Hall of Fame

Don Allen

Charter Member – 1986

Amateur Member at the Country Club of Rochester

Walker Cup Team Member: 1965, 1967
American’s Cup Team Member: 1966, 1968
4 Time US Open Qualifier
3 Time Masters Participant – 2nd low Amateur twice
18 Time US Amateur Qualifier – best finishes 3rd in 1965, 6th in 1966

Playing Accomplishments – State Level

6 Time New York State Amateur Champion: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1973
New York State Mid-Amateur Champion: 1985 & 1987
New York State Senior Champion: 1994, 1996, 1997

Playing Accomplishments – Local Level

6 Time Rochester District Golf Association Champion
2 Time Rochester District Golf Association Senior Champion: 1994 & 1999
23 Time C.C. of Rochester Champion between 1959-1994
6 Time Winner of C.C. of Rochester Invitational Championship
4 Time Winner of Monroe G.C. Invitational Championship

Frank Commisso

Charter Member – 1986

1911 – 1995

Head Professional at Irondequoit C.C. for 48 years: 1933-1980
Elected to PGA Membership in 1951
Past President of WNYPGA
Past National PGA Vice President for the PGA: 1961 to 1963
Three-time WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1955, 1957, 1980

Playing Accomplishments – Professional

Played in 10 PGA Championships
Played in 8 US Open Championships

State

Lake Shore Open Winner
Central New York Open Winner
Cambridge Springs Open Winner
3 Time Buffalo Open Champion

Western New York PGA

11 Time WNYPGA Section Champion
8 Time WNYPGA Senior Champion
2 Time WNYPGA Super Senior Champion

Walter Hagen

Charter Member 1986

Born in Brighton (Rochester), New York

1892 – 1969

Career

Began caddying at the C.C. of Rochester at age 7
Broke 80 by the time he was eleven
In 1909, became Assistant Professional at C.C. of Rochester
Head Professional at C.C. of Rochester from 1913 to 1917
Captain of the US Ryder Cup Team: 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937
Member of the National PGA Golf Hall of Fame

Playing Accomplishments – Professional

Qualified to play in the US Open in 1913 at the age of 20
U.S. Open Winner: 1914, 1919
5 Time PGA Championship Winner: 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927
4 Time British Open Championship Winner: 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929
54 Professional victories between 1914 and 1936

Toby Lyons

Charter Member 1986

1914 – 2000

Elected to PGA Membership in 1951

Teaching Professional at Niagara Falls C.C. for 11 years
Head Professional at Burning Tree C.C. Greenwich, CT for 10 years
Head Professional at Moonbrook C.C. Jamestown, NY for 13 years
Head Professional at Conewango Valley C.C. Warren, PA for 5 years
Spent 16 years teaching at Ben Sutton Golf Schools (FL) during the winter
As an Amateur he won the Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship and played in 6 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships

Playing Accomplishments – Professional

Professional Tour:

Played on the PGA tour for 5 years
Held record for many years for the lowest 18-hole score, 28-33-61 in Texas Open
Played in 15 US Opens
Played in 8 PGA Championships
Finished 3rd – 3 times in PGA tour events including, St. Petersburg Open in 1954

State:

3 Time Lake Shore Open Winner
1974 Woodstock Open Winner
Buffalo Open Winner

National:

PGA Club Professional Championship Winner in 1956
PGA Stroke Play Championship Winner in 1961

PGA Section:

8 Time WNYPGA Section Champion
3 Time WNYPGA Senior Champion
2 Time Metropolitan PGA Section Champion

Lancy Smith

Charter Member 1986

Amateur Member at the Park C.C.

1994 Inductee in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Playing Accomplishments

Curtis Cup Team Member: 1972, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984
Curtis Cup Team Alternate: 1974, 1976, 1986, 1990
Curtis Cup Team Captain: 1994
Western Amateur Champion: 1974
South Atlantic Champion: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1985, 1989
Harder Hall Champion: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985
Doherty Champion: 1977, 1979
International Four-Ball Champion: 1973, 1975, 1976
New York State Amateur Champion: 1966, 1969, 1970, 1998, 1999
New York State Women’s Amateur Champion: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
South Atlantic Senior Champion: 1998
14 Time Women’s Buffalo District Champion
Played in 13 Women’s U.S. Opens

Sam Urzetta

Charter Member 1986

1926 -2011

Teaching Professional at the CC of Rochester in 1954
Head Professional at the CC of Rochester 1956 – 1993
Elected to PGA Membership in 1959

Western New York Section PGA

WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1965
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award Winner: 1977, 1985

Other Hall of Fames

Member of the St. Bonaventure Hall of Fame
Member of the Monroe County High School Hall of Fame
Member of the Rochester Golf Hall of Fame

Playing Accomplishments – Amateur

1948 New York State Amateur Champion
1950 USGA National Amateur Champion
Played in 4 U.S. Opens
Walker Cup Team: 1951-1953
America’s Cup Team: 1952-1954
4 Time RDGA Champion
3 Time CC of Rochester Invitational Winner
3 Time Monroe GC Invitational Winner

Playing Accomplishments – Professional

Played in the Masters 4 times – finished tied for 12th in 1956
Played in the PGA Championship 4 times
3 time WNYPGA Section Champion
WNYPGA Player of the Year in 1971
WNY Pro Team Championship Winner in 1966
2 Time Lake Shore Open Winner
WNYPGA Senior Championship Runner-Up in 1982

H. Ward Wettlaufer

Charter Member 1986

1935 – 2016

Amateur Member at the CC of Buffalo
1995 Inductee in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Board Member

