Author: Kate

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Inductee

Mike Ryan, PGA

Remembered by all for his dedication to the game, Mike Ryan, PGA will be inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game as a PGA Professional.  Right out of high school, Ryan joined the PGA Apprentice Program and was elected to the PGA of America in 1981.  Starting out, he was the Assistant Golf Professional at Plausawa Valley CC, now Pembroke Pines CC.  From there, he went on to take other Assistant Golf Professional positions until being named the Head Golf Professional at Derryfield CC in 1996 where he stayed the remainder of his career. 

While at Derryfield, he created the Mike Ryan Learning Center with golf simulators for golfers to enjoy year-round.  Over the course of his career, he garnered many honors, including NH PGA Junior Golf Leader, NH PGA Teacher of the Year and in 2017 was named NH PGA Professional of the Year. 

Now in his memory, the New Hampshire Golf Association holds the Mike Ryan Memorial Tournament, formerly the Red Ryan, at Derryfield CC, bringing together junior golfers from the around the state to compete in a match play format championship.

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Inductee

Warren Tibbetts, Sr.

With an impressive amateur golf record, Warren Tibbetts is set to be inducted into the 2023 class of the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.  Tibbetts claimed his first New Hampshire Amateur title in 1955 and won again 15 years later in 1970.  Between those two years, he picked up two New England Amateur titles (1960 and 1963) and won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in 1966.  Tibbetts was a part of the inaugural New Hampshire Tri-State team in 1935 and was a part of the team for two wins over Vermont and Maine. 

Over the years, Tibbets was a member at multiple courses in New Hampshire, including Derryfield CC, Manchester CC, Green Meadow GC and The Maplewood GC.  He claimed the club championship title at Manchester CC seven times as well as the Derryfield CC club championship title. 

After turning professional, Tibbetts served as the Interim professional at Manchester CC while Joe Makara served in the military.  He also served as the Head Golf Professional at Lake Sunapee CC.

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Inductee

Rich Parker

With accomplishments spanning both his amateur and professional years, Rich Parker has rightfully earned his spot in the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.  He is a two-time New Hampshire Junior Champion, winning in 1977 and 1978.  As a three-sport athlete at Plymouth State University, Parker found most of his success in golf, winning the ECAC individual title in 1982.  For all his accomplishments there, he was inducted into the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. 

Professionally, he won three New Hampshire Open titles, one Massachusetts Open, Maine Open and Vermont Open titles.  In 1990, he qualified and competed in the US Open at Medinah and competed in the 2010 US Senior Open.  He was named Vermont PGA Player of the Year in 1997 and New Hampshire PGA Player of the Year in 1999. 

Returning to his roots on the amateur side of competition, Parker won the 2018 New Hampshire Senior title and was named New Hampshire Senior Player of the Year that same year.  Currently, Parker is the Head Coach of the Dartmouth College Men’s Golf Team, a position he has held since 2005.

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Press Release

New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Announced: Rich Parker, Warren Tibbetts & Mike Ryan to be Inducted

Concord, NH – With the next New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Induction ceremony approaching this fall, the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Committee is thrilled to announce the class of 2023.  Rich Parker, Warren Tibbetts, Sr. and Mike Ryan, PGA are set to be inducted in November for their accomplishments and contributions to the game here in the Granite State.

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.  Since then, 16 individuals have been inducted across three classes.  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.

“Rich, Mike, and Warren embody all of the qualities that the Hall of Fame Committee is looking for when inducting a new class,” commented Matt Schmidt, New Hampshire Golf Association Executive Director.  “All three men have accomplished and given back so much to the game of golf here in New Hampshire.”

Along with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the New Hampshire Golf Association will honor all 2023 Players of the Year and will also hand out the Joseph Kane Distinguished Service Award to an individual who has dedicated countless hours to the game of golf here in New Hampshire and beyond.  This year’s award is being given to Joe Sprague, current United States Golf Association (USGA) Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Schmidt stated, “We’re thrilled to be recognizing Joe Sprague with the Joseph Kane Distinguished Service Award as well. Sprague’s career in golf administration speaks for itself and few individuals had the respect and admiration of Mr. Kane more so than Joe did.”

