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John McCurry, 63 (age at time of induction)



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John McCurry, 63 (age at time of induction)

Alabama native

Allentown resident
Mack Trucks Inc. machinist
PGA Senior Tour

1997 Bank of Boston Classic (made the cut, earned $660).


Local Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship: 1991

* Allentown City Match Play Championship: 1985, 1989, 1992, 1993

* Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur Championship: 1996

* Bethlehem Golf Club Medal Play Championship: 1996
Local Senior Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Senior Inter-Club Championship: 2004

* Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship: 2009
Other Local Amateur Tournament Victories:

* Iron Lakes Country Club club champion

* GALV Better Ball of Partners: 2003

* Paul Clymer Memorial Better Ball of Partners: 1987, 1990, 1995


Allentown City Match Play Championship runner-up: 1980

Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship third place: 2013

Lehigh County Player of the Year: 1991

Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship (Seniors) - Most Valuable Player: 2003




YEAR 7: CLASS OF 2010
Sal Picone, 52 (age at time of induction)

Phillipsburg native

Palmer Township resident
New Jersey Transit
Phillipsburg Catholic – 1976

New Jersey State Wrestling Championship: 129 lbs. runner-up


Lehigh Valley Player of the Year: 2003

Northampton County Player of the Year: 2003, 2009


Local Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Amateur: 2003, 2007

* Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship: 2004
* Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur Championship: 2002, 2003

* Allentown City Match Play Championship: 2007


Other Local Amateur Tournament Victories:

* Green Pond Country Club club champion: 1996, 1998, 2003

* Wedgewood Golf Course club champion: 2009

* Tarz Ford Memorial: 2007

* GALV Better Ball of Partners: 1997
United States Golf Association national championship qualifying:

U.S. Public Links – second alternate in 2004. Was in a three-person playoff with Kevin Blue of Canada (first alternate), and two-time LPGA TOUR tournament winner Michelle Wie.


Lehigh Valley Amateur runner-up: 1992


YEAR 7: CLASS OF 2010
Rich Kovacs, 61 (age at time of induction)

Easton native

Bethlehem Township resident
Owner of Kovacs Benefits, insurance industry executive
Moravian College—1975

Member of 1974 Moravian College Middle Atlantic Conference team champions

Captain and Most Valuable Player of the 1975 Moravian College golf term
Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley:

Co-founder: 1989


Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions

Founder: 1990


Lehigh Valley Player of the Year: 1990

Lehigh Valley Senior Player of the Year: 2005


Northampton County Player of the Year: 1990, 1996

Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship - Most Valuable Player: 1992

Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship (Seniors) - Most Valuable Player: 2002
Local Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions: 1990

* Allentown City Match Play Championship: 1990

* Bethlehem Golf Club Medal Play Championship: 1991

* Northeast Pennsylvania Stroke Play Championship: 1996
Local Senior Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship: 2004

* Lehigh Valley Senior Tournament of Champions: 2003

* Lehigh Valley Senior Inter-Club Championship: 2006

* Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Championship: 2005
* Lehigh Valley Super-Senior Match Play Championship: 2010
Other Local Amateur Tournament Victories:

* Northampton Country Club senior club champion: 2013

* Northampton Country Club club champion: 2009

* Green Pond Country Club club champion: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000

* Green Pond Country Club senior club champion: 2006

* Wedgewood Golf Course club champion: 1999, 2000, 2004

* Lehigh Valley Better Ball of Partners: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993

* Pete Gorgone Memorial Senior Better Ball of Partners: 1999, 2001

* Lehigh Valley Regular-Senior Better Ball of Partners: 2001, 2002
Northeast Pennsylvania Stroke Play Championship runner-up: 1997

Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship runner-up: 2005, 2006, 2009

Lehigh Valley Amateur semifinalist: 1976, 1977, 1987, 1999
Green Pond Country Club: team captain of six Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship teams
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009
CLUB PROFESSIONAL: Wayne Phillips

AMATEUR: Bruce Young

AMATEUR: Ray Silnik

PRE-1970 AMATEUR: Harold Bilheimer

SENIOR AMATEUR: Darrell Lawson

GOLF COACH: John Makuvek


INDUCTION DINNER: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, Green Pond Country Club

GUEST SPEAKER: Robin McCool. The Upper Saucon Township resident has qualified for a Lehigh Valley-region record 14 United States Golf Association national championship tournaments. A member of the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame inaugural induction class of 2004, McCool was the first amateur golfer ever inducted into the institution. The Arizona State graduate was employed by close friend and PING GOLF founder Karsten Solheim, and is an associate of many touring pros from Arizona State including Phil Mickleson.