Buffalo District Golf Association: 1972-1974
Southern Golf Association 1962-1965

Playing Accomplishments

National

2 time U.S. Open Qualifier
7 time U.S. Amateur Qualifier – Quarter Finals in 1958
3 time Masters Qualifier
Walker Cup Team in 1959 – Alternate in 1966
Porter Cup Winner: 1960, 1965
Tam O’Shanter World Champion in 1956
Eastern Intercollegiate Champion in 1955
Eastern Amateur Winner: 1958, 1959
Georgia State Champion in 1966
Atlanta Open Champion: 1965, 1966
National Intercollegiate Runner-Up in 1956

Local

Buffalo District Golf Association Champion: 1958, 1960
14 time CC of Buffalo Club Champion: 1955-1984
4 time CC of Buffalo Junior Champion: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
East Aurora International Junior Masters Champion in 1953

Course Records

CC of Buffalo – 64 (Unofficial)
CC of Buffalo – 65 (Official)
Audubon GC – 64 (Official)
Edgewood Valley GC – 63 (Unofficial)

Alex Greer

Inducted in 1987

1914 – 2012

Elected to PGA Membership in 1946

Member of PGA Half Century Club
Head Professional Brookfield C.C. 1946-1979
WNYPGA Vice President: 1954-1956
WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1964, 1978
WNYPGA Section Champion: 1946
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 1965, 1969, 1985

Course Records

Brookfield C.C. Course Record – 64

Dennis Bradley

Inducted in 1988

1938 – 2014

Elected to PGA Membership in 1973

Head Professional, Locust Hill C.C. 1967 to 1995
WNYPGA Section President: 1988-1990
WNYPGA Section Vice President: 1987-1988
WNYPGA Treasurer: 1985 – 1987

Awards

WNYPGA Professional of the Year in 1986
WNYPGA Club Fitter of the Year in 1990
WNYPGA Teacher of the Year in 1994
WNYPGA Merchandiser of the Year in 1987

Playing Accomplishments

Northern Ohio Assistant Professional Champion in 1963
Northern Ohio Section Champion in 1964
Lake Shore Open Champion in 1970
WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1975, 1977
WNYPGA Section Champion: 1976, 1979
National PGA Match Play Champion in 1982
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: (9) 1988 to 1993, 1996 to 1998
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 1988, 1990, 1992
National PGA Quarter Century Champion: 1990, 1991
Rochester Classic Senior Champion in 1999
Rochester Classic Super Senior Champion in 2001

Ange Alberico

Inducted in 1991

Elected to PGA Membership in 1958

Member of the PGA Half Century Club
Head Professional Springville C.C. 1959-1991

Playing Accomplishments

WNYPGA Senior Champion: 1982, 1986, 1987
PGA National Quarter Century Champion in 1984
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: 1985, 1986, 1987
WNYPGA Super Senior Champion: 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
Rochester Classic Super Senior Champion: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998
WNYPGA Classic Senior Champion: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Ralph Haas

Inducted in 1991

Elected to PGA Membership in 1954

Member of the PGA Half Century Club
Head Professional at Transit Valley CC: 1954-1999

National Committees

PGA National Vice President: 1970-1972
PGA Championship Tournament Committee: 1970-1972
Ryder Cup Tournament Committee in 1971

Section Committees

WNYPGA President: 1963-1965
WNYPGA Vice President: 1960-1962
WNYPGA Treasurer: 1955-1960

Awards

WNYPGA Professional of the Year in 1967
WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award in 1985
WNYPGA Merchandiser of the Year in 1986
WNYPGA Senior-Junior Championship Winner: 1986, 1999

Clarence Doser

Inducted in 1993

1909 – 1999

Elected to PGA Membership in 1927

Head Professional at Durand Eastman: 1929-1930
Head Professional at Lake Shore C.C.: 1931-1936
Member of the Metropolitan Section PGA Hall of Fame: 1981
Member Mid Atlantic Section PGA Hall of Fame: 1988

Playing Accomplishments

4 time WNYPGA Champion
4 time Buffalo Open Champion
4 time Rochester Open Champion
4 time Central NY Open Champion
3 time Metropolitan Section Champion
2 time Mid Atlantic Section Champion
6 time Mid Atlantic Section Senior Champion
2 time Westchester PGA Champion
2 time Qualifier Finalist in National PGA Championship
Semi-Finalist in National PGA Championship
21 time Qualifier for the National PGA Championship
19 time U.S. Open Qualifier
3 time Masters Qualifier
Runner-Up in the U.S. Senior’s Open
Shot his age numerous times every year from 1973 (64) to 1999

Denny Lyons

Inducted in 1995

Elected to PGA Membership in 1971

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club
Head Professional at Niagara Falls C.C. 1971-1995

Playing Accomplishments

National

3 time Qualifier of the National PGA Championship
Made the cut 3 times in the National PGA Championship
6 time Qualifier for the US Open
Made the cut once in the US Open
Made the cut once in the US Senior Open
NYS Open Champion: 1980
8 time Qualifier for PGA National Club Professional Championship
PGA National Stroke Play Champion

WNYPGA

WNYPGA Section Champion: 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980
WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980
2 time Winner of the WNY Open
Rochester Classic Champion: 1990-1994
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 1994, 1995, 1996,1997, 1999, 2002
Rochester Classic Senior Champion: 2002
WNYPGA Super Senior Champion: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012
Rochester Classic Super Senior Champion: 2007
WNYPGA Classic Senior Champion: 2014

John Calabria

Inducted in 1998

Elected to PGA Membership in 1978

Head Professional, Brook Lea C.C. 1978-1992

WNYPGA Tournament Chairman: 1982-1985
WNYPGA Teacher of the Year in 1989
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award in 1992

