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LOCAL GOLF NEWS
The KGF’ s Kansas Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Announced
In April, the Kansas Golf Foundation( KGF) announced that the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame class of 2025 will include Tillie Becker, Bill McDonald, and Rob Wilkin. The KGF says in a statement that these three individuals have made outstanding contributions to the game through competition, leadership, and lifelong dedication to golf in Kansas.
Since 1989, the Kansas Golf Foundation has been championing golf across Kansas. From awarding scholarships to young players to honoring the legends who have shaped the game, its goal is to keep the sport thriving and accessible for all— promoting the future, preserving the past. As the only tax-exempt charitable foundation supporting golf across the entire state, the KGF exists to invest in young players and recognize the game’ s greats throughout Kansas.
Bill McDonald
Nevertheless, McDonald was sneaky long and straight, catching many opponents by surprise. McDonald once played in an exhibition at Topeka County Club with the( then) reigning U. S. Open Champion Jack Nicklaus, a 16-year-old Tom Watson, and Jean Ashley, the ladies’ Michigan amateur champion. A mentor both on and off the course, McDonald is a retired educator and has been inducted into the Topeka West, Washburn, NAIA, and Michigan Golf Association Halls of Fame.
Tillie Becker— Pioneer, Champion, and Community Icon
A ttrailblazer in women’ s golf, Tillie Becker’ s career is marked by dominance, leadership, and community engagement. She claimed four Kansas State Amateur Championships and an astounding 25 titles each at the Shawnee Country Club and Topeka City Championships. Becker also served on the Trans-Mississippi Board of Directors, held multiple course records, and once shared the fairways with legends like Bob Hope and Babe Zaharias. In 1951, she played in the Topeka Flood Relief Benefit with Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, and Gordon MacRae. Her legacy is celebrated annually with“ Tillie Becker Day” at Shawnee Country Club in Topeka, KS. Becker was born in 1912 and died in 2002 at age 90 at a Topeka nursing facility.
Bill McDonald— Educator, National Champion, Lifelong Competitor
8 June 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE
A three-time NAIA All-American at Washburn University, Bill McDonald became a national name by winning the 1964 USGA Amateur Public Links Championship while still in college. He went on to win the 1981 Michigan Amateur, 2010 Michigan Super Senior, and multiple senior titles across the Midwest. At 5-foot- 6 and weighing about 130 pounds, McDonald was not an intimidating presence.
Rob Wilkin— Elite Club Professional and Regional Champion
2016 Watson Challenge Champion.
With a resume spanning both elite play and leadership in the golf industry, Rob Wilkin is one of the most accomplished PGA professionals in the region. Wilkin began working at Heritage Park Golf Course in Olathe, KS, in 1998 as a golf professional. In 2013, he became the head PGA professional and manager of Golf Operations at Heritage Park and continues to do so currently. He has played in the U. S. Open, PGA Championship, U. S. Senior Open, and Senior PGA Championship. He has competed in 10 official Major Championships on the PGA and Champions Tours. Wilkin is a nine-time Midwest Section PGA Champion and an 18- time Midwest Section PGA Player of the Year. His legendary victory over Tom Watson in a five-hole playoff to win the 2016 Watson Challenge remains a defining moment in Kansas City golf history. Wilkin is also a long-time member of the Midwest Section PGA, Kansas City Golf, and Coffeyville Community College Halls of Fame.
The KGF looks forward to bringing together family, friends, and members of the golf community to honor their extraordinary legacies. The induction ceremony will take place this fall with more details to come.
Whether you’ re looking for opportunities, want to support the next generation, or simply love the game, the Kansas Golf Foundation invites you to be part of its mission. Learn more about the KGF at www. kansasgolffoundation. org. Wendi Brandt, PGA, Executive Director, Kansas Golf Foundation.