Category: Inductee

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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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Inductee

Thomas J. Leonard, Jr.

Thomas J. Leonard, Jr.

Thomas J. Leonard Jr. was born in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1918. The son of 1922 New Hampshire State Amateur Champion Thomas J. Leonard Sr, “Tommy” won his first state title in 1937, with the New Hampshire Junior Championship. In 1939, he embarked on what would be a record-breaking streak of State Amateur titles. When World War II broke out, Tommy served as a pilot in the European Theater for two and a half years. After the war, he returned to golf, winning six consecutive titles from 1947-1952, for a total of eight State Amateur titles. In 1947, Tommy became the first amateur to win the New Hampshire Open Championship.

He played in six US Amateur Championships, including the 1948 Amateur in Memphis, where he lost in the second round, in 21 holes, to Julios Boros.  Boros went on to become a PGA tour standout.

One of Tommy’s ambitions was to win a New England Amateur Championship. Although that crown eluded him, he reached the finals twice, the semi-finals twice and the quarterfinals three times.

Tommy Leonard’s record of eight State Amateur titles held for 48 years, until it was beaten by fellow New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Meilcarz, at Bretwood Golf Club in 2000. His record of six consecutive wins still stands today.  

Thomas J. Leonard Jr. set the bar for amateur golfers in the Granite State.  Based on his accomplishments, the New Hampshire Golf Association Player of the Year Award is in his name.

 

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Inductee

Philip Pleat

2019 New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Phil Pleat

Phil Pleat

Phil is the most decorated male golfer in New Hampshire having won a total of twenty New Hampshire Golf Association titles in years ranging from 1981 to 2017.  In those 37 years, he collected three New Hampshire Amateur titles (1981, 1985, 1997), eight New Hampshire Mid-Amateur titles (1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2012), three New Hampshire Stroke Play titles (2002, 2003, 2005), and six New Hampshire Senior titles (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).  Accompanying those accomplishment, 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.

On a regional basis, Phil won back-to-back New England Senior Amateur Championships in 2016 and 2017.

Twenty is a common number in Phil’s accomplishment as he has competed in twenty USGA championships over the years.  Notably, he finished runner-up in the 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship held at Kinloch Golf Club in Virginia.  Some of his more memorable experiences have come from competing alongside his son, James, in the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship and as Four Ball partners in the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship.

Phil joins his father-in-law, Thomas J. Leonard, Jr. as an inductee into the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame.

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Inductee

Laura Shanahan-Rowe, LPGA

Laura Shanahan-Rowe, LPGAWith 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.  In 2008, she won the LPGA T&CP (Teachers and Club Pros) Championship held at Pinehurst.  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, which earns her an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Women’s Open. 

Still competing around the country, Laura finished second in the Senior Division of the LPGA T&CP Championship this year and headed to French Lick, IN to compete in the LPGA Senior Championship just before the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 

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.

 

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Inductee

Stan Lencki, Sr., PGA

Stan Lencki, Sr., PGA

Stan Lencki, Sr., PGAStan 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.

 

 

 

 

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Inductee

Bob Mielcarz

Bob Mielcarz

Bob MielcarzBob Mielcarz is regarded as the most winning State Amateur golfer in New Hampshire. He has racked up nine New Hampshire Amateur titles over the years (1977-1979, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000). He is the only player to have won the State Amateur in four different decades. Out of the ten times he has reached the 36-hole final match, he has only lost one time.
Adding to his accomplishments, Mielcarz has won the New Hampshire Senior Amateur Championship three times (2005, 2010, 2015). He has been named the Thomas J. Leonard Jr. Player of the Year three times (1993, 1995, 2006) and has been named the New Hampshire Senior Player of the Year two times (2007 and 2009).
Mielcarz has competed for New Hampshire in the USGA State Team Championship in 1995 and 1997. He competed in the 2004, 2005, and 2007 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship; in 2005 he advanced to the quarterfinals and made match play in 2007.
A member a Concord Country Club, Mielcarz is still playing competitively within New Hampshire.
 

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Inductee

Tony Loch

Tony Loch

Tony Loch has been a PGA Professional for over Tony Loch50 years in the Granite State, serving the majority of that time as Head Golf Professional at Portsmouth Country Club.
During this time, he helped start the New Hampshire Chapter of the New England PGA and was part of a group of five individuals who started the Seacoast Amateur Golf Championship. He has served as the New Hampshire Chapter Tournament Chairman, on the New Hampshire Chapter Board of Directors, and on the New England PGA Board of Directors.
Over the years he has won over 100 Pro-Am tournaments throughout New England and was named the New Hampshire Chapter Professional of the Year in 1978. He won the New Hampshire Chapter Championship in 1977 and 1984.
Loch has had a great career in the golf industry in New Hampshire.

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Inductee

Dana Harrity

Dana Harrity is a the most decorated female amateur golfer in the Granite State. She has won the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association Championship a total of 16 times (1982, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992-1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2014). She has also won the NHWGA Senior Championship twice, 2015 and 2017. In 2016, she was named the NHWGA Player of the Year.
On a larger scale, Harrity won the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship in 2014 and has competed in seven U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships (2010, 2012-2017). She also competed in the 1996 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
Harrity currently resides in North Hampton, NH. From 2015-2017 she led the NHWGA is their President. She and her husband currently own Candia Woods Golf Links and The Oaks Golf Links, both well-established golf courses in New Hampshire.
 

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Inductee

Kirk Hanefeld, PGA

Kirk Hanefeld was a stand-out junior golfer in New Hampshire. He won the New Hampshire Junior Championship and the Red Ryan CYO tournament in 1971, 1972 and 1973. From there he then went on to win the New Hampshire Amateur Championship in 1974 and 1976 and won the New England Amateur Championship in 1977.
During his years of winning on the amateur side of golf, he also competed for the University of Houston golf team from 1974-1977.
Once turning professional, he won five State Opens, including the New Hampshire Open (1982), the Rhode Island Open (1998 and 2005), and the Maine Open (2003 and 2005). He participated in three PGA Tour majors (one U.S. Open and two PGA Championships) and 26 PGA Champions Tour majors (10 Senior PGA Championships, 3 U.S. Senior Opens, 6 Senior British Opens, 6 Senior Players Championships, and 1 Tradition).
Hanefeld has made 71 starts on the PGA Champions Tour since joining in 2006. Among the awards he has won, he has been named the New England PGA Player of the Year two times and the National PGA Senior Player of the Year one time.
Outside of playing he was the Director of Golf and Head Golf Professional at Salem Country Club from 1985 to 1999. He was the Director of Operations at The Ridge Club from 1999 to 2000, the Director of Golf at the International Golf Club from 2000 to 2006 and currently is the Director of Instruction at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts.
The NHGA Junior Player of the Year award is named after Kirk for his numerous accomplishments in the Granite State.