PGA Section Playing Accomplishments

WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
WNYPGA Section Champion: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
NYS Open Champion: 1981
Western New York Open Champion: 1987
WNYPGA Tournament of Champions Winner: 1990
Rochester Classic Champion: 1991
Rochester Classic Senior Championship: 1998
Greater Erie Charity Classic Champion: 1973
South Florida PGA Champion: 1998
Florida State Senior Open Champion: 1999, 2005

National Playing Accomplishments

3 time US Open Qualifier: 1977, 1982, 1995
3 time PGA Championship Qualifier: 1980, 1982, 1984
2 time US Senior Open Qualifier: 1999, 2000
2 time PGA Senior Championship Qualifier: 1999, 2001
2 time Senior British Open Contestant: 1998, 2000

Joe Diego

Inducted in 1999

1927 – 2018

Elected to PGA Membership in 1954

Member of PGA Half Century Club
Head Professional, Green Hills C.C. from 1962-1992

Western New York PGA Section

WNYPGA President: 1971-1974
WNYPGA Vice President/Treasurer: 1966-1969
WNYPGA Tournament Chairman: 1963-1966
WNYPGA Professional of the Year in 1966

Playing Accomplishments

Qualified for National PGA Championship: 1958
1st to tee off the year the PGA switched from match play to stroke play
Carlings Open Champion, Syracuse NY: 1966
WNYPGA Super Super Senior Champion: 2000
Rochester Classic Super Senior Champion: 1989, 1990, 1991

Course Records

1968 Midvale C.C. 36-28-64
1970 Green Hills C.C. 34-31-65
1972 Island Valley C.C. 29-31-60

Has 18 Holes-In-Ones to his credit

Cookie Swift Berger

Inducted in 2000

Amateur Member at Westwood C.C.

Playing Record

Women’s NCAA Champion: 1950
Women’s NYS Amateur Champion: 1953
Women’s Metropolitan NY District Champion
Women’s Metropolitan NY District Junior Champion
9 time Qualifier in the USGA Women’s National Amateur Championship from 1953-1971
9 time Westwood C.C. Women’s Champion: 1959-1967
5 Time Buffalo District Women’s Champion: 1956-1962
2002 Inductee in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Has set 10 Course Records

Has 8 Holes-In-Ones to her credit

Bill Dimas

Inducted in 2001

1946 – 2019

Elected to PGA Membership in 1970

Member of PGA Quarter Century Club
Assistant Professional at Lake Shore C.C. in 1964
Assistant at Transit Valley C.C. 1968-1970
Head Professional at Niagara Frontier C.C. 1971-1976
Director of Golf at Glen Oak G.C. 1977-1980
WNYPGA Tournament Chairman 1975 – 1977
WNYPGA Treasurer: 1977-1978
WNYPGA Vice President: 1975-1980
WNYPGA Executive Director: 1984-2009

Awards

WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1976, 1988
WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award: 1979, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award Winner: 1988

Committees

National PGA Club Relations
National Golf Day
National PGA Education
National PGA Membership & Apprentice
National Technology Task Force
Chairman or Member of numerous WNYPGA Section Committees: 1975-2009
Chairman of PGA Section Executive Director Group: 1997-2000
Member of Oldsmobile Golf Advisory Committee: 1998-1999
Member of Town of Amherst Golf Oversight Committee: 2000-2009

John Henrich

Inducted in 2001

1924 – 2013

Elected to PGA Membership in 1963

Member of the PGA Half Century Club
Head Professional at Pleasant View GC: 1958-1959
Head Professional at Elma Meadows GC: 1960-1988

National Accomplishments

Horton Smith Award Winner: 1975
Nominated for the Golf Digest Club Fitter of the Year
Member of the Teaching Staff for the National Golf Foundation
Co-Writer of “Golf Club Design, Fitting and Repair” for the PGA in 1969
Club Repair Instructor at the PGA National Business Schools: 1966-1974
Hands-on Club Repair and Fitting Workshops Instructor for the PGA: 1974-1981
Club Repair and Fitting at PGM Programs Instructor at Ferris State College for 13 years
Club Repair and Fitting at PGM Programs Instructor at Mississippi State for 3 years

Section Accomplishments

WNYPGA Horton Smith Award: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
WNYPGA Super Senior Champion: 1992

Jean Ramaker Trainor

Inducted in 2001

1917 – 2001

Amateur Member at the CC of Rochester

Golf Association Committees

USGA Women’s Committee
New York State Women’s Junior & Senior Committees
Women’s Western New York Board
Women’s Rochester District Golf Association Officer

Playing Accomplishments

Competed in Women’s US Open in 1953 and 1963
9 time Women’s NYS Section Champion
Women’s NYS Amateur Champion: Two-time Runner-Up
24 time Women’s Rochester District Champion: 1937-1969
23 time Women’s C.C. of Rochester Champion: 1952-1989
12 time Women’s Oak Hill Champion: 1949-1967
3 time Women’s Monroe Golf Club Champion: 1937-1940
3 time Women’s Western New York Champion
7 time USGA Women’s Amateur Competitor – went to the 5th Round in 1958
C.C. of Rochester Women’s Course Record – 72

Stan Marshaus

Inducted in 2002

Elected to PGA Membership in 1974

Member of the PGA Half Century Club
Graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH in 1965
Golf Coach, Basketball Coach, Athletic Director & Teacher of the Year of the Painesville School District
Director of Golf at Chautauqua G.C. from 1974-2008

Member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors: 1993-2003
WNYPGA Honorary President: 1999 – 2001
WNYPGA President: 1997 – 1999
WNYPGA Vice President: 1995 – 1997
WNYPGA Secretary: 1993 – 1995
WNYPGA Tournament Chairman: 1990 – 1993
District Director for National PGA Board of Directors from 1996-1999
Member of the National PGA Tournament & Budget Committee: 1996-1999