The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 2nd at Manchester Country Club. The event will be open to the public with tickets available for purchase at a later date.

Rich Parker

With accomplishments spanning both his amateur and professional years, Rich Parker has rightfully earned his spot in the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.  He is a two-time New Hampshire Junior Champion, winning in 1977 and 1978.  As a three-sport athlete at Plymouth State University, Parker found most of his success in golf, winning the ECAC individual title in 1982.  For all his accomplishments there, he was inducted into the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.  Professionally, he won three New Hampshire Open titles, one Massachusetts Open, Maine Open and Vermont Open titles.  In 1990, he qualified and competed in the US Open at Medinah and competed in the 2010 US Senior Open.  He was named Vermont PGA Player of the Year in 1997 and New Hampshire PGA Player of the Year in 1999.  Returning to his roots on the amateur side of competition, Parker won the 2018 New Hampshire Senior title and was named New Hampshire Senior Player of the Year that same year.  Currently, Parker is the Head Coach of the Dartmouth College Men’s Golf Team, a position he has held since 2005.

Warren Tibbetts, Sr.

With an impressive amateur golf record, Warren Tibbetts is set to be inducted into the 2023 class of the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.  Tibbetts claimed his first New Hampshire Amateur title in 1955 and won again 15 years later in 1970.  Between those two years, he picked up two New England Amateur titles (1960 and 1963) and won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in 1966.  Tibbetts was a part of the inaugural New Hampshire Tri-State team in 1935 and was a part of the team for two wins over Vermont and Maine.  Over the years, Tibbets was a member at multiple courses in New Hampshire, including Derryfield CC, Manchester CC, Green Meadow GC and The Maplewood GC.  He claimed the club championship title at Manchester CC seven times as well as the Derryfield CC club championship title.  After turning professional, Tibbetts served as the Interim professional at Manchester CC while Joe Makara served in the military.  He also served as the Head Golf Professional at Lake Sunapee CC.

Mike Ryan, PGA

Remembered by all for his dedication to the game, Mike Ryan, PGA will be inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game as a PGA Professional.  Right out of high school, Ryan joined the PGA Apprentice Program and was elected to the PGA of America in 1981.  Starting out, he was the Assistant Golf Professional at Plausawa Valley CC, now Pembroke Pines CC.  From there, he went on to take other Assistant Golf Professional positions until being named the Head Golf Professional at Derryfield CC in 1996 where he stayed the remainder of his career.  While at Derryfield, he created the Mike Ryan Learning Center with golf simulators for golfers to enjoy year-round.  Over the course of his career, he garnered many honors, including NH PGA Junior Golf Leader, NH PGA Teacher of the Year and in 2017 was named NH PGA Professional of the Year.  Now in his memory, the New Hampshire Golf Association holds the Mike Ryan Memorial Tournament, formerly the Red Ryan, at Derryfield CC, bringing together junior golfers from the around the state to compete in a match play format championship.

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Press Release

Third Class of New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Announced: Tina Tombs & Jim Sheerin Set to be Inducted in October

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.

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Inductee

Tina Tombs, LPGA

Tina Tombs has earned her place in the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame as an accomplished player and well-known and decorated golf instructor who continues to give back to the game. 

Raised in New Hampshire, Tombs grew up playing the game at Manchester Country Club and was taught by fellow New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Inductee, Phil Friel, at Green Meadow Golf Club.  She played on the boy’s golf team at West High School in Manchester and went on to earn a full scholarship to play golf at Arizona State University (ASU) where she became a two-time All-American.  While in college, he racked up four wins, including a win in the PAC 10 Championship and was selected as one of Golf Digest’s Top 10 Amateur Players.

Her amateur golfing accomplishments include winning the New Hampshire Girls Junior Championship, New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association (NHWGA) Championship, the New England Women’s Golf Association (NEWGA) Championship, and the Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship.

