Former WKU golfer Kenny Perry of Franklin won the Constellation Senior Players for his first major title on Sunday after posting a final round, 6-under 64.Perry finished his four rounds in 19-under 261 at Fox Chapel, two shots ahead of Fred Couples and Duffy Waldorf.
Perry was runner-up in the 1996 PGA Championship and 2009 Masters while playing as a regular on the PGA TOUR. He tied for second in the Senior PGA Championship last month.
Perry trailed by as many as eight shots in the second round before tracking down Couples over the weekend.
Perry was a WKU Men's Golf letter-winner from 1979-1982 before turning pro in 1982. During his illustrious professional career, Perry has tallied 14 PGA Tour wins and over 30 top three finishes and over 100 top ten finishes. His career earnings top $31 million. His past career tournament victories include the 1991 Memorial Tournament, 1994 New England Classic, 1995 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, 2001 Buick Open, 2003 Bank of America Colonial, the 2003 Memorial Tournament, 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open, 2005 Bay Hill Invitational Presented by MasterCard, 2005 Bank of America Colonial, the 2008 Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley, 2008 Buick Open, 2008 John Deere Classic, 2009 FBR Open and 2009 Travelers Championship.
Perry was a collegiate teammate of current WKU Men’s Golf coach Phillip Hatchett of Russellville. He is a former champion of the Russellville Country Club Invitational Tournament.
Perry also competed on the 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup team and then helped lead the U.S. Ryder Cup Team to victory at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville in 2008. Perry was encouraged by his father, Kenny Sr., to start playing the game at the age of seven. Perry is a member of the WKU Athletic (1994) and Kentucky Golf (2004) Halls of Fame.
Perry built Country Creek in Franklin as an affordable public golf course designed for mid-to-high handicappers. In 1995, Perry bought 142 acres of land to design and build the course. He also was named the winner of the Golf Writers Association of America’s 2002 Charles Bartlett Award, given to a professional golfer for his unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Perry donates 5 percent of his winnings to Lipscomb University in Nashville to provide scholarships for Simpson County students.