Lon Hinkle is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Hinkle was born in Flint, Michigan. He attended San Diego State University, where he was a member of the golf team. He turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1972. Hinkle won three tournaments in his career on the PGA Tour, all of which came in the late 1970s. In 1979, he earned $247,693, finished 3rd on the money list, and won two Tour events, including the World Series of Golf. That year in the first round of the U.S. Open he took a shortcut, he cut the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway. Overnight, USGA officials planted a tree to block the shortcut. His best finish in a major was a T-3 at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1980. During his career on the PGA Tour, he had more than 50 top-10 finishes. After turning 50 in 1999, Hinkle joined the Champions Tour. His best finish at that level is a T-12 in the 2000 Audi Senior Classic. Hinkle lives in Bigfork, Montana in the northwest corner of the state. 

July 17th, 1949 in (Age 74)