Bob Friend (golfer)


Bob Friend is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Golfing career

Friend joined the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990 and recorded five top-10 finished including a second-place finish at the Ben Hogan El Paso Open during his rookie year on Tour. The following year he won the Ben Hogan Fort Wayne Open and earned his PGA Tour card for 1992 through qualifying school. In his rookie year on Tour he didn't play well enough to retain full-time status on Tour but his 137th-place finish gave him partial status. He split time between Tours in 1993 with the highlights of his year coming on the Nationwide Tour where he recorded a second-place finish and a tied for third finish. He played full-time on the Nationwide Tour in 1994 where he recorded five top-10 finishes and two third-place finishes. He struggled in 1995 but recorded two top-10 finishes. He didn't play on Tour in 1996 and returned to the Nationwide Tour in 1997 where he recorded three top-10 finishes. He returned to the PGA Tour in 1998, earning his card through qualifying school. He played very well during his second stint on Tour, finishing 57th on the money list. He lost in a playoff to Billy Andrade at the Bell Canadian Open and recorded three top-10 finishes. He didn't play as well the following year and had to go through qualifying school to retain his card. In 2000, his final year on the PGA Tour, he struggled and returned to the Nationwide Tour the following year where he would play until 2003.
Friend is the son of the late MLB pitcher Bob Friend, who was a four-time All-Star and 1960 World Series Champion with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is father to Charles, Libby, and Andrew Friend. He currently works as a real estate agent for Howard Hanna Real Estate in the Fox Chapel area.

Amateur wins (7)

Nike Tour wins (1)

Nike Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11991Ben Hogan Fort Wayne Open Jerry Anderson, Dennis TrixlerWon with birdie on fourth extra hole
21993Nike Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Jim FurykLost to birdie on first extra hole

Canadian Tour wins (1)

PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11998Bell Canadian Open Billy AndradeLost to par on first extra hole