Achievements

WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1994
WNYPGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year: 1987, 1991, 1994, 1995
Qualified for National Senior CPC Championship: 1998, 2000, 2002
WNYPGA Classic Senior Champion: 2018

Lonnie Nielsen

Inducted in 2004

Elected to PGA Membership in 1980

Played on the PGA Tour 1978-1983
Director of Golf at Crag Burn C.C. 1984-2003
PGA Championship Tour: 2004-2012
Commerce Bank Champion: 2007
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open Champion: 2009

Inducted in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame: 2010

Inducted in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame: 2018

National PGA Accomplishments

Club Professional Player of the Year: 1986, 1987, 1989
Played in 9 PGA Championships: 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996
Competed in 15 Club Pro Championships
Played in PGA Team Cup: 1988, 1996
National PGA Stroke Play Champion: 1988
National PGA Match Play Champion: 1988, 1989
Finished 3rd in 2003 Senior CPC

New York State Playing Accomplishments

NY State Open Champion: 1985, 1989
2003 State PGA Senior’s Champion
2003 Otesaga Senior Open Champion

Western New York Section Playing Accomplishments

All-Time Leading Money Winner
Leading Money Winner 13 years
Player of the Year 13 years: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2015
Section Champion 11 years: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2013, 2015
Match Play Championship 11 years: 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2013
Won Western New York Open 9 years: 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2016
WNYPGA Tour Champion: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 2003
WNYPGA Super Senior Champion: 2015, 2016, 2017
Winner of over 100 Section Tournaments

Western New York Awards/Committees

1999 Professional of the Year
1998 Teacher of the Year
Tournament Chairman 1998-1999
Board of Directors 1996-1999
Instructor of Numerous Section Teaching and Playing Education Programs

Craig Harmon

Inducted in 2005

Elected to PGA Membership in 1976

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club
Head Professional at Oak Hill C.C. 1972-2013

Teaching Accomplishments

1994: Co-Chairman, National PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit
1996: Chairman, National PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit
Instructor, National & Local PGA Teaching Seminars
Regularly evaluates Master Professional Thesis for the National PGA
Personal instructor to Jeff Sluman, 1988 PGA Champion and consistent PGA Tour Player
Instructor to many PGA, LPGA and Top Amateur Players
Voted 20th best teacher in America by Golf Digest

Host Professional of Major Events at Oak Hill C.C.

1980 PGA Championship
1983 Senior US Open Championship
1989 U.S. Open Championship
1995 Ryder Cup Matches
1998 U.S. Amateur Championship
2003 PGA Championship
2008 PGA Senior Championship
2013 PGA Championship

Western New York PGA Awards

Professional of the Year: 1983
Horton Smith Award Winner: 1993
Teacher of the Year: 1986, 1991, 1995, 2002

Special Honors

Inducted into Oak Hill C.C. Hill of Fame in 2003
2004 National PGA Golf Professional of the Year
Inducted 2004 in the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame

Fred Silver

Inducted in 2006

1945 – 2019

Amateur Member at Niagara Falls Country Club

Northern Ontario

Junior Champion: 1959, 1961
Amateur Champion: 1966
Ontario Senior Player of the Year: 2002

National Playing Accomplishments

Played in 11 USGA Championships
Ranked 13th in 2002 & 2005 for Senior Amateurs by Golf Week Magazine
Won National Senior-Junior in 2002
Senior Chesapeake Cup in 2004

New York State Playing Accomplishments

Amateur Championship – Played 18 times, 4 top 5 finishes
Mid-Amateur – Played 13 times, 1995 Runner-Up
Senior Amateur – 2001 Runner-Up, 3rd 2004
Member of the NYS 4 – Man Senior Team 5 times

Western New York Playing Accomplishments

BDGA Individual Champion 5 times: 1972, 1983, 1984, 1994, 1995
BDGA Match Play Champion: 2002, 2005
BDGA Individual Champion Medalist: 1972, 1998
Named #1 in Golf Ranking from 1983-1996

Niagara Falls Country Club

Club Champion more than 26 times
Porter Cup: Qualified 36 consecutive years beginning in 1970, 3rd in 1983
Porter Cup Senior Champion: 1996
Porter Cup Senior Runner -Up: 1995, 1997, 2004
Super Senior Champion 2017
Porter Cup Tournament Director

Other

Served as President and on the BDGA Board of Directors from 1994
Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2003
Director: Society of Seniors, U.S. Senior Challenge
2017 US Senior Challenge Man of the Year

Ric Alberico

Inducted in 2007

Elected to PGA Membership in 1977

PGA Master Professional 1995
Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club
Head Professional at East Aurora CC: 2003-2010
Head Professional at Westwood CC: 1981-2003
Head Professional at Niagara Frontier CC: 1977-1981

Committees

PGA National Board of Directors representing District 4: 1987-1990
PGA National Chairman Positions:
Junior Golf: 1988-1990
Junior Championship: 1988-1990
Membership Vice Chair: 1989-1990
PGA Rules Committee
PGA Competitions Committee
PGA Championship Committee
PGA Official for the 1989 Ryder Cup
PGA Master Professional Thesis Committee
PGA-USGA Certified Rules Official: 1980
WNYPGA President 1985-1987
WNYPGA Vice President 1982-1985
WNYPGA Secretary 1980-1982
Served on the WNYPGA Board: 1980 – 2006
WNYPGA Chairman for the following committees: Education, Club Relations, Junior Golf, and Membership

Awards

Golf Industry Magazine 1991 Golf Professional of the Year
WNYPGA Professional of the Year in 1984
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award Winner: 1986, 1987, 1995
WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner: 2002, 2003