Wayne Phillips, 52 (age at time of induction)

Lancaster, PA native; Bethlehem resident


Indiana University of Pennsylvania: 1979

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Golf Team: four-year team member (1975-1979), won six collegiate tournament titles, 1979 NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention.


Head Golf Professional: Lehigh Country Club: 1986 - present

Head Golf Professional: Mahoning Valley Country Club: 1984 -1986


Teaching Professional: Lehigh Country Club: 1982-1984

Assistant Golf Professional: Brookside Country Club: 1979-1982


Philadelphia Section PGA Board member: 1990-1992

Elected PGA Class A member: 1982

Turned professional in 1979
Major professional championships:

2008 U.S. Senior Open, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO


Philadelphia Section PGA career highlights:

Has won 20 Philadelphia Section PGA tournaments

1989: Most Improved Player Award
Played in the 2007 Senior PGA Club Professional Championship

Played in the two PGA National Club Professional Championship events

Won 2009 Philadelphia Section PGA Senior Championship

Won 1990 Bermuda Goodwill Championship

Has won 30 Pocono Professional Golf Series tournaments
Hold course record at Lehigh Country Club: 10-under-par 60

Have shot every score in the 60’s at Lehigh Country Club


Seven career hole-in-one’s


YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009

Bruce Young, 61 (age at time of induction)

Plainfield, NJ, native; Phillipsburg, NJ resident

Rutgers University - 1971

Rutgers University golf team: Team captain, three-time NCAA Championship qualifier (tied for 20th place in 1969 with Tom Kite).


Teaching Professional: Infini-Tee Golf Center: 2009 - present

Assistant Golf Professional: Harkers Hollow Golf Club: 1999 - present

President: Allwood Precision Tool: 1982-2007

Assistant Golf Professional: Crestmont Country Club: 1980-1981

Assistant Golf Professional: Montclair Country Club: 1977-1979

Touring Golf Professional: 1975-1976

Competed on mini-tours: JC Goosie Tour in central Florida; mini-tour in Savannah, Georgia; NGA Tour in Phoenix, Arizona; Peter Jackson Canadian Golf Tour

Assistant Golf Professional: Fairmount Country Club: 1973-1974


United States Golf Association national championship qualifications:

U.S. Amateur: 1987, 1990, 1993


State Championship victories:

New Jersey Mid-Amateur champion: 1992, 1994, 1995

1987 New Jersey Four-Ball champion
Amateur Tournament victories:

1998 Tarz Ford Memorial

1997, 1998 Harkers Hollow Golf Club club championship

1972 Daily News Ike Team Champion


Professional Tournament victories:

2007 Cooperstown Senior Open - Sophomore Division

1975 Palm Coast Tournament of Champions
New Jersey Senior Open runner-up: 1999

Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions runner-up: 1996, 1997, 1998

New Jersey Mid-Amateur runner-up: 1989, 1991

New Jersey Four Ball Championship runner-up: 1986, 1988

New Jersey PGA Championship runner-up: 1979

Metropolitan Golf Association Open third place: 1977

New Jersey Open runner-up: 1976, 1977

YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009

Ray Silnik, 47 (age at time of induction)

Allentown native; Upper Macungie Township resident

California University of Pennsylvania: 1983
Head Golf Professional: Blue Shamrock Golf Club: 2014 - present

Golf Professional: Silver Creek Country Club: 1984 - 2013

Head Golf Professional at Silver Creek Country Club for nine years

Turned professional in 1984, PGA Class A membership in 1987


United States Golf Association national championship qualifications:

U.S. Amateur: 1983

U.S. Public Links: 1982, 1983

1982: qualified for match play, advanced to the round of 32

1983: qualified for match play, advanced to the quarterfinals
Club Professional Victories (Philadelphia Section PGA):

