Gardner was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He played college golf at Auburn University, where he was an All-American in 1977. He turned professional in 1977.
Gardner played on the PGA Tour from 1978 to 1993. Four times he finished in second place: T-2 at the 1979 Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open, T-2 at the 1979 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic, 2nd at the 1984 Houston Coca-Cola Open, and 2nd at the 1987 Big "I" Houston Open (lost to Jay Haas in a playoff). His best finish in a major was a T-6 at the 1985 PGA Championship.
Gardner played the Nike Tour from 1994 to 1997, while still playing some PGA Tour events. He had first played the tour in 1990, when he won the only event he entered, the Ben Hogan Panama City Beach Classic, held at the club he represented, the Hombre Golf Club.

Return to Buddy Gardner Autograph Profile