Other

PGA Business School Coordinator & Instructor
Westwood CC Course Record 67 from Championship Tees in 1997
1976 National Italian Open Champion, North Shore CC, Chicago, IL
1984 WNYPGA Section Championship Runner-Up
Played in 2 PGA Club Professional Championships
1987 John Deere Classic Runner-Up, PGA National – Champions Course
Gannon University – Physics and Electronic Engineering

Jim Mrva

Inducted in 2007

Elected to PGA Membership in 1978

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club
Graduated from Rutgers University
Head Professional at Monroe GC: 1983 – Present
Assistant Professional at En-Joie GC: 1975 – 1978
Head Professional at Yahnundasis GC: 1978 – 1982

Western New York PGA

Member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors: 1984 – 2005. Served as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Rochester District Director

Served on the following WNYPGA Committees:
Junior Golf, Education, Apprentice, Awards, Club Relations, and Employment

Awards

National PGA Professional of the Year: 2010
WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1998
WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award: 2010
WNYPGA Community Service Award Winner: 2003
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award Winner: 1996, 1997
WNYPGA Private Club Merchandiser of the Year: 1988, 1993, 2006
WNYPGA Junior Golf Promoter of the Year: 1985
Rochester Press-Radio Club Elliot Cushing Award Winner: 2005

Playing Accomplishments

Western New York Open Champion: 1992
WNYPGA Match Play Champion: 1987, 1988
Western New York Senior Champion: 2000, 2001
WNY/Rochester Classic Low-Scoring Senior: 2000, 2001
WNY Classic Super Senior Champion: 2015
Western New York Section Championship Runner-Up: 1994

Other

Chairman of the Rochester Classic Tournament
Chairman of Rochester Golf for Kids
Board member of the First Tee Program
Board member on the 85th PGA Championship Community Relations

Joe O’Shaughnessy

Inducted in 2009

Elected to PGA Membership in 1975

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club
Head Professional at Oak Run GC: 1991-2017
Head Professional at Niagara County GC
Head Professional at Lockport Town & CC
Assistant Golf Professional at Niagara Frontier CC

Awards

WNYPGA Merchandiser of the Year: 1986
WNYPGA Horton Smith Award Winner: 1998, 1999
WNYPGA Golf Professional of the Year: 2001

Committees

Served on the National Board of Directors from 2005 to 2006: PGA Chairman of the Special Awards, Merchandiser of the Year, and Apprentice committees
Served on WNYPGA Board of Directors from 1986 to 2008:
WNYPGA Secretary: 1999-2001
WNYPGA Vice President: 2001-2003
WNYPGA President of the: 2003-2005

Other

While serving as the District IV Director of the PGA, Joe introduced the pairing of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Geoff Ogilvy at the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club. In 1988, Joe designed and built Oak Run Golf Club in Lockport, NY.

Armand Lannutti

Inducted in 2010

1917 – 2010

Elected to PGA Membership in 1949

Head Professional at Durand Eastman Golf Course (1941-1975)

Awards

WNYPGA Golf Professional of the Year: 1960

Committees

WNYPGA Tournament Chairmen: 1952-54, 1957-60, 1961-63
WNYPGA President from 1960-1963

Playing Accomplishments

WNYPGA Super Senior Champion: 1990

Other

Member of the WNYPGA for over 60 years
WNYPGA Historian throughout his career that has provided priceless information and dates

Denny Fersteler

Inducted in 2013

Elected to PGA Membership in 1982

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Former Head Professional and Director of Golf at Penfield CC

Awards

WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1995
WNYPGA Committees
WNYPGA Tournament Chairman: 1994-1997

Playing Accomplishments

Rochester Classic Champion: 1989
Rochester Classic Senior Champion: 2004
WNYPGA Match Play Finalist: 1994
WNYPGA Section Championship Runner-Up: 1983, 1999
WNYPGA Senior Championship Runner-Up: 2003
WNY Open Runner-Up: 1994, 1997
Low U.S. Open Qualifier: 1981

Other
Course Records – Cazenovia CC (65), Rogues Roost CC (64), Cavalry Club (63), Rhode Island CC (62), Locust Hill CC (63), and Penfield CC (66)

Quotes

“I always had nicknames for everybody. I got away with a lot more stuff than a lot of other pros did. I always wanted members, and their guests, to come in and, this was not their job so when they left work I wanted them to come out and have a great experience.”

“I would always joke with them (members). A guy would come in and I would look at his outfit and say, ‘Why don’t you go through my lost and found and get yourself an outfit?’ I would do that just to make people laugh. I used to love to see people laugh.”

Mark Kirk

Inducted in 2013

Elected to PGA Membership in 1983

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

PGA Teaching Professional at Crag Burn GC: 2000-Present
PGA Director of Golf at Brierwood CC: 1997-2000
Head PGA Professional at Deerfield CC: 1996
Head PGA Professional at Orchard Park CC: 1988-1995
Head PGA Professional at Brierwood CC: 1986-1987
Assistant Professional at Brook-Lea CC: 1981-1985
Assistant Professional at Crag Burn GC: 1979-1980

Awards

WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 1991
Horton Smith Award Winner: 1990, 1994
WNYPGA Teacher of the Year: 1993, 1998

WNYPGA Committees

WNYPGA Secretary/Treasurer: 1988-1990
WNYPGA Vice President: 1990-1993
WNYPGA President: 1993-1995
WNYPGA Tournament Chairman: 2003-2005

National PGA Committees

National PGA Club Pro Competitions Committee: 1993-1994
National PGA Section Affairs Committee: 1991-1993
National PGA Membership Committee: 1991-1993

Playing Accomplishments

Seven-time National Club Pro Championship Finalist
Six-time US Open Regional Finalist
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: 2009 & 2010
WNYPGA Match Play Champion: 1997
WNY Open Champion in 2010, Senior Division Co-Champion in 2013
Rochester Classic Champion in 1996, Senior Division Champion in 2010
Assistant Pro Champion: 2011
More than twenty-five WNYPGA Section Tournament Victories

