Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce the Class of 2021 set to be inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in October. After a hiatus in 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two individuals being inducted into the third class are Tina Tombs, LPGA and Jim Sheerin, PGA. Both honorees have contributed extensively to the game through playing, teaching, and in other roles to grow the game of golf.
Tombs’ roots in golf stem from the Granite State where she garnered many accomplishments as an amateur before turning professional and making a name for herself as a player. She realized her passion for golf at a young age and now shares that passion with others through her business, Tina Tombs Golf, where she teaches players of all ability levels, drawing from her own experiences learning and growing as a player.
“I am honored to be inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2021,” stated Tombs. “I started golfing in 1976, at Manchester Country Club at the age of 14. When I made the decision to play golf, I had a broken collarbone and was caddying for my mom in the New England Amateur. At that time, I fell in love with the game, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in golf.”
“I was very fortunate to have a loving, supporting Mom and Dad, sister and brother, a great teacher Phil Friel, and the state of New Hampshire to offer great golf experiences, competitions, and golf courses for me to learn and improve my game,” continued Tombs. “It means so much to me to be recognized by the state where my career originated, and I am so proud to say that I am a member of the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.”
Similar to Tombs, Jim Sheerin has a long list of accomplishments from a playing perspective, but also as a PGA golf professional where he dedicated much of his time in efforts to grow the game. Known by many as the consummate professional, he spent 40 years at Abenaqui Country Club, where he began the caddie program that still exists today and contributed in countless other ways to the club which is located in Rye Beach. Jim’s work is a testament to the kind of person Sheerin is on and off the course.
Sheerin commented, “Being inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame is a distinct honor. I would not be in this position without the unconditional support of my family and the Abenaqui Country Club membership.”
“While serving on committees in New Hampshire over the years I have met dynamic and dedicated golfers,” continued Sheerin. “This has inspired me to always give one hundred percent of my knowledge and love of golf to the New Hampshire community.”
New Hampshire Golf Association Executive Director, Matt Schmidt commented, “We are thrilled that the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame ceremony will again be held in 2021. I want to credit the Hall of Fame committee who identified two worthy inductees. Both Tina and Jim represent the best that golf can bring out in all of us and we’re thrilled to honor both of them and celebrate the game of golf this October.”
The New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame was established in 2018 to recognize individuals for their contributions to the game of golf in the Granite State. The Hall of Fame seeks to identify those who have had a profound effect on the game through accomplishments in playing, volunteerism, teaching, or any activity that has made a positive impact on the game within New Hampshire.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 21st at Manchester Country Club. The event will be open to the public with tickets available for purchase at a later date.
Tina Tombs, LPGA
Tina Tombs has earned many accomplishments over the years from the amateur, professional, and teaching side of the game. As an amateur, she captured wins in the New Hampshire Girls Junior Championship, NHWGA Championship, and the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship. She attended school at Arizona State University and became a two-time All American for her success in college. Following her college career, she began her professional career where she picked up a win in the 1990 LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic and remains one of few LPGA Instructors in the world to have won on the LPGA Tour. Today, she owns and operates Tina Tombs Golf in Arizona where she teaches players of all abilities, drawing on her own experiences learning and playing. As an instructor she has garnered numerous awards, including being named the LPGA National Teach of the Year in 2014 and 2018. Most recently, she was inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2020.
Jim Sheerin, PGA
Jim Sheerin began his golf career at Andover Country Club as a caddie and worked his way to becoming a PGA professional in 1972. He began his 40-year career at Abenaqui Country Club as the Head Golf Professional in 1975. While at Abenaqui, he established the caddie program which still exists today and earned the status of PGA Master Professional in 1995. His playing accomplishments in New Hampshire and New England are unmatched, winning eight New Hampshire PGA Stroke Play Championships, 15 New Hampshire PGA Senior Stroke Play Championships and three New England PGA Senior Championships. He has qualified and competed in three U.S. Senior Open Championship, three Champions Tour events and one Senior PGA Championship. Sheerin has won numerous awards with the New Hampshire PGA and the New England PGA over the years. He was named the New England PGA Professional of the Year in 1998 and in 2015 was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame.
