State pride

Two of greatest names in golf to be honored

Comparatively speaking, West Virginia is a small state. But when it comes to ties with the greatest names in sports, it takes a back seat to no one.

Look at the list: Jerry West, Hal Greer and Hot Rod Hundley in basketball; Sam Huff, Joe Stydahar, Chuck Howley, Randy Moss and Curt Warner in football; Hack Wilson and Lew Burdette in baseball; Mary Lou Retton in gymnastics; Randy Barnes and James Jett in track and field.

It’s an impressive list that generates a sense of pride in all corners of the state.

This evening at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, the newly formed West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame will induct its first two members. And it’s doubtful any state can boast of an inaugural class as distinguished as the two men who will be honored — Bill Campbell and the late Sam Snead.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Harold Payne, himself one of the top names in West Virginia golf history, said of the Hall of Fame. “We have two great individuals to go into the initial class.”

How distinguished is this class? Well, consider this: Campbell and Snead are already members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

And rightfully so.

Snead, who had a 47-year relationship with The Greenbrier before his death in 2002, amassed 82 PGA victories and 140 worldwide wins, both unparalleled. He won seven majors and was the first person on the PGA Tour to shoot his age, a 66 at age 67. In fact, in 1965, two months short of his 53rd birthday, he became the oldest winner of a PGA Tour event when he won the Greater Greensboro Open for the eighth time. He was fourth in the PGA Championship at age 60 in 1972 and third in 1974 at the age of 62.

Snead led the PGA money list three times, was Player of the Year in 1949, won the Vardon Trophy four times and played on seven Ryder Cup teams. He also won the West Virginia Open a record 17 times and was a six-time winner of the Senior PGA Championship.

What Snead was to professional golf, Campbell was certainly an equal on the amateur side.

The Huntington resident, now 86, won the West Virginia Amateur a record 15 times, the last time in 1975 at the age of 52. And he was also a distinguished figure on the national and international stages.

He played in a record 33 straight U.S. Amateurs and 37 overall, winning the championship in 1964 at the age of 41. He was undefeated in eight Walker Cup matches.

He is the only person to have been selected president of the U.S. Golf Association and captain of the Royal and Ancient (Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland).

He also won the U.S. Senior Amateur twice, the West Virginia Open three times and the prestigious North and South Amateur four times. He played in the Masters 17 times and the U.S. Open on 14 occasions.

In 1956, he received the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

Tonight’s festivities come on the eve of the start of the 90th West Virginia Amateur Championship. It promises to be a special evening. A number of special guests, including former Masters champion Bob Goalby and past USGA presidents, are expected to be on hand.

Two of the greatest names in golf will be honored. And we will be reminded again of the rich sports history this state has.

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