It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the entire golf community mourns the loss of Dawn Coe-Jones who passed away on November 12, 2016 at the age of 56.
Born October 19, 1960 in Campbell River, B.C. and raised in Lake Cowichan, B.C., Coe-Jones was diagnosed with bone cancer (sarcoma) earlier this year. Following months of aggressive treatment, she passed away peacefully in hospice near her home in Tampa, FL surrounded by family and friends.
Dawn Coe-Jones is survived by her husband Jimmy, son Jimmy Jr. brothers Mark and John Coe, the extended Coe and Jones families and countless friends across the Canadian and international golf community.
Coe-Jones is one of Canada’s most accomplished golfers as an amateur as well as during a distinguished career on the LPGA Tour.
Success as an amateur included back to back victories at the BC Junior Girls Championship in 1978 and 1979. Back to back victories at the BC Women’s Amateur would follow in 1982 and 1983 and later that year, she would go on to capture the 1983 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.
An NCAA All-American at Lamar University, Coe-Jones qualified for the LPGA Tour in 1984.
Over a 24-year career on the LPGA Tour (1984-2008), Coe-Jones had three official LPGA Tour wins—the 1992 Women’s Kemper Open, 1994 LPGA Palm Beach Classic and the 1995 Tournament of Champions. She would also win the 1992 Pizza-La LPGA Match Play Championship during a career in which she had 44 top-10 finishes and earned more than $3.3 million in prize money.
Coe-Jones also competed in 24 events on the LPGA Legends Tour, amassing nine top-10 finishes in 24 events played.
Internationally, she represented Canada on the 1983 Canadian Commonwealth Team and at the 2005 World Cup. She also competed in the Handa Cup (representing the world team) on eight occasions (2006-2012, 2014).
She also joined with fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Dave Barr in winning the Canadian Airlines International Mixed Team Championship in 1989 and 1990.
Coe-Jones competed in the Canadian Women’s Open 24 times and had seven top-10 finishes—T10 in 1989; T6 in 1991; 3rd in 1993; T7 in 1994; T4 in 1998; 4th in 1999; and T5 in 2004. She was low Canadian (or tied) on 13 occasions and her $326,554 in earnings are most by a Canadian playing in the National Women’s Open Championship.
She received the Score Award for Outstanding Canadian Female Amateur in 1983 and was an eight-time recipient of the Score Award for Outstanding Canadian Female Professional (1987-90, 1992-95).
Coe-Jones’ distinguished career was acknowledged in 2001 with induction into the British Columbia Golf Hall Fame and in 2003 with induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Statement from Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandra Post:
“Dawn was a great competitor and role model for over 25 years on the LPGA Tour. Her happy and positive attitude towards life will be missed by all that knew her.”
Statement from Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons:
“On behalf of the entire golf community we are deeply saddened by the passing of Dawn Coe-Jones. Dawn was a tenacious competitor, a mentor and friend to so many of her peers and a proud ambassador for Canadian golf throughout her distinguished career. As we mourn her passing and send our most sincere condolences to family and friends, the golf and sport community come together in celebrating her outstanding legacy.”
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, November 19 in Tampa, FL.
NOTE TO MEDIA – photos of Dawn Coe-Joes are available to download here.