LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
GENERAL INFORMATION
* Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame -- purpose:
The purpose of the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame is to honor those individuals who have made a significant and enduring contribution to the game of golf in the greater LehighValley
region; and/or have compiled an accomplished amateur or professional competitive playing
record.
Individuals inducted as golfers must have an outstanding competitive record in premiere
national, statewide, regional, and/orin local individual stroke play or match play championship
tournaments in the greater Lehigh Valley region.
Inductees must meet one of the following criteria: 1.be a Lehigh Valley native
2.be a long-term resident ofthe greater Lehigh Valley regionforapproximately 10 years
during their regional golf-related career, or 3.participate annually in multiplemajor
Lehigh Valley regionalindividual amateur golf tournaments on a long-term basis.
* Definition of the greater Lehigh Valley region:
Defined as Lehigh County, Northampton County, lower Carbon and Monroe counties, and western Warren County, New Jersey.
* Induction philosophy:
The Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame committee inducted a six-person induction class per year for the initial eight (8) years. Here-after, three-person classes will be inducted per year; which will take the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame to 100 members after
25 years. The Old-Timers committee will present a person for induction in odd-numbered
years beginning in 2015 for individuals who made enduring contributions prior to 1970.
* Induction Selection Process:
1.) 2015 Ballot Nominations: Due from committee members by March 1, 2015.
Ballot selection: Nominations from the the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame committee and
the public will determine an upcoming year’s induction ballot. Approximately 6-to-12choices --
per a specific category being considered in a particular year -- will be placed on the ballot.
2.) 2015 Ballots: will be distributed to the committee and all eligible voters in April, 2015.
3.)Voting: Eligible voters include: committee members, living Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame members, and one person from each major Lehigh Valley sports media institution.
4.) 2015 Induction Class Announcement: June, 2015.
* 10 Induction Categories:
1. National & International Touring Professional Golfer2. Touring Pro /Club Professional
3. Club Professional /Teaching Golf Professional4. Pre-1970 Club Professional
5. Amateur Golfer6. Senior Amateur Golfer
7. Pre-1970 Amateur Golfer8. Media
9. Golf Coach: collegiate and high school coaches with accomplished records.
10. Contributors to the game on a regional-wide basis-- with a combination of competitive
golf accomplishments, coaching record and/or accomplishments, teaching, leadership.
* Minimum induction age: 40 years of age; during the calendar year of induction. Prior to
2012, the minimum age was 45 years of age.
* Nominations from the general public: The committee will accept nominations for future
induction to the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame. A nomination given to the committee will not
be considered unless it includessupporting documentation and a list of accomplishments
and/or contributions. Please sendnominations to Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame, 2743
Saxon Street, Allentown, PA 18103. © Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley Foundation, 2015
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
OLD-TIMERS COMMITTEE
Starting in 2015, the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame Old-Timers Committee will present for induction a pre-1970 candidate for induction every odd year for at least the next 20 years (one old-timer inductee every two years). The committee's selection will be due by February 15 of a given odd year.
Brian McCalI, a Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame committee member since it’s inception in 2004, will serve as the chairperson of the Old-Timers committee. He will be responsible for the selection of the Old-Timers Committee, and the process for how the committee determines an inductee. To avoid any outside influence, the Executive Director of the Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley Foundation will not serve on the Old-Timers Committee, or participate in the old-timers inductee selection process.
The Old-Timers Committee will be responsible for:
1. researching the inductee
2. giving the supporting documentation to the Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley
3. getting pictures of the inductee
4. gathering family and supporters of the inductee to attend the induction dinner
5. presenting the inductee at the induction dinner.
A pre-1970 old-timer candidate for induction is an individual who made the majority of their enduring contribution to golf in the greater Lehigh Valley region prior to 1970.
Inductees must meet one of the following criteria:
1. be a Lehigh Valley native; or
2. have been a long-term resident of the greater Lehigh Valley region for approximately 10 years during their regional golf-related career; or
3. have participated in multiple major Lehigh Valley regional individual amateur golf tournaments on a long-term basis.
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE
Karl Gilbert:* Express-Times Golf Columnist (28 years)
* Executive Director and Co-Founder, Golf Association of the Lehigh
Valley
* Director: Lehigh Valley Junior Golf Tour
* One of four Moravian College golfers named to MAC 100 Century Team
(Since it’s founding in 1994, the Lehigh Valley Junior Golf Tour has produced numerous men’s and women’s state high school and state amateur champions, top amateur tournament winners, male and female college golf scholarship recipients and collegiate golfers; high school golf coaches, and golf industry professionals; and the first high school golfers to win the
Lehigh Valley Player of the Year award and the Lehigh Valley Amateur title).