Following her successful college golf career, she began her professional career by qualifying for the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour in 1987.  She went on to win and the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in 1990 and finished second in the Sara Lee Classic in 1993, losing in a three-hole playoff.  She remains one of few LPGA Instructors in the world to have won on the LPGA Tour.

After 14 successful years competing professionally, Tombs moved on to become an instructor, sharing her knowledge and passion for the game to players of all ages and ability levels.  In 2002, she founded and is now President of Tina Tombs Golf at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, where she also holds the title of Director of Instruction.

As an instructor, she has garnered numerous awards as she worked her way into being one of the best teachers in the world, including being named the LPGA National Teacher of the Year in 2014 and 2018.  She is one of four other teachers to have been honored with the award twice.  Her other awards, to name a few, include being awarded the Arizona Golf Association’s Ed Updegraff Spirit of Golf Award in 2017, Arizona Golf Association’s highest award; 2014 and 2018 LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year; 2015 Marilynn Smith LPGA Central Section Service Award; LPGA TOP 50 Best Teachers from 2017 to 2018; GRAA Top 50 Teaching Professionals in 2018; and GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 2019.

She was inducted into New Hampshire’s Queen City Hall of Fame in 1993, the ASU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2020.

Outside of playing and teaching, she continues to give back to the game and donate her time.  She recently served at President of the Central Section of the LPGA T&CP and has been on the Executive and Leadership Committees for the T&CP.  She has been a guest instructor and presenter at numerous clinics and expos around the country and continues her dedication to the game as one of the busiest golf instructors in the world.

The New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Committee is thrilled be inducting Tina Tombs into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in October.

 

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Inductee

Jim Sheerin, PGA

Through his service, dedication, contributions and professional accomplishments in the Granite State and New England, Jim Sheerin has earned his way into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.

Sheerin’s golf career started at the age of 11 at Andover Country Club in Massachusetts as a caddie.  By the age of 14, he worked his way up to caddie master and then up to managing the bag room before he enrolled in the PGA Apprentice program.  He earned a business degree from the Andover Institute of Business and became a PGA member in 1972. 

Three years later, in 1975, he became the Head Golf Professional at Abenaqui Country Club where he served his entire 40-year career.  One of his first contributions at Abenaqui was establishing the caddie program, which still exists today thanks to Sheerin’s commitment to the program.  His dedication to growing the game is evident in his Master Professional thesis titled “Junior Golf: Commitment and Purpose”.  In 1995, Sheerin achieved the status of PGA Master Professional, which is the highest status to be achieved in the PGA of America.

Outside of Abenaqui Country Club, Sheerin has dedicated much of his time to the New Hampshire Chapter of the New England PGA (NHPGA) and to numerous committees associated with the New England PGA (NEPGA), along with other notable organizations around the area.  He was instrumental is bringing The First Tee of New Hampshire to the Granite State and served on the first board of directors for the organization.  He also spent many years serving the McDonough Scholarship Foundation, which now has an endowed scholarship in Sheerin’s name for his work with the organization and for growing junior golf in the seacoast area of New Hampshire.

Sheerin is also a talented golfer having won many Pro-Am tournaments over the years, along with winning the New Hampshire PGA Stroke Play Championship eight times and the New Hampshire PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship 15 times.  He has also won the New England PGA Senior Championship three times.  On a larger scale, Sheerin has qualified and competed in three U.S. Senior Open Championships, three Champions Tour events and one Senior PGA Championship.

Sheerin has won numerous awards with the New Hampshire PGA and New England PGA, including being named the NHPGA Player of the Year in 1995 and 1998.  He has also been awarded Merchandiser of the Year in 1993, the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 1997 and 2005, and in 1998 was the NEPGA Professional of the Year.  Sheerin was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame in 2015.

The New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame is honored to be inducting Jim Sheerin into the 2021 Class of the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.