2000: Dodge Golf Classic

2000: Philadelphia Pro-Junior Championship

1998: Philadelphia Pro-Pro Championship

1986: Philadelphia Assistant Professional Championship
2000: Finished in the top-10 in section money earnings and points

1986, 1990: represented the Philadelphia Section PGA in challenge matches vs. the Mid-Atlantic Section PGA

1986: Finished 20th in the National Assistants Championship
Amateur Golf Tournament Victories:

* 1983 Lehigh Valley Amateur


Pennsylvania Public Links Championship: three top-5 finishes: 1981, 1982, 1983
College golf accomplishments:

California University of Pennsylvania: four-year team member (1979-1983)

1982-1983 senior year team co-captain, most valuable player, and low scoring average

1983 NCAA Division II All-American Third Team

1983 NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament: 15th place

All-Pennsylvania Conference First team: 1981, 1983

Won four collegiate tournament titles
Helped lead team to four top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division II National Championships, 1980 Pennsylvania Conference team title, and two ECAC team championships in 1980 and 1982.
High School/Junior Golf Accomplishments:

1978 PIAA State Championship: 10th place

1978 District 11 Championship: runner-up

Colonial League champion: 1977, 1978

Three-time Colonial League First-Team All-Star (Salisbury High School): 1976, 1977, 1978

Two-time Shawnee Junior Open champion: 1977, 1978




YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009

Harold Bilheimer 1921-2002

Bethlehem native; former Bethlehem and Center Valley resident


Moravian College (1942), M.A. in English from Lehigh University

Bethlehem Area School District: English teacher, principal at three BASD junior high schools, administrative assistant to the BASD Superintendent of Schools.


1976 Pennsylvania State Senior Amateur Championship - champion
Local Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Amateur: 1957, 1964

* 2-time Saucon Valley Country Club senior club champion: 1975, 1980

* C.A. Buck Cup champion (Saucon Valley Country Club medal play title): 1972

* 3-time Brookside Country Club club champion: 1961, 1962, 1964
Lehigh Valley Amateur runner-up: 1955, 1956, 1962, 1965
University of Miami: golf team member
Eight career hole-in-one’s
Golf Coaching:

Liberty High School (had an undefeated season)

Moravian College

Moravian Academy


Leadership Positions:

Philadelphia Golf Association: member of Executive Committee, Rules Committee, J. Wood Platt Scholarship Committee

1987 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship - General Co-Chairman (at Saucon Valley Country Club)

1992 U.S. Senior Open Championship - Group Chairman (at Saucon Valley Country Club)




YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009

Darrell Lawson, 67 (age at time of induction)

Indianapolis native and resident, lived in Allentown from 1993 to 2002


Dun & Bradstreet: Human Resources Manager
United States Golf Association national championship qualification:

U.S. Senior Amateur: 1999


Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship (Seniors) - Most Valuable Player: 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000

(record 4-time Senior Most Valuable Player)


Local Amateur Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur: 1999


Local Senior Amateur Tournament Victories:

* Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Match Play Championship: 1995

* Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 (record 4-time champion)

* Lehigh Valley Senior Tournament of Champions: 1994

* Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Amateur: 1994 (holds 36-hole scoring record of 8-under-par 135, set in 1994)

* Pete Gorgone Memorial: 1995, 2000


Other Local Amateur Tournament Victories:

* GALV Better Ball of Partners champion: 1999

* Paul Clymer Memorial Better Ball of Partners

* Lehigh Valley Regular-Senior Better Ball of Partners: 1995


Allentown City Match Play Championship runner-up: 1996

YEAR 6: CLASS OF 2009

John Makuvek, 73 (age at time of induction)

Bethlehem Township native; resides in Bethlehem

East Stroudsburg University

Professor of Physical Education at Moravian College

Athletic Director at Moravian College (1992 until his retirement in 1996)

Moravian College Athletic Hall of Fame


Head golf coach at Moravian College for 43 years from 1968 - 2010.