John Kulhamer:* Class A PGA Professional
* Green Pond Country Club head pro
* Conducts the annual Lehigh Valley Amateur
* Won the 1976 Allentown and Bethlehem amateur titles.
. Jim Muschlitz:* Class A PGA Professional
* Southmoore Golf Course head pro
* Four-time Lehigh Valley Amateur champion
* Qualified for 1981 U.S. Amateur, 1985 U.S. Public Links
Mike Zambelli:* Service Electric TV 2 Sports Director
* 1978 Lehigh Valley Amateur champion
* 1980 Pennsylvania State Public Links champion
Rich Kovacs:* Owner, Kovacs Benefits
* Co-Founder, Golf Association of the LehighValley
* 1990 LehighValley Player of the Year
* 2005 LehighValley Senior Player of the Year
Brian McCall:* President, Britech Inc.
* 2000 USGA Senior Open Executive Committee
* 2009 USGA Women’s Open Executive Committee
* 1995 Colonial League Golf Coach of the Year (Saucon Valley H.S.)
* Member of 1972 and 1973 undefeated Saucon Valley H.S. Lehigh Valley League golf champions. 27-0-2 match play record for three
seasons.
* Has won five flight titles at Lehigh Valley Amateur
* Chairman: Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame Old-Timers Committee
Mark Wogenrich: * Morning Call Sports Writer & Golf Columnist
Deceased Committee Member: John Kunda (1933-2005)
* Morning Call Sports Columnist - 42 years
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
YEAR 1: CLASS OF 2004
GOLF TEACHER / CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Morry Holland (Honorary first inductee)
TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Jim Booros
AMATEUR:Robin McCool
AMATEUR:Barry Klinikowski
PRE-1970 AMATEUR / CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Joe Hoch
GOLF COACH / AMATEUR:Kelly Gutshall
YEAR 2: CLASS OF 2005
CLUB PROFESSIONAL / TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Robert P. “Junie” Schoener Jr.
(represented by Rodger Zellner, Green Pond Country Club general manager)
GOLF MEDIA:John Kunda
(represented by his twin brother, Bob Kunda)
AMATEUR:Jim Muschlitz
AMATEUR:Dominic Carr
PRE-1970 AMATEUR:T. Francis “Tarz” Ford
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF COACH:Neil “Skip” Hamsher
YEAR 3: CLASS OF 2006
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:John Kulhamer
TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Debbie Massey
TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Gloria Ehret
AMATEUR:Rich Hallman
AMATEUR:Manny Palos
(represented by John Suter, grandson of Manny Palos)
PRE-1970 AMATEUR:Clyde Oskin
YEAR 4: CLASS OF 2007
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Tom Lynch
CLUB PROFESSIONAL / TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Roger Stern
CONTRIBUTOR:Karl Gilbert
AMATEUR:Miguel Biamon
AMATEUR:Barry Brackenbury
PRE-1970 AMATEUR:Ted Beckowski
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
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
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
YEAR 7: CLASS OF 2010
PRE-1970 AMATEUR:Norm Schadt
AMATEUR:John McCurry
AMATEURSal Picone
AMATEUR:Gary Daniels
WOMAN’S AMATEUR:Noreen Mohler
CONTRIBUTOR/ SENIOR AMATEUR:Rich Kovacs
YEAR 8: CLASS OF 2011
CLUB PROFESSIONAL / TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Jack Eckenrode
AMATEUR:Ed Williams
AMATEURDave Blichar
AMATEUR:Craig Scott
SENIOR AMATEUR:Tom Stitt
CONTRIBUTOR / SENIOR AMATEUR / GOLF COACH:Fran Tusak
YEAR 9: CLASS OF 2012
TOURING PROFESSIONAL:Tom Carter
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Gene Mattare
AMATEUR / CONTRIBUTOR:Jeff Wambold
YEAR 10: CLASS OF 2013
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Bob Hutnik
AMATEUR / CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Dave Olexson
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Mickey Sokalski
YEAR 11: CLASS OF 2014
PRE-1970 AMATEUR GOLFER:Leroy Klipple
GOLF MEDIA:Rich Lerner
CLUB PROFESSIONAL / TEACHING PROFESSIONAL:Rick Kline
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
INDUCTIONS BY CATEGORIES
1. National & International Touring Professional Golfer
4
2. Club Professional / Touring Professional
3
3. Club Professional / Teaching Golf Professional
9
4. Pre-1970 Club Professional
1
5. Amateur Golfer
21
6. Senior Amateur Golfer
2
7. Pre-1970 Amateur Golfer
9
8. Media
2
9. Golf Coach: collegiate and high school coaches with accomplished & championship records, and high levels of sportsmanship.
3
10. Contributors to the game on a regional-wide basis -- with a combination of competitive golf accomplishments, coaching record and/or accomplishments, teaching, leadership.