Kirk Stauffer

Inducted in 2015

Elected into PGA Membership in 1990

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Head Professional at Chautauqua Golf Club: 2020-Present
Head Professional at Pine Acres Country Club: 1990-2018

WNYPGA

WNYPGA President: 2010-2013
WNYPGA Vice President: 2009-2011
WNYPGA Secretary: 2007-2009
WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 2005
WNYPGA Merchandiser of the Year (Public/Semi-Private): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012
WNYPGA Professional Development Award Winner (aka Horton Smith Award): 2012

WNYPGA Playing Accomplishments

WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1991, 1997, 2003-08, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020
WNYPGA Section Champion: 1991, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
WNYPGA Tour Champion: 1998, 2004, 2005, 2013
WNYPGA Section Professional Champion: 1991, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007
WNYPGA Senior-Junior Champion: 20011, 2012
WNYPGA Match Play Champion: 1995, 2008, 2016, 2020
WNYPGA Pro-Pro Champion: 1992, 1995, 2017
WNY Open Champion: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006
WNY Open Senior Champion: 2017
Rochester Classic Champion: 2010
WNY Classic Champion: 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019

National Playing Accomplishments

Played in the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Senior PGA Championship

Dudley Hart

Inducted in 2018

Born in Rochester, NY

University of Florida Gators men’s golf teams from 1987 to 1990
Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year in 1987 – Four-time All-American
Gators’ 1989 SEC Championship Team member
Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great” in 2003
Turned Pro in 1990 and joined the PGA Tour in 1991
1990 Florida Open Champion
1990 Louisiana Open Champion
1996 Bell Canadian Open Champion
1998 Subaru Sarazen World Open Champion
2000 Honda Classic Champion
2002 CVS Charity Classic Champion
Tied for 1st at the 2004 Byron Nelson Championship
Career high 21st Official World Golf Ranking, achieved in April 2000
Current Member of the PGA Champions Tour

Jeff Sluman

Inducted in 2018

Born in Rochester, NY
Turned Professional in 1980

Monroe Community College – 1977 to 1978
Florida State University – 1979 – 1980
1978 New York State Amateur Champion
1981 Monroe Invitational Champion

PGA Tour Victories

1985 Tallahassee Open
1988 PGA Companionship
1999 & 2003 CVS Charity Classic
2001 B.C. Open
2003 & 2004 Franklin Templeton Shootout

PGA Champions Tour Victories

2008 Bank of America Championship
2008 & 2009 Walmart First Tee Open
2011 Nature Valley First Tee Open
2010 Nedbank Champions Challenge
2013 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf with Brad Faxon
2014 Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf with Fred Funk

Timothy Fries

Inducted in 2019

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Born in Buffalo, NY
Turned Professional in 1987

Personal

Education – Bachelor of Science Degree – Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo 1997
PGA Member since 1991; Class A-1
PGA Certified – Teaching and Coaching
Glen Oak Golf Club, East Amherst, NY – Owner/General Manager: 2018 – Present
Transit Valley Country Club, East Amherst, NY – Head Golf Professional: 2000-2018

Assistant Professional Positions
Transit Valley Country Club: 1997-1999
Orchard Park Country Club, Orchard Park, NY: 1991-1996
Rolling Hills International Country Club, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: 1990-1991
Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville, NY: 1990
Admirals Cove Country Club, Jupiter, FL: 1989-1990
Ridgemont Country Club, Rochester, NY: 1988-1999
Brierwood Country Club, Hamburg, NY: 1987

PGA Professional Playing Highlights

77^th Senior PGA Championship Participant: 2016 (Harbor Shores, Michigan)
WNYPGA Senior Player of the Year: 2014
WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1998
4 time WNYPGA Assistant Player of the Year: 1988, 1990, 1995, 1999
Winner WNYPGA Professional Championship: 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2017
PGA Professional National Championship participant 7 times
Winner WNYPGA Senior Professional Championship: 2014
Senior PGA Professional National Championship participant: 2014, 2015, 2017
Winner WNYPGA Section Championship: 2010, 2017
Winner WNYPGA Match Play Championship: 2006, 2007
4 time winner WNYPGA Assistants Championship: 1988, 1990, 1995, 1999
3 time participant – Regional stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School
2 time participant – Regional Stage of United States Open
Winner of over 50 WNYPGA events
Course record at Beaver Island G.C., Grand Island, NY – 65 (1988)
Course record at Orchard Park C.C., Orchard Park, NY – 64 (1994)
Course record at Transit Valley C.C., East Amherst, NY – 63 (2006)

National PGA Professional Experience

PGA of America District 4 Director – Present

PGA of America National Board of Directors: 2014-2017
41^st Ryder Cup PGA Rules Observer: 2016 (Hazeltine National GC, Chaska, MN)
PGA Championship Official Starter
2015 (Whistling Straits GC, Kohler, WI)
     2016 (Baltusrol CC, Springfield, NJ)
     2017 (Quail Hollow GC, Charlotte, NC)
PGA of America National Tournaments Committee: 2014-2018
PGA of America National Employment Committee: 2012-2014
PGA of America National Hall of Fame Nominations Committee: 2015-2017
Member Championships and Tournaments: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Member Championships and Tournaments Co-Chair: 2015, 2016
Member Championships and Tournaments Chair: 2018
Hall of Fame Nominations: 2016, 2017
Employment: 2013, 2014

