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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