Moravian College all-time winningest golf coach: 318-196 record

Middle Atlantic Conference champions: 1974, 1994, 1997

Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League champion: 2006


Undefeated seasons: 1993 (16-0), 1994 (15-0), 1999 (8-0)
Individual conference champion: Brian Bergstol: 2006, 2007

Coached Brian Bergstol, who qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open, 2006 U.S. Public Links

Coached 1980 Pennsylvania Public Links champion Mike Zambelli

Coached Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductees Mike Zambelli, Karl Gilbert

Coached several Middle-Atlantic Conference All-Conference golfers
Local Amateur Tournament Victories:

* Southmoore Golf Course club champion : 1997

* Pete Gorgone Memorial Senior Better Ball of Partners: 1993
Head soccer coach at Moravian College for 24 years: 219-133-29 record

One NCAA Division III Tournament

Nine ECAC post-season tournaments

One Middle Atlantic Conference title

Four Middle Atlantic Conference Southern Division titles

LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2008
PRE-1970 CLUB PROFESSIONAL: Ralph Hutchison

AMATEUR: Mike Zambelli

AMATEUR: John Cannon

PRE-1970 AMATEUR: Jack Thomas

PRE-1970 AMATEUR: Dick Adam

CLUB PROFESSIONAL: Gary Hardin


INDUCTION DINNER: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, Green Pond Country Club

GUEST SPEAKER: Tony Leodora, Associate Publisher of GolfStyles Philadelphia Magazine. Leodora has covered The Masters for over 30 years.
Ralph Hutchison 1908-1993

Pawnee, Oklahoma native; resided in Bethlehem and retired in Sarasota, Florida


The “Voice of the Masters” at the 18th green from 1947 -1971

Served on The Masters rules and pairings committees


Voted a Top Teaching Professional In America award
Head Golf Professional: Saucon Valley Country Club: 1936 - 1974

Assistant Golf Professional: Saucon Valley Country Club: 1935

Assistant Golf Professional: Augusta National Golf Club: 1932-1935
Served as an assistant golf professional at Boca Raton Country Club under Tommy Armour

Served as an assistant golf professional at Wilmington Country Club under Ed Dudley


Quarterfinalist: 1945 PGA Championship

1954 Philadelphia Open champion



YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2008

Dick Adam, 73 (age at time of induction) 1935-2013
West Reading, PA native

Cumru Township, PA resident


Glidden Paints, Reading, PA: 15 years

Carpenter Technology: 1981-2000


Kutztown Area High School: 1952
1974 and 1976 Pennsylvania Public Links - champion

Philadelphia Public Links champion (1)


Local Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Bethlehem Municipal Club Championship (now the Bethlehem Golf Club Amateur Stroke Play Championship): 1969, 1972, 1973

* Allentown City Championship (1)
Berks County Tournament Victories:

* Hawley Quier Memorial (Tournament of Champions): 1981

* Berks County Senior Amateur: 1989, 1990, 1991

* 7-time Galen Hall Golf Course club champion

* Berks County Better Ball of Partners: 1986, 1988

* 4-time Galen Hall Golf Course Member-Member

* 2-time Galen Hall Golf Course Member-Guest
Member of 1950 and 1951 Kutztown Area High School Class B state championship basketball teams
Minor League baseball:

1954: Vidalia Indians (Georgia), pitcher, Cleveland Indians farm system, Georgia State League, Class D

1955: Vidalia Indians (Georgia), pitcher, Cleveland Indians farm system, Georgia State League, Class D

1955: Donalsonville Seminoles (Georgia), pitcher, Alabama-Florida League, Class D


Kutztown Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame -- inducted in 2008


YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2008

Mike Zambelli, 54 (age at time of induction)

Allentown native


Dieruff High School: 1972

Three-sport athlete: football, basketball, golf


Member of 1974 Moravian College Middle Atlantic Conference team champions
Service Electric Cable Television -- Sports Director: 1994 - present

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs -- Play-by-Play announcer: 2008

Host of TV2 Sports Scene show

Play-by-Play announcer: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Reading Phillies, Allentown Ambassadors, Lehigh Valley Valley Dawgs, Lehigh University sports, Lehigh Valley Amateur qualifying round, local high school sports


Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame: Master of Ceremonies
Assistant Golf Professional:

* Allentown Municipal: 1982-1984


United States Golf Association national championship qualification:

