Strange Named Golfer of Year

Curtis Strange, the U.S. Open champion and the first man to earn more than $1 million in a single-season PGA tour, today was named Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

Strange, who won four tournaments and a record $1,147,644, was a runaway winner in balloting by the nation’s golf writers, association Secretary Bob Rickey said.

Sherri Turner, who won the LPGA and led the women in winnings with $350,851, was named LPGA Player of the Year. Bob Charles won over Gary Player in the voting for Seniors’ Player of the Year. Charles won five senior titles and led in winnings with $533,829.

Ben Crenshaw was selected for the Richardson Award for outstanding contributions to golf; Mary Bea Porter won the Bartlett Award for unselfish contributions to society, and Sally Little was named for the Hogan award, which goes annually to a person who continues to compete despite a serious injury or illness.