3
Total: 57
* Lehigh Valley of Hall of Fame on-line section:
The Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley website ( has a section dedicated to the
Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame.
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
YEAR 11: CLASS OF 2014
PRE-1970 AMATEUR GOLFER:Leroy Klipple
GOLF MEDIA:Rich Lerner
CLUB PROFESSIONAL / TEACHING PROFESSIONAL:Rick Kline
INDUCTION DINNER: Wednesday, October 29, 2014, Green Pond Country Club
GUEST SPEAKER: Rich Lerner, Golf Channel anchor, host, reporter, essayist.
Leroy Klipple1912 - 2005
Easton resident
Two-time Lehigh Valley Amateur champion: 1934, 1938
Was the champion of the first Lehigh Valley Amateur.
Lehigh Valley Amateur runner-up: 1937, 1939, 1941
Won club championships at Harkers Hollow Golf Club.
Played in professional exhibition tournaments with Gene Sarazen at Harkers Hollow Golf Club in 1935, and with Ben Hogan at Northampton Country Club in 1941.
YEAR 11: CLASS OF 2014
Rich Lerner, 53 (age at time of induction)
South Whitehall Township, native
Maitland, Florida resident
Temple University – 1983
Golf Channel anchor, host, reporter, essayist: 1997 – present
* PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour events: anchor, play-by-play
* Has covered all of golf’s four major professional championships, Ryder Cup
Host of nationally-syndicated sports talk radio show from Dallas in the 1990’s
WFMZ TV Channel 69 – Sports Director: 1984-1991
WFAN, WIP – weekend sports talk radio show host: 1980’s
Lehigh University football -- television voice of Lehigh University football in 1980’s, 1990’s
Women’s Sports Foundation Journalism Award – Se Ri Pak documentary
Telly Award – contributions to a story on 1964 U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi
Golf career:
Berkleigh Country Club – club champion: 1981, 1987
1987 LNGCA Amateur –champion
Lehigh University golf team member: 1979, 1980
Dorneyville Golf Center, located in South Whitehall Township – worked at the former golf facility as a youth, co-founded by his father.
YEAR 11: CLASS OF 2014
Rick Kline, 52 (age at time of induction)
Whitehall Township native, Fleetwood resident
Kutztown University, 1985
Owner / Head Golf Professional: Sittler Golf Center: 1995 - present.
* named one of the nation’s top 50 golf ranges, top 100 clubfitters
Purchased Sittler Golf Center -- 1992
Director of Golf / Head Golf Professional: Seaview Golf Resort, Atlantic City, NJ: 1992-1995
Assistant Golf Professional, Golf Shop Manager: Seaview Golf Resort, Atlantic City, NJ: 1985-1992
Worked at Seaview Country Club, Atlantic City, NJ: 1982-1984
Callaway Regional Club Fitter of the Year – 2012
Ping Regional Club Fitter of the Year – 2012
Top 50 Mizuno Club Fitter: 2005-2012
US Kids Teacher of the Year: 2009
Golf Digest Best Teacher in the State award - 2003, 2004
Ping Regional Club Fitter of the Year – 2002
Seaview Golf Resort, Atlantic City, NJ: Top 100 Golf Shops in America: 1989-1995
Elected PGA membership: 1989
PGA National Merchandiser of the Year, Public Facilities: 2013
Merchandiser of the Year, Philadelphia Section PGA, Public Category: 2005, 2011
Merchandiser of the Year, Philadelphia Section PGA, Resorts Category: 1992, 1994
Presidents Council of the PGA, member: 2003 - present
Head Golf Coach – Kutztown High School – 2001-2011
Whitehall High School Golf Team: 1976-1980
KutztownUniversity Golf Team: 1981-1985
LEHIGH VALLEY GOLF HALL OF FAME
YEAR 10: CLASS OF 2013
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Bob Hutnik
AMATEUR / CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Dave Olexson
CLUB PROFESSIONAL:Mickey Sokalski
INDUCTION DINNER: Wednesday, October 30, 2013, Green Pond Country Club
GUEST SPEAKER: Andrew Warner, President, Saucon Valley Country Club – host of the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Bob Hutnik, 77 (age at time of induction)
Easton, Pennsylvania native
PalmerTownship resident
Easton Area High School: 1954
East Stroudsburg University: 1958
Long-time head golf professional and teaching pro in the Lehigh Valley
Head Golf Professional: Woodland Hills Country Club: 1977-1988
Head Golf Professional: Northampton Country Club: 1967-1976
Assistant Golf Professional: Northampton Country Club: 1965-1966
Assistant Golf Professional: Lehigh Country Club: 1964
Turned professional in 1964
Founded the Lehigh Valley Better Ball of Partners tournament in 1977
Conducted “Monday Night Golf” better ball of partners competition in the 1980’s
Club Professional Victories (Philadelphia Section PGA):
1991: Senior Pro-Junior Pro (Miguel Biamon)