WESTERN NEW YORK SECTION

President:  2005, 2006, 2007
Vice President:  2003, 2004, 2005
Secretary: 2001, 2002, 2003
Board of Directors:  1998 to 2018 – Chaired WNYPGA Committees – Tournament, Junior, Interview, Employment, Long Range Planning
WNYPGA Foundation President: 2010, 2011
WNYPGA REACH Foundation Vice President: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Golf Professional of the Year: 2002, 2016
Bill Strausbaugh Award:  2006, 2011, 2013, 2016
Player Development Award: 2014
Community Service Award: 2007
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): 2012
Assistant Professional of the Year: 1998,1999
Player of the Year: 1998
Senior Player of the Year: 2014
Professional Champion (PPC): 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2017
Senior Professional Champion (SPPC): 2014
Assistants Champion: 1998, 1990, 1995, 1999
Stroke Play Champion: 2010, 2017
Match Play Champion: 2006, 2007
PGA Certified Teaching and Coaching: 2010
US Kids Certified Coach: 2017
Patriot Award: 2002
PGA.Coach ADM Achievement: 2019
Titleist Leadership Advisory Council: 2012-2019
Employment/Club Relations: 2001, 2002, 2003
Employment/Club Relations Chair: 2002, 2003
Tournaments: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2014 – 2019
Tournaments Chair: 2000, 2001, 2014, 2015
Junior Golf/ Growth of the Game: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Junior Golf/ Growth of the Game Chair: 2008, 2009
Member Interview: 1996, 1997
Long Range Planning: 2004, 2005

Jack Gordon, PGA

Inducted in 2021

Jack started his professional career at Cathcart Castle Golf Club in Glasgow, Scotland. He immigrated to the United States and served as Head Professional at the Country Club of Buffalo, Transit Valley Country Club, and Westwood Country Club.

Jack was the first WNYPGA President and served from 1927 to 1931. He was also the first National Representative to serve on the PGA Board of Directors and a longtime member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors.

WNYPGA historical records are not available for the era but club historians can confirm Jack’s high-ranking of playing ability in the WNYPGA Section with numerous wins and participation in PGA National Championships including the PGA Championship. He is listed as the 1927 WNYPGA Section Champion.

Jack Gordon is the author of Understandable Golf and The Ten Commandments of the Golf Stroke. Both are still available at select book outlets.

Jon Hoecker, PGA

Inducted in 2021

Jon has been the Head Professionals at Brook Lea Country Club since 1993. His high-ranking playing ability in the WNYPGA Section with numerous wins along with high finishes in both events and Player of the Year Standings easily qualified him for nomination. Jon has also played in numerous National PGA competitions.

Accomplishments include:
WNYPGA Champion: 1988, 1997, 2008, 2019
WNYPGA Senior Champion: 2013, 2018
WNYPGA Match Play Champion: 2003
WNYPGA Player of the Year: 1988
WNYPGA President: 2007-2009
WNYPGA Professional of the Year: 2000
WNYPGA Professional Development Award (aka Horton Smith Award): 2004, 2005
WNYPGA Teacher of the Year: 2003, 2011
Longtime member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors

Jon Hoecker is the consummate PGA Professional and is well respected for his knowledge and talent.

Dr. John P. Konsek

Inducted in 2021

Former Amateur Member of Brookfield Country Club
Accomplishments include:
Junior
International Junior Masters Champion (1954, 1955, 1957)
New York State Junior Amateur champion (1957)
National Jaycee US Championship-Runner up (1957)
Qualified for USGA National Junior Championship (1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957)

Amateur
New York State Men’s Amateur Champion (1958, 1959, 1960)
Monroe Invitational Amateur Champion (1959, 1964)
Big Ten Team Championship (1958, 1959, 1960 —Purdue University)
Big Ten Individual Champion (1958, 1959, 1960 —Purdue University)
NCAA Division 1 Championship -Runner up (1958)
Porter Cup Champion (1959, 1961)
NCAA First Team All American (1958, 1959, 1960)
Americas Cup Team (1960)
US Open Participant (1958, 1960)
US Amateur Championship participant (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959)
Masters Championship Invitation (1960)
Buffalo District Amateur Champion (1960) Setting course record in Qualifier at Park Club in Buffalo (1961)
Inducted Purdue Sports Hall of Fame (2003)
Inducted Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2005)
Inducted New York State Golf Association Hall of Fame (2015)

Michael J. O’Connor

Inducted in 2021

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Michael has been the Head Professional at The Kahkwa Club since 1999. His high-ranking playing ability in the WNYPGA Section with numerous wins along with high finishes in both events and Player of the Year Standings easily qualified him for nomination. Michael has also played in numerous National PGA competitions.

Accomplishments include:

• WNYPGA Section Champion: 2001
• WNYPGA President (two-year term): 2016 – 2017
• Golf Professional of the Year: 2008
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: 2015
• Professional Development Award (aka Horton Smith Award): 2006 & 2007
• Teacher of the Year: 2008
• Merchandiser of the Year: 2014 (Private), 2023 (Public/Semi Private)
• Player Development Award: 2019
• PGA REACH WNY Board of Directors
  • President, Treasurer
• Longtime member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors

Michael led the J.C. Martin Project in Erie, PA, which brought back to life a historical landmark golf course. J.C. Martin has long served as a location for juniors to learn the game and for the golfing public to enjoy a leisurely round of golf.

Michael O’Connor is the consummate PGA Professional and is well respected for his knowledge and talent.

Chip Clover

Inducted in 2021

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Chip Clover, PGA is the 38th inductee into the prestigious WNYPGA Hall of Fame. Through his career, Chip has been an outstanding Professional. He has been a long-time member of the WNYPGA Section and has volunteered in many different ways. Most noted, through over 20 years on the WNYPGA Board of Directors, chairing numerous committees, and serving as the Section President in 2009 – 2011. One of his greatest accomplishments while serving on the WNYPGA Board of Directors as the Section President was implementing and starting the WNYPGA Foundation – now PGA REACH WNY.