 

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Press Release

Second Class to be Inducted into New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Announced

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce the Class of 2019 set to be inducted into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame in October.  Those being inducted into the second class include:  Phil Pleat; Thomas J. Leonard Jr.; Laura Shanahan-Rowe, LPGA; and Stan Lencki Sr., PGA.  These four accomplished individuals will join the ten inductees that were honored at the first New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in October of 2018. 

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.

New Hampshire Golf Association Executive Director, Matt Schmidt comments saying, “When the Hall of Fame was established in 2018, we knew of the deep talent pool of golfers that live and compete in the Granite State. Each year, the HOF Committee continues to be blown away by the accomplishments of our golfers and the Class of 2019 certainly represents that.”

“We have the most decorated male amateur golfer in our history, a USGA Champion, a six-time New Hampshire Amateur Champion, and the consummate PGA Professional”, continues Schmidt. “We’re excited to celebrate all of these worthy individuals this fall.”

The Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 17 at Manchester Country Club. The event will be open to the public with tickets available for purchase at a later date.

Philip Pleat

20 seems to be a common theme for Phil’s golf accomplishments, winning 20 New Hampshire Golf Association championships and
qualifying for and competing in 20 USGA championships.  Phil is the most decorated male golfer in New Hampshire, collecting three New Hampshire Amateur titles, three New Hampshire Stroke Play titles, eight New Hampshire Mid-Amateur titles, and six New
Hampshire Senior titles in years ranging from 1981 to 2017.  He has been named the New Hampshire Thomas J. Leonard, Jr. Player of the Year three times and the New Hampshire Senior Player of the Year six times.  In 2011, he finished Runner-up in the 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and has competed alongside his son, James, in two USGA events, including the 2012 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four Ball.  He also won back-to-back New England Senior championships in 2016 and 2017.

Thomas J. Leonard, Jr.

“Tommy” Leonard is best-known in golf for winning eight New
Hampshire Amateur titles (1939, 1941, 1947-1952), which held up as a record for 48 years until Bob Mielcarz won his ninth title in 2000.  His record of six consecutive State Amateur wins still stands today.  Not only that, but he became the first amateur to win the New Hampshire Open, doing so in 1947.  He also competed in six U.S. Amateur Championships over the years. Through his accomplishments, the New Hampshire Player of the Year award is in his name.

Laura Shanahan-Rowe, LPGA

With accomplishments spanning both the amateur and professional side of golf, Laura Shanahan-Rowe is well-deserving of this honor.  On the amateur side, one of her greatest accomplishments is winning the 2001 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
Championship, becoming the first female in New Hampshire to win a USGA event.  She also took home titles at the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association Championship in 1999 and 2002 and the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship in 2002.  Professionally, she has competed in numerous LPGA events and The Legends Tour events, gathering top-3 finishing spots along the way.  Regionally, she won the 2014 and 2016 New England Women’s Open and finished second in the 2004 Massachusetts Women’s Open.  She competed in the inaugural USGA Senior Women’s Open in 2018 and again in 2019, with a top 20 finish.  Currently, she is a sought-after Teaching
Professional at Sagamore Golf Center in North Hampton, NH, a role which she has been in since 2009.

Stan Lencki, Sr., PGA

Stan Lencki’s service to the game of golf as a PGA Professional for over 50 years has earned him his place in the NH Golf Hall of
Fame.  Stan served as an Assistant Golf Professional under Joe Makara at Manchester Country Club from 1956-1979.  From there, he took over the position of Head Golf Professional at MCC from 1979-2000. In May of 2000 he was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement” award from the New England PGA and presented a lifetime membership to MCC for his 50 years of service.  Additionally, a permanently endowed McDonough Scholarship was named in his honor and in 2001, the McDonough Foundation created the Stan Lencki Distinguished Service Award.  He was well-known for frequently declining to be honored by the New Hampshire Chapter of the NEPGA for its “Teacher of the Year” and “Professional of the Year” awards, but finally accepted the “Professional of the Year” honor in October of 2000 upon the announcement of his retirement.