U.S. Public Links: 1978


1980 Pennsylvania Public Links -- champion
Local Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Amateur: 1978


Lehigh Valley Amateur runner-up: 1975

Bethlehem Golf Club Medal Play Championship runner-up: 1992

Allentown City Match Play Championship runner-up: 1993

Allentown City Championship runner-up: 1975


Wedgewood Golf Course club champion: 1975

Lehigh Valley Better Ball of Partners champion: 1993



YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2008

John Cannon, 56 (age at time of induction)

Allentown native; Alabama resident

Kutztown University: 1972; captain of golf team 1971, 1972
President, CEO -- Sunbelt Golf Corporation: 2004 - present

Chairman, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: 2004-present


* President -- Heartland Golf Development, Kansas City, MO: 2002-2004

* Director of Golf -- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capital Hill: 1998-2002

* General Manager, Director of Golf -- Prestwick Country Club, Surfside Beach, SC: 1997-1998

* Head Professional -- Port Royal Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, SC: 1995-1997


3 United States Golf Association national championship qualifications:

U.S. Public Links: 1982, 1983

U.S. Mid-Amateur: 1983
Local Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Allentown City Match Play Championship: 1981, 1984

* Allentown City Championship: 1972, 1975
Tarz Ford Memorial champion: 1983

Lehigh Valley Better Ball of Partners champion: 1985

Paul Clymer Memorial Better Ball of Partners champion: 1986

Jack Thomas, 84 (age at time of induction) 1924-2010

Meadville, PA native; Penfield, NY resident


Meadville High School: 1942; four-year team member

District 10 champion: 1941; PIAA State Tournament qualifier: 1941, 1942


Cornell University: 1949; four-year team member: 1943, 1944, 1948, 1949

NCAA Tournament qualifier: 1949


General Manager:

* Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York: 1977-1989

Major events at Oak Hill CC during tenure: 1989 U.S. Open, 1984 U.S. Senior Open, 1980 PGA Championship

* Saucon Valley Country Club: 1959-1975


United States Golf Association national championship qualification:

U.S. Senior Amateur: 1980


Local Tournament Victories (Individual):

* Lehigh Valley Amateur: 1967, 1971, 1972


Other Tournament Victories:

1946 Meadville Country Club club champion

1948 Ithaca, New York city champion


YEAR 5: CLASS OF 2008

Gary Hardin, 56 (age at time of induction)
California native, Bethlehem resident
Temple University: 1974

Temple University Golf Team: three-year team member (1972-1974), 1972 Middle Atlantic Conference individual and team champion, qualified for 1972 NCAA Tournament, team captain for three years: 1972-1974, Honorable Mention All-American - 1974.


Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame: 2006
Has taught many touring professionals: Tom Carter, Kevin Johnson, Jeff Sisk
Has taught many top local golfers: Henry D’Alberto, Brian Belden, Bob Beck, Doug Kingston, Joe Viechnicki, Pat Hardin (son), Tiffany Fisher, Brittany Fisher
Head Golf Professional: Northampton Country Club: 1990 - present
Assistant Golf Professional: Cedarbrook Country Club: 1986-1989

Assistant Golf Professional: Cornwells Golf Club: 1982-1985

Assistant Golf Professional: Tamarack Country Club, Greenwich, Conn.: 1979

Assistant Golf Professional: Squires Golf Club: 1978

Assistant Golf Professional: Plymouth Country Club: 1977
Philadelphia Section PGA Tournament Committee member: 1988-present

Elected PGA member: 1982

Turned professional in 1975
TaylorMade staff member since 1981, Presidential Advisory Board founding member
Played the PGA TOUR: 1980, 1981

Played mini-tours and the European Tour: 1975-1976


Major professional championships:

1988 PGA Championship, Inverness Golf Club

2005 U.S. Senior Open, tied for 46th place, NCR Country Club

2005 Senior PGA Championship, Laurel Valley Golf Club


Philadelphia Section PGA career highlights:

Has won over 30 Philadelphia Section PGA tournaments

1992: Section Points Champion, Teacher of the Year

1987: Section Champion, Player of the Year, De Baufre Trophy winner (low stroke average).

Has played in 10 PGA National Club Championship events
Course records (hold or co-hold six course records):

Northampton Country Club: 61

Eagle Lodge Country Club: 62

Cedarbrook Country Club: 63

Manufacturers Country Club: 64

Warrington Country Club: 64

Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course): 64
Nine career hole-in-one’s



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