Around The Commonwealth
2018 and with Glenn Morris to win the 75 + Division in 2023 and 2024 .
• Won VSGA Mid-Amateur in 1982 ; won VSGA Four-Ball with Old Dominion University coach Murray Rudisill in 1978 ; medalist and runner-up in 1985 VSGA Amateur ; medalist in 1987 .
• Was ODU ’ s first golf All-American and was inducted into ODU sports Hall of Fame in 1984 .
• In his five years as a professional , he was the low pro at the 1972 VPGA Open and served as an assistant at Elizabeth Manor and Sleepy Hole GC .
Quotable “ In his prime , J . P . was always a favorite . He was an incredibly tough competitor … You had to beat him because he wouldn ’ t beat himself . Any time J . P . was in an event , you could count on him being in contention throughout .” – Robert Wrenn
JANE MACK A fierce , power-hitting competitor on the golf course , Jane Mack demonstrated a gentler side as an art teacher in Henrico County for 37 years . She graduated with a bachelor ’ s degree in art from Queens University in Charlotte , NC , and she later earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting from VCU . In 1971 she was honored as Richmond ’ s “ Undiscovered Artist of the Year .”
“ Having a love for art always helped with my golf ,” Mack told author Jim Ducibella in his book Par Excellence : A Celebration of Virginia Golf . “ I ’ d find that after a day in school , I could go to Willow Oaks Country Club , go down by the river and get totally lost . I see golf courses as beautiful places , places I gravitate to .”
She went on to reminisce about her one-time golf instructor , Willow Oaks pro George Bird : “ One of the things I ’ m most thankful for regarding him is that he didn ’ t teach me how to play women ’ s golf . He taught me how to play golf .”
After moving her membership to Hermitage Country Club , Mack made her debut in the VSGA Women ’ s Amateur in 1962 . At that tournament , Mary Patton Janssen , a member of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2019 , secured her sixth consecutive title by defeating Robbye King Unger , a Class of 2018 inductee who would later win the title six times . Mack ’ s first title came 15 years later , clinching the victory by defeating Unger on the first playoff hole .
• Competed in three U . S . Amateurs and three U . S . Opens .
• Won 15 Richmond Women ’ s Golf Association City Amateurs over three decades , from 1970 to 1996 .
• Inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 .
• Died in December 2016 at the age of 72 .
She Had All The Shots “ The first time I played with Jane Mack , I called my dad and said , ‘ Dad , even Jane Mack hits it farther than I do .’ She was a wonderful player .” – Fellow Class of 2024 inductee J . P . Leigh
“ I don ’ t know anyone in the Richmond area that had the shots or talent to pull off so many extraordinary shots … I remember winning my first City and thinking my name is on that trophy with one of the best , Jane Mack .” – Maggie Balch , VSGA Women ’ s Amateur runner-up 1996
TOM STRANGE Tom Strange was an accomplished amateur golfer when he moved from his hometown of Cincinnati to Norfolk on a Coast Guard assignment in 1951 . Six years later , he became the fourth amateur to win the State Open of Virginia since its inception in 1924 .
After trailing by seven strokes entering the final round at Ocean View Golf Club , he surpassed Harold “ Shorty ” Oatman , the pro at Norfolk Naval Station , and shot a 6-under-par 64 to win the 18-hole playoff by eight strokes .
He turned pro in 1958 when he was offered the head professional job at Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club .
Strange , who won three VPGA Opens and a VSGA Open between 1963 and 1967 and competed in six U . S . Opens , was highly respected both as a player and a teaching pro , particularly by younger players .
He died at age 38 in June 1969 after a 10-week battle with cancer . At the time , his twin sons , Curtis and Allan , were 14 years old . His daughter , Anne , was 10 .
After Strange ’ s passing , Ed Rogers , a reporter for the Norfolk Ledger-Star wrote , “ I never heard an unkind word cast in his direction . He was loved by all who knew him .”
Career Highlights
• Won State Open of Virginia as an amateur in 1957 .
• Won VPGA Open in 1963 , 1964 and 1966 .
• Won VSGA Open in 1967 .
• Played in six U . S . Opens .
• Was Virginia Amateur runner-up and won inaugural Eastern Amateur in 1957 .
• Inducted into MAPGA Hall of Fame in 1997 .
• Inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 .
• Head PGA professional at Elizabeth Manor G & CC and Bow Creek Golf Course , and worked on professional staff at The Greenbrier ( WV ) Golf Club where he honed his game playing rounds with Sam Snead .
Remembering Tom Strange “ I started when I was 9 years old going to work with him in the summer . It would be just he and I in the golf shop cleaning up ready for the day . It was special . Nobody else was around . I knew he was a good player , and I knew his record , but you know it was family . He did what he was supposed to do — he was our dad .” – Curtis Strange
“ What I remember is that he never said a word about his accomplishments . I couldn ’ t be more proud of him — I couldn ’ t be more proud of what the family has become and the fact that we still honor him through our thoughts every day .” – Allan Strange
“ He was the first person I ever saw take Polaroids of someone swinging . Then he would show them to him to help him visualize what he was supposed to do . You couldn ’ t wait to take a lesson from Tom Strange .” – J . P . Leigh told author Jim Ducibella in Par Excellence : A Celebration of Virginia Golf
VSGA ARCHIVES
Career Highlights
• Only player to win the VSGA Women ’ s Amateur in three different decades : 1977 , 1978 , 1982 and 1992 .
• VSGA titles aside , she was also a threetime runner-up and a five-time medalist or co-medalist .
• Won VSGA Women ’ s Stroke Play in 1978 .
• Captained Virginias team against the Carolinas twice and played in team matches from 1967- 73 , 1976-88 and 1990-97 .
• Worked with VSGA on course ratings and rules .
Tom Strange LEFT : Jane Mack vsga . org S EPTEMBER / O CTOBER 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 15