News & Notes
Clyde Luther, right, was part of the inaugural
class of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame that
included, pictured from left, Lanny Wadkins,
Vinny Giles and Curtis Strange; and not
pictured, Sam Snead and Chandler Harper.
In 1996 I was asked to join the USGA’s
Junior Championship Committee. For
many years after that, Clyde and I conduct-
ed the U.S. Junior qualifiers in Virginia,
and it was fun to watch the juniors when
they saw Clyde in his golf cart, observing
play on the course. They always greeted
him with great respect and affection.
When the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame
Committee first met in 2015 to elect its
inaugural class, everyone agreed on the
importance of selecting individuals who
were the most significant Virginia contrib-
Top Scholars
Recognized
utors to golf. Clyde was among that group.
I had the privilege of contacting all the
inductees, and the first person I called was
Clyde. What an honor that was for me to
tell him of his election. …There will never
be anyone quite like him.
BOWEN SARGENT
University of Virginia men's golf coach for
14 years and decorated college golfer at
N.C. State:
I will preface the story by stating that I
grew up in our organization/state where
On May 7 at Richmond Country Club, the VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation
awarded grants to 40 students with an interest in golf. In all, $108,500 was
awarded to those students, including three students pursuing turfgrass studies
at Virginia Tech.
Please visit VSGA.org for more information on each individual recipient.
Awards are listed below.
Dan C. Keffer Award ($7,000): Ralph Sun (Virginia Beach)
Spencer Wilkinson Awards ($7,000 each): Isabella Seip
(Mechanicsville), Rachel Zhao (Glen Allen)
David A. King Award ($5,000): Daniel Bannon (Virginia Beach)
Red Speigle Award ($4,000): Hunter Martin (Gloucester Point)
Richard Smith Award ($4,000): Kyle Cardenas (Stafford)
$3,000 awards: Alexis DiZinno (Alexandria), Brayden Bird
(Carrolton), Alston Carson (Roanoke), Austin Gies (Chesapeake),
Benjamin Hamilton (Midlothian), Patrick Murphy (Glen Allen),
Thomas Orr III (Roanoke), Matthew Teasley (Belle Haven).
$2,000 awards: Cassidy Chambers (Goodview), Riley Cutler
vsga.org
Rules officials relished “punishing” com-
petitors rather than assisting. So I recall
needing a ruling at the 1988 ACC Cham-
pionship and given my history with rules
officials I was naturally on the defensive
as Clyde approached.
Much to my surprise, Clyde came up,
asked how he could help and explained
my options as a player. I was shocked
and stunned to have an official who was
there to assist. That will be my lasting
memory of Clyde as it was a microcosm
of Clyde and his nature. In my opinion,
Clyde introduced a compassionate side
to officiating and forever changed my
opinion of Rules officials. I believe other
officials followed suit and adopted Clyde’s
philosophy. I am convinced he forever
changed the game.
(Herndon), Hannah Damron (Wise), Jillian Drinkard (Appomattox),
Carson Durham (Dinwiddie), Kassidy Irby (Halifax), Skylar Morgan
(Galax), Ashley Pultz (Swoope), Hannah Sowers (Roanoke), Zoe
Voettiner (Haymarket), Kurtis Grant (Herndon), Benjamin Hiter
(Mineral), Samuel McNamara (Charlottesville), Cameron Moore
(Glen Allen), Charles Nelson (Woodbridge), Jordan Parker (Colonial
Heights), Matthew Parker (Arlington), Riley Pendry (Springfield),
Chaney Sheehan (Farmville), Joseph Justin Shelton (Alexandria),
William Terrell (Lynchburg), Cole Vincel (Charlottesville), Everett
Whiten (Chesapeake).
$1,500 turfgrass awards: John Brewer, Jordan Craft, Travis Roberson.
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