1989: Philadelphia Section PGA Senior Championship
1969: Pro-Assistant Pro (Roger Stern)
* Won several tournament titles in the Philadelphia Section PGA
Club Professional Second Place Finishes:
1989: Bucks County Section event
1970: Philadelphia Open
Qualified for the 1975 PGA Tour IVB Classic
Amateur Golf Career Victories:
1961: Fox Hill Invitational (Harold Bilheimer)
YEAR 10: CLASS OF 2013
Dave Olexson, 45 (age at time of induction)
Bloomsbury, New Jersey native
Williams Township, Pennsylvania resident
Sales Consultant: WOLF Corporation (York, PA): 2009 - present
AssistantGolf Professional: Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pennsylvania: 2006-2009
Assistant Golf Professional: Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania: 2004-2005
Teaching Golf Professional: 2 T’s Driving Range, Forks Township, Pennsylvania: 2003
Inside Department Manager: Fiddlers Elbow Country Club, Bedminster, New Jersey: 1996-2002
Assistant Golf Professional: Oak Hill Golf Club, Milford, New Jersey: 1993-1995
Assistant Golf Professional: Fox Hollow Golf Club, Branchburg, New Jersey: 1991-1992
Assistant Golf Professional: Bedens Brook Golf Club, Skillman, New Jersey: 1990
Book: Wrote “Breaking Par, An Uncomplicated Look into an Otherwise Complicated Game”.
Club Professional Victories(Philadelphia Section PGA):
2009: The McQuiston Pro Senior-Junior Pro Championship (with Wayne Phillips)
2009: Pro-Assistant Championship (with Wayne Phillips)
2008: Pro-Pro Championship
Club Professional Second Place finishes (Philadelphia Section PGA):
2007: Coley Pro-Am
2006: Doylestown Open
2005: William Hyndman Open, Woodcrest Open, Shawnee Open
Pocono Pro-Am Golf Series:
2008: PPGS Match Play -- champion
2006-2009: Won several Pocono Pro-Am Golf Serieslow professional victories
New Jersey PGA:
1993: Trenton District Pro-Scratch champion
1993: Coors Pro-Scratch champion (with Rob Bradley)
1992: Played on the Tommy Armour Mini-Tour (Florida)
Philadelphia Section PGA -- Professional Awards and Honors:
2007, 2008: Nominated for Philadelphia Section PGA Teacher of the Year
2007: Philadelphia All-Star Challenge Team
2006: Philadelphia Assistant Pro North-South Team
2006: Dick Smith Cup Team
2005: Philadelphia All-Star Challenge Team
2005: Philadelphia Section PGA Most Improved Player of the Year award
Local Amateur Golf Tournament Victories (Individual):
2002: Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions
2002: Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur
2002: Northeast Pennsylvania Match Play Championship
2000: Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur
2000: Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur
2000: Bethlehem Golf Club Stroke Play Championship
Other Local Amateur Tournament Victories:
Donald Ross Invitational: 2014
Dave Olexson, 45 (age at time of induction)
Awards:
2002 Lehigh Valley Player of the Year
2010: inducted into the North Hunterdon Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame – Class of 2010
Other top tournament finishes:
2000: Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions – second place
United States Golf Association national championship qualifying:
2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur -- Lost in an eight-person playoff for two final qualifying spots.
College: 1987: attended Methodist University, North Carolina
High School Accomplishments – 1982-1986 -- North Hunterdon Regional High School:
1986: New Jersey Sectional champion
1986: Hunterdon County champion
1985: Hunterdon County champion
1985: New Jersey Mid-State Conference champion
1986: First Team, New Jersey Mid-State Conference
North Hunterdon Regional High School: number one player for three years.
YEAR 10: CLASS OF 2013
Mickey Sokalski, 51 (age at time of induction)
Coopersburg, Pennsylvania native
Maple Glen, Pennsylvania resident
Southern Lehigh High School: 1980
Methodist University: 1984
Head Golf Professional: Philmont Country Club, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania: 1989 - present
Assistant Golf Professional: Philmont Country Club, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania: 1988
Assistant Golf Professional: Allentown Municipal Golf Course, Allentown, Pennsylvania: 1984-1987
United States Golf Association national championship qualifications:
U.S. Public Links: 1981 -- qualified for match play, lost in the opening round of 64
Club Professional Victories (Philadelphia Section PGA):
2010: Volunteers of America Pro-Am
2007: Senior Pro-Junior Pro (Jim Booros)
Two-time winner of the AB Thorn, Spring Meeting Pro-Pro, Fall Pro-Pro, Pro-President