Northwest native Big Momma Carner headlines Legends

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Updated: April 2, 2018

LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member JoAnne Carner is eager to compete on home turf this summer when The Legends Tour heads to the Pacific Northwest.

A native of Kirkland, Wash., a suburb east of Seattle, Carner plans to be in the field when the Legends Tour stages the Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup presented by Boeing. The event is set for June 8-10, at the White Horse Golf Club.

“I was thrilled when I got the invitation,” said Carner, who won 43 LPGA tournaments, including the LPGA’s 1985 Safeco Classic at home in Washington. “The courses in Seattle are so pretty and tree-lined with rolling hills, and everything is so lush and green. At that time of year, we should have beautiful weather.”

Blessed with longevity in an LPGA career that spanned from 1970-2005, Carner became the oldest player to make an LPGA Tour tournament cut at age 65 in 2004. Now based in south Florida, she keeps her game sharp with regular matches against fellow World Golf Hall of Famer, Canadian Marlene Stewart Streit, who winters in Florida.

Carner underwent a successful hip replacement in March 2017 and has focused on her recovery with stretching and rehab. She returned home to Greater Seattle for several weeks in March this year to assist with family illnesses and has been mowing just over 18 acres of grass at her sister’s former horse farm during her visit.

“I’ve done a little walking out on the farm, but I’ve got to figure out how to walk five miles each day,” Carner said. “I’ve been riding that golf cart back in Florida for too long.”

Carner, who turns 79 in April, can still shoot her age — “easily,” she says – and plans to compete in the United States Golf Association’s inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, set for July 12-15.

“I’ve lost some length off the tee, which is aggravating, but it’s still fun to compete and I can still knock in a four-footer for a little money,” added Carner with a chuckle. In addition, Carner is looking forward to playing White Horse Golf Club for the first time.

“I hear it’s a great course and I know it will be beautiful for us,” she said. “All the big fir trees in Seattle are a lot different than the palm trees in Florida.”

A field of 30 Legends, including LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members Pat Bradley, Betsy King and Hollis Stacy, will compete for $175,000 in the event. The tournament pro-am is set for Friday, June 8, followed by the 36-hole professional competition on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10. For event details and to purchase tickets on-line, visit www.ClearwaterLegendsCup.com.