Lonnie Nielsen

Lonnie Dean Nielsen (June 29, 1953 – January 20, 2021) was an American professional golfer.

Early life and amateur career Nielsen was born and raised in Belle Plaine, Iowa. His father started him in golf as a youngster on the sand green courses in and around his hometown. He attended the University of Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1976.

Personal life Nielsen died on January 20, 2021; he had dementia in the years prior to his death.

Awards and honors

In 2010, Nielsen was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. In 2018, Nielsen was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (39) Regular career wins (35) 1979 Waterloo Open Golf Classic 1984 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship 1985 New York State Open, Western New York Section PGA Championship 1986 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship, Western New York Section PGA Championship 1987 Western New York Section PGA Championship 1988 PGA Match Play Championship, PGA Stroke Play Championship 1989 New York State Open, Western New York Open, Western New York Section PGA Championship, PGA Match Play Championship 1990 Western New York Open, Western New York PGA Match Play Championship, Western New York Section PGA Championship 1991 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship 1993 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship, Western New York Open, Western New York Section PGA Championship 1994 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship, Western New York Section PGA Championship 1995 Western New York Open 1996 Western New York Section PGA Championship 1997 Western New York Open 1998 Western New York Open, Western New York PGA Match Play Championship 1999 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship 2000 Western New York Section PGA Championship 2001 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship 2002 Western New York PGA Match Play Championship, Western New York Open 2003 Western New York Open 2013 Western New York Section PGA Championship, Western New York PGA Match Play Championship

Champions Tour wins (2)

Champions Tour playoff record (0–1)

Other senior wins (2) 2003 Otesago Senior Open Championship, Turning Stone Seniors Championship

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied Note: Nielsen never played in the Masters Tournament or The Open Championship.

U.S. national team appearances PGA Cup: 1988 (winners), 1996 (tie)