| Dick Lotz | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Richard Lotz |
| Born | (1942-10-15)October 15, 1942 (age 83) |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | San Mateo Junior College |
| Turned professional | 1963 |
| Former tours | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 5 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 3 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | T18: 1970 |
| PGA Championship | T8:1970 |
| U.S. Open | T24: 1971 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
Richard Lotz (born October 15, 1942) is an Americanprofessional golfer who has played on thePGA Tour and theSenior PGA Tour.
Lotz was born inOakland, California. Along with his older brother John, he developed his game under the tutelage of noted black golf instructor Lucius Bateman whose other students included PGA Tour winnersDon Whitt,John McMullin, andTony Lema.
Lotz attendedSan Mateo Junior College (1962–1963) and was a member of thegolf team. He was the individual medalist at the California Community College Championship. He shot a record-breaking 59 in the final round of the 1963 Santa Clara County Golf Championship, which still stands. As an amateur, Lotz captured the 1960 and 1963 Alameda Commuters golf tournament, 1961 and 1962 California State Fair events, the 1962 and 1963 Stanford Invitationals, 1963 Oakland City, 1963 Santa Clara County championship, 1963 Far Western Junior Intercollegiate championship, and most notably, the 1962California State Amateur.
In 1963, his final year as an amateur, Lotz came within one stroke of becoming the first amateur sinceGene Littler in 1954 andDoug Sanders in 1956, to win on the PGA Tour. He was victorious as an amateur that year in a Sectional Stroke Play tournament. Before declaring their intention to turn professional, both Lotz brothers were ranked among the nation's Top Ten Amateurs in 1963 byGolf Digest magazine.
In 1963, Lotz turned professional. He played on the PGA Tour from 1964–1978. Among his victories were three official events: the 1969 Alameda Open, the 1970 Kemper Open, and the 1970 Monsanto Open. Among the unofficial professional tournaments Lotz captured were the Chales Schultz Pro-Am Invitational, the 1972 Plantation Classic in North Carolina, the 1985 Northern California PGA Match and Medal championship, and the 1985 Blackhawk Invitational.
Lotz's career year was 1970 when he won twice, finished second at theSan Antonio Open Invitational, and earned five other top ten finishes to rank 7th on the year's official money list. That performance earned LotzGolf Digest'sMost Improved Golfer award, along with selection by its editorial panel of experts of those most likely to capture amajor in 1971. In similar fashion,Golf Magazine named Lotz to its PGA All-American Team. His best performance in a major also came in 1970 – a T-8 at thePGA Championship.
After reaching the age of 50 in 1992, Lotz joined theSenior PGA Tour. His best finish in this venue was a T-4 at the 1994Bank of Boston Senior Classic.
Lotz lived inPleasanton, California for much of his adult life, but now lives inEl Dorado Hills, California.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 12,1969 | Alameda County Open | +2 (72-71-74-73=290) | 1 stroke | Don Whitt |
| 2 | Mar 15,1970 | Monsanto Open | −9 (68-70-69-68=275) | 3 strokes | Dave Stockton |
| 3 | Jun 7, 1970 | Kemper Open | −10 (72-66-69-71=278) | 2 strokes | Lou Graham,Larry Hinson,Grier Jones,Tom Weiskopf |
Source:[1]