2023, Golf, N-R, Name, Sport, Year

Powell, Renee

Renee Powell

Induction Year : 2023

Sport: Golf

Powell was the second African American to compete on the LPGA Tour, and the first African American woman to become a member of the PGA. In 2022, Powell was honored by the World Golf Hall of Fame as the first recipient of the Charlie Sifford Award. Powell played in more than 250 tournaments from 1967-1980. In 2003, she was honored with the First Lady of Golf Award from the LPGA.

Born in East Canton, Powell attended Central Catholic High School. Renee’s father, Bill, encountered racial discrimination on the golf course after he had served in World War II. That prompted him to design and build a course where all are welcome. Clearview Golf Club in East Canton—the first course in the country designed, built, and owned by an African American—opened its first nine holes in 1948, the second nine in 1978. Renee would eventually work as Clearview’s Head Professional.

“Renee Powell and her family’s remarkable life-long commitment to changing the face of golf cannot be overstated,” LPGA Commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, said in an LPGA press release. “Renee is a global ambassador and trailblazer within the game and has provided a model for how to use golf as a means of inclusion.”

August 30, 2023/by admin

2021, A-D, Golf

Curtis, Ben

Ben Curtis

Induction Year : 2021

Sport: Golf

Career Statistics

Ben Curtis is best known for winning the 2003 British Open Championship. Prior to the tournament, he was given 300-1 odds of winning the major championship. After sealing the one-stroke win at Royal St. George’s, Curtis leaped from a 396th ranking in the world to 35th, the highest jump of any player in golf history. The 2003 British Open Championship was Curtis’ first major championship appearance. With his victory, he became the first golfer since golf legend Francis Ouimet in 1913 (U.S. Open) to win his first major championship debut.

After the 2003 title, Curtis gained national attention when he appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” hitting wedge shots rooftop to rooftop during the telecast. He visited President George W. Bush at the White House as well. In 2008, Curtis was a member of the victorious USA Ryder Cup team. In the Sunday singles matches Curtis defeated Lee Westwood 2-1 to secure the victory and bring the Cup back to U.S. soil for the first time since 1999.

Curtis graduated from Kent State University where he was a three-time All-American. He was inducted into the Mid-American Hall of Fame in 2012. Additional PGA Tour wins include the Booz Allen Classic and the 84 Lumber Classic (2006) and the Valero Texas Open (2012).

In 2018, Curtis retired from the PGA Tour and launched the Ben Curtis Golf Academy at The Country Club of Hudson (OH). He and his wife, Candace, established the Ben Curtis Family Foundation in 2013 with a mission to end childhood hunger in Portage and Summit counties.

July 20, 2021/by admin

2019, Golf, I-M

Moss, Rob

Rob Moss

Induction Year : 2019

Sport: Golf

When it came to the leaderboard at high-profile amateur and professional golf tournaments in Northeast Ohio, you could count on seeing the name Rob Moss at the top.

In record-setting fashion, the left-handed Moss became the first player to win the Professional Golf Association’s Northern Ohio Section Championship for five straight years from 2010 to 2014, winning at different area courses along the way. The Kent State University product matched those victories to be named the Northern Ohio PGA Player of the Year five times (2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013).

He was the organization’s Professional of Year in 2010 and was a two-time recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award. He won the Ohio Open in 1999 and 2001 to further solidify his status as an elite player. He won the Ohio Open three times (1999, 2001 and 2005).

With his section championships, he participated at national PGA Championships in 2005 (Baltrusol), 2010 (Whistling Straits) and 2011 (Atlanta).

His professional career began with seasons on the Asian Tour (1994-98), South American Tour (1998) and the former Nike Tour (1996, 2000). As a senior player, he qualified for the 2019 Senior PGA Championship at Ohio Hill C.C. in Rochester, N.Y.

While at Kent State, he won the Ohio Amateur title at Moraine C.C. in 1989. With the Golden Flashes, he was an Academic All-American in 1989 and 1990. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

He began his club professional career as an assistant at Lakewood C.C. (2001-2004) and head professional at Elyria C.C. (2005-2008). He then moved to The Pepper Pike Club (2009-present).

His accomplishments earned him induction into halls of fame at Kent State (1999), Parma Athletic (2000), Padua Franciscan High School (2004) and the Northern Ohio Golf Association (2015).

He lives in Broadview Heights with his wife, Darci, and three sons.

August 15, 2019/by admin

2017, Golf, S-V

Slater, Tom

Tom Slater

Induction Year : 2017

Sport: Golf

In 2001, Tom Slater—at age 56—was Low Amateur and won a playoff to qualify for the USGA Senior Open at Salem, MA. During the first round of play, his score was -2 under par and he was leading the tournament. It was a thrill for him to see his name at the top with Tom Watson, Ray Floyd, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. It was a difficult course and Bruce Fleisher eventually won at even par.

Slater has triumphed in dozens of golf championships, but he perhaps has saved his most rewarding victories for the cancer treatment rooms of the Cleveland Clinic.

Slater, a life-long amateur golfer, has twice defeated lymphoma. These days, he spends time helping others deal with the disease so they can move forward with a positive lifestyle.

He practices what he preaches. In 2011, after a two-year battle with cancer, Slater parlayed conquering the disease with winning the inaugural Florida State Super Senior Championship.

Born in Warwick, R.I., he was attracted to the competitiveness of sports at a very young age. He started playing golf and baseball at five and hockey at six. He played all three sports through college, but golf emerged as his love.

Slater won his first tournament at 12 and went on to win the Rhode Island championship for 21 and under when he was 16, defeating the captain of the University of Rhode Island team. In college, he was part of the Yale team that won the Ivy League Championship.

In 1970, after completing college and three years military service, Slater moved to Cleveland where he began his business career and started his family.

He soon became part of the local golf scene, dominating play and winning 22 club championships. In 1992, Slater decided to play in