Bolstering the Ranks
Tom McKnight
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
A
nasty broken arm that occurred
during a recreation-league basket-
ball game changed the path of Tom McK-
night’s golf career. He played little junior
golf before entering the University of
Virginia in 1973 and not much state-wide
amateur golf during his college days. He
turned professional after graduation in
1976 and played mini-tour golf until the
fateful injury in 1980.
A petroleum salesman from Galax,
McKnight regained his amateur status in
1983, and in 1984 he won his first VSGA
events: the Four-Ball with Bobby Clark
and the VSGA Amateur. A year later he
repeated in the Four-Ball, this time with
Allan Strange, and the VSGA Amateur.
He also won the first merged State Open
of Virginia and the VSGA Mid-Amateur.
He went on to win a third straight Four-
Ball (with Strange again) in 1986 and his
third Virginia Amateur in 1993. The last of
his nine VSGA victories came in the 1996
Mid-Amateur.
22
make the team for the Virginias-Caroli-
HE SAID IT
nas matches.
A past member of the VSGA Board of
“I’d never done any of that stuff…win-
Directors, McKnight is a teaching pro
ning the Open at Farmington after they
at Farmington Country Club during the
put them together and
warm months and
the Amateur that year
returns home to Hil-
was pretty special to
ton Head Island, S.C.,
“There are very few
me,” McKnight said.
during the winter.
people [in the HOF]
“I got to know every-
“I have been very
that I didn’t know
body in the VSGA, and
blessed and thank
it became a way of life.
God every day for what
… and the fact I was
To be on the board,
I’ve been able to do,”
able to play with so
being g ood friends
he said. “It’s very spe-
with so many of the
cial to be in the Hall
many of them. … I
g u y s. W h e n I f i r s t
of Fame. I can live in
just don’t put myself
came back out, nobody
South Carolina for 50
really knew who I was
more years, and when
on the same level as
as far as playing.
somebody says where
those guys.”
“There are very few
are you from, I’m from
— Tom McKnight
people [in the HOF]
Virginia. I was born
that I didn’t know …
and raised there and
and the fact I was able to play with so
grew up there. It’s part of me.”
many of them. … I just don’t put myself
One of his goals when he started play-
on the same level as those guys.”
ing again after the broken arm was to
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Last player to win the VSGA Amateur and
State Open of Virginia in the same year
(1985).
Joined Keith Decker and David Par-
tridge on the Virginia team that won the
first USGA State Team Championship
in 1995.
Won three Eastern Amateurs, a Cardinal
Amateur and the Terra Cotta Cup.
Finished runner-up in the U.S. Amateur
in 1998; was medalist in the 1988 U.S.
Amateur at The Homestead.
Member of the 1998 World Amateur team
and 1999 Walker Cup team; finished sec-
ond low amateur behind Sergio Garcia in
1999 Masters.
Rejoined professional ranks after turning
50 and won nearly $2 million in six years
on the PGA Champions Tour.