuts. Total, Blalock's website states she has won 27 LPGA titles, two World Championships, and two Triple Crown titles from her days touring with the LPGA. Twice she finished second at the LPGA Championship. When she earned her two final victories in the 1980s, she had achieved the most wins of any LPGA player without a major championship. In 1972, however, Blalock won an event that in 1983 was upgraded to major status – the Dinah Shore Colgate Winner's Circle. In 2022, the LPGA changed the name of the tournament to the Chevron Championship. Blalock has been inducted into both the New England Sports Hall of Fame and the Vince Lombardi Hall of Fame. Her 27 LPGA tournament wins meant that for years she matched the point total required for inclusion in the LPGA Hall of Fame, though she lacked the major win necessary for consideration. Blalock was voted into the Legends Hall of Fame in July 2014. ==Business and philanthropy career==

Early tournaments, JBC Golf (1980s–1999) Blalock founded the annual University of New Hampshire Pro-Am Classic tournament in 1981, She published her second book Gimmies, Bogeys and Business, a "guide to using golf for success in business," in 1999. Legends Tours (1994–present) In December 1994, publications such as the Los Angeles Times and the Seattle Times reported that Blalock was organizing the Volvo Legends Series for women aged 45 and older. 24 players had accepted invitations to participate at that point, including JoAnne Carner, Kathy Whitworth, Sandra Haynie, Sandra Palmer, Judy Rankin, Carol Mann and Donna Caponi. Two Volvo tournaments, one in Phoenix, Arizona and one in Atlanta, took place in 1995 for $150,000 each. Prime Network broadcast delayed television coverage of the events. While Blalock clarified that the Volvo Legends Series was not officially affiliated with the LPGA, she did state that "neither [is the LPGA] opposed." The Volvo series put on two successful events before dissolving after one year. From 1996 to 2000, Blalock worked to organize a new senior golf tour for older and often retired LPGA athletes. After receiving support from 24 other founding members and a 3-year sponsorship program from the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, The Women's Senior Golf Tour debuted in August 2000 in Green Bay, Wisconsin with a minimum age of 43 and a $500,000 purse, with $75,000 going to the winner. Around 30,000 people attended over three days. The senior tour paid a fee to the LPGA for permission to involve active LPGA players, but otherwise remained independent. Blalock worked to make sure the tour was the official senior tour of the LPGA in 2001, and the Women's Senior Golf Tour is now called the Legends Tour. Initially it grew from two annual events to 11 events by 2013, to 14 events in 2016. The tour has donated significant amounts to charity. Blalock was on the WSGT Board of Directors for years, later only serving as CEO of The Legends Tour (The WDGA). ==Personal life==

In 1986, Blalock moved from Florida to Boston, Massachusetts to work in finance. As of 2016, Blalock continues to maintain an office in Boston. She also remains involved with the Blalock family restaurant, which she helped open on June 10, 1975 as Old Ferry Landing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Blalock's likeness on the golf course has been painted by American artist LeRoy Neiman. ==Publishing history==

LPGA Tour wins (27) The 1974 Southgate Ladies Open was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. Since a playoff was not possible, Blalock and Sue Roberts were declared co-champions. • ''Blalock won the Dinah Shore Colgate Winner's Circle (now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) before it became a major championship.'' LPGA Tour playoff record (5–3) LPGA of Japan Tour wins (4) • 1975 (1) World Ladies • 1976 (1) World Ladies • 1978 (1) Isuzu Ladies Cup • 1985 (1) Mazda Japan Classic1 1Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour Other wins (4) • 1972 (1) Angelo's Four-Ball Championship (with Sandra Palmer) • 1973 (1) Angelo's Four-Ball Championship (with Sandra Palmer) • 1975 (1) Colgate Triple Crown • 1977 (1) Colgate Triple Crown Legends of the LPGA wins (1) • 2023 BJ's Charity Championship (with Patricia Meunier-Lebouc) ==See also==