PITTSBURGH, Penn, (Aug. 20, 2013) – Arnold Palmer heads the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame inaugural class, which is to be inducted Sept. 26 during a special awards dinner and ceremony at Oakmont Country Club.
The illustrious group includes four members of the World Golf Hall of Fame:
• Carol Semple Thompson, the women’s amateur golf icon from Sewickley, who has won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Mid-Amateur and USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championships, as well as the British Women’s Amateur
• Jack “Jock” Hutchison, a legendary Pittsburgh club professional who won both the PGA and British Open Championships, as well as five West Penn Opens in seven years (1909-15), the gold standard for this event
• Lew Worsham, the former Oakmont Country Club golf professional and U.S. Open champion
• Palmer, the Latrobe native who won seven majors among his 62 PGA Tour victories
The fifth member of the class is the renowned William C. Fownes, a key figure of amateur golf in the United States, who was both a champion (U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup) and served as president of the United States Golf Association in 1926-1927.
Both Palmer and Thompson, the only living members of the inaugural class, have confirmed they will attend the induction celebration at Oakmont. Ron Sirak, the award-winning writer for Golf Digest and Golf World magazines, is the emcee for the event, which is to begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and induction ceremonies at 8:15 p.m.
The Hall of Fame selection committee included:
• Jim Toras, Chairman
• Bill Fallon, USGA Executive Committee
• John Fitzgerald, Member, Oakmont Country Club
• David Kuhar, Past President, WPGA
• Phil Newcamp, Head Golf Professional, St. Clair Country Club
• Steve Schlossman, USGA Museum Committee
• Carol Semple Thompson
Tickets for the WPGA Hall Of Fame Dinner are $200 apiece and additional information is available by contacting the WPGA at (412) 826-2180.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899 and one of the oldest amateur golf associations in the country, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region, an association of golf clubs and their individual members brought together for the good of the game. Started by just five Member Clubs, the association now has over 125 clubs and nearly 30,000 golfers. The WPGA’s mission is to advance the interests and spirit of the game of golf and to encourage a spirit of harmony and cooperation among golf clubs and other related associations. Primary activities include the administration of the USGA Handicap System™, educational programs for members and club employees, the sharing of information and the conduct of championships.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
908/876-5100
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