He has been the recipient of eight WNYPGA Awards:

• Professional of the Year: 2006
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: 2009
• Professional Development Award: 2000, 2009
• Youth Player Development Award: 1995
• Merchandiser of the Year (Private): 1992, 1994, 1999, 2008

Chip served for over 30 years at the Brookfield Country Club as their Head PGA Golf Professional. He had a long-storied career at that club and had one of the finest Pro Shops in Western NY. His attention to detail and customer service was second to none.

Rob Horak                                                                                                           

Inducted in 2022

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

Rob Horak, PGA is the 39th inductee into the prestigious WNYPGA Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Rob Horak, PGA has been a devoted Professional. He has been very supportive of the Section over the years as he has had over 20 years of service on the Board of Directors. He served as the Tournament Chairman, the Secretary, the Vice President, and the President of the Section. He served as the Section President from 2017-2019. 

 Some of Rob’s accomplishments include:

• WNYPGA President: 2017-2019 
• Player of the Year: 1992, 1999
• Golf Professional of the Year: 2004
• Teacher of the Year: 2006, 2014 
• Professional Development Award: 2008 

He served for over 3 years at Midvale Country Club as their Assistant Professional. Rob’s skills were put on a show when he won the Section Championship five times, the Match Play Championship three times, the Tour Championship twice, and the Assistant Pro Championship one time. Congratulations to Rob on this well-deserved accomplishment!

Dan Antonucci                                                                                                           

Inducted in 2024

Member of the PGA Quarter Century Club

FAMILY INFORMATION:

• Married to Angela – 31 years
• Son – Joe, Daughter-in-law – Erica
• Grand Daughters – Isabelle & Liliana

PROFESSIONAL STANDING

• Class “A” Member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America since 1989
• PGA Certified Professional in General Management
• Quarter Century Member of the Professional Golfers’ Association
• PGA Head Golf Professional at Niagara Frontier C.C. for 34 Years
• PGA HOPE Certified – 2021

PROFESSIONAL ACHEIVEMENTS

• Elected as Officer of the WNYPGA – Honorary President – 2021 thru 2023
• Elected as Officer of the WNYPGA – President – 2019 thru 2021
• Elected as Officer of the WNYPGA – Vice President – 2017 thru 2019
• Elected as Officer of the WNYPGA – Secretary – 2015 thru 2017
• Member of the WNYPGA Board of Directors – 2007 thru 2023
• 2007 – 2015 WNYPGA Board of Directors – Area II Director – Buffalo
• Selected as chairman of the WNYPGA Publicity Committee – 2007, 2008 & 2009
• Selected as chairman of the WNYPGA Ethics Committee – 2007, 2008, 2022 & 2023
• Selected as chairman of the WNYPGA Growth of the Game Committee – 2009 & 2010 
• Selected as chairman of the WNYPGA Communications Committee – 2010 thru 2014
• Co-chair of the Employment Committee – 2022 & 2023
• PGA Director of the “Clubs for Kids” Junior Golf Program in Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY – 1993 thru present
• Attended 6 of 7 National PGA Annual Meetings while on the Executive Board – 2015 thru 2023
• Mentored 8 Assistant Professionals through PGA Apprentice Program to “Class A” status

SECTION AWARDS

• 2018 recipient of the WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award  
• 2015 recipient of the WNYPGA Player Development Award
• 2012 recipient of the WNYPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award
• 2011 recipient of the WNYPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award
• 2010 recipient of the WNYPGA’s President’s Plaque
• 2009 recipient of the WNYPGA’s President’s Plaque
• 2008 recipient of the WNYPGA’s President’s Plaque

ADDED EXPERIENCE 

• PGA Professional Advisor to the Buffalo District Golf Association – 2017 & 2018. 
• Board Member with the Buffalo District Golf Association – 2015 & 2016.
• Instructor for various WNYPGA Adult and Junior Clinics, 1991 – 2018
• Certified in the USGA Rules of Golf – 2016
• Certified Club Fitter with Callaway, Mizuno, Titleist and Ping Golf Companies
• Launched the First Tee of WNY, Niagara County Chapter at Niagara Frontier C.C. – 2015 – 2018
• Rules Official for the 2015 Erie County Amateur Championship
• Rules Official for the 2015 & 2016 Ladies Porter Cup 
• Attended the 2012 Golf Professional of the Year Conference at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort presented by PGA Magazine
• PGA Director for the WNYPGA Play Golf America Day at Harvest Hill G.C. – 2010
• PGA Instructor – Senior PGA Championship, Youth Clinic – May 2008
• Rules Observer – PGA Championship – Oak Hill C.C. – 2004
• PGA Instructor – Buffalo Golf Show – February 2008
• Instructor for the P.G.A. Golf Experience held in conjunction with the 1995 Ryder Cup, September 1995
• Instructor for the Cazenovia Junior Clinic, 1991 – 1994
• Instructor for the WNYPGA Senior Clinic, May 1990

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

• Committeeman – Lewiston Republican Committee
• Volunteer at The Chapel – Niagara Falls Campus
• Member of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce – 2012 thru 2022
• Member of the Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, Board of Associates, November 1997 – 2022
• Volunteer at the Heart, Love & Soul Food kitchen, January 2009 – 2015
• Elected as Volunteer of the Year for Opportunities Unlimited – 2012
• Master of Ceremonies – Opportunities Unlimited Golf Raffle – 2004 thru 2011
• Campaigned for Niagara County Legislature, district #12 – 2009
• Headline Speaker – Kiwanis Club of Lewiston – June 2005

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION BACKGROUND:  

• Achieved Certification in General Management with the PGA of America
• Completed numerous P.G.A. Educational Seminars
• Completed training as a coach for The First Tee of America – 2015