Six-Man
Inaugural
Class
CURTIS STRANGE
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Last player to win back-to-back U.S.
Open championships (1988 and 1989).
First PGA Tour player to win more than
$1 million in a single season (1988).
Won consecutive VSGA Amateur titles
in 1974 and 1975. He is one of seven players, as are Harper and Giles, to do so.
Won NCAA individual and team championships in 1974 while at Wake Forest
University.
Inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of
Fame in 2003 and World Golf Hall of
Fame in 2007.
HE SAID IT:
“The first thing that comes to mind is
that to go in in the first class with these
players I have admired and respected and
in Sam’s case, idolized forever, it’s just
a wonderful honor. It’s hard to put into
words. Especially getting to know and
playing with Sam a lot, and Mr. Harper
and Vinny and Lanny…It’s humbling to
some degree that you’re put in the same
class with Sam and the others…I’m glad I
wasn’t part of that decision.”
LANNY WADKINS
HOMETOWN: Richmond native/Dallas, Texas, resident
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Turned professional in 1971 and went on to win 21 PGA Tour tournaments, including the
1977 PGA Championship (first major determined by sudden death playoff) and Tournament
Players Championship in 1979; PGA Tour player of the year in 1985; won 1971 VSGA Open.
Played on eight Ryder Cup teams, won 20 of 34 matches and compiled 21½ points (third
all-time); Ryder Cup captain in 1995.
Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
In 1970, he won the U.S. Amateur, Southern Amateur (second time), Western Amateur
and VSGA Amateur; played on two Walker Cup teams.
Currently is lead television analyst on The Golf Channel for Champions Tour telecasts.
HE SAID IT:
“To be in the inaugural class is very, very special…The cool thing about the class going in is
we all had interaction with each other. I played on the Tour with Sam and Curtis. I grew up
playing with Vinny. The only one I didn’t play a lot with or knew really well was Chandler,
but Curtis, Sam and Vinny did. It’s pretty cool the way everyone is aware of the others and
the history of what they have done in the state and game…Then having Clyde Luther go in,
who I have the utmost respect for as an official…Clyde’s just a terrific man.”
HALL OF FAME TRIVIA
1.
3.
2.
4.
Vinny Giles was the
low amateur at the
1968 Masters. What
American won his only
major championship that
year at Augusta?
Curtis Strange and
Vinny Giles both
played for the United
States in the 1975 Walker
Cup at St. Andrews’
Old Course. Of the eight
other players on that
team, which two won
major championships?
Hint: One won the U.S.
Open, the other won
the Masters.
What VSGA member
club was founded in
1956 by Chandler Harper,
who managed it until he
retired in 1992?
Who did Curtis
Strange defeat in a
playoff to win the 1988
U.S. Open?
5.
Lanny Wadkins
won the 1970 U.S.
Amateur by a single
stroke. Who did he
defeat?
6.
Sam Snead and
Chandler Harper
intersected at the 1946
State Open of Virginia,
the first State Open after
the end of World War II.
Snead beat Harper in
a playoff at what VSGA
member club in Virginia
Beach?
7.
Sam Snead won
seven majors but did
not complete the career
grand slam. Which of the
four current majors did
Snead NOT win?
8.
What branch of
the military did
Snead serve in during
World War II?
ANSWERS: 1. Bob Goalby; 2. Jerry Pate (1976 U.S. Open) and Craig Stadler (1982 Masters);
3. Bide-A-Wee Golf Course; 4. Nick Faldo; 5. Tom Kite; 6. Cavalier Yacht & Country Club;
7. The U.S. Open; 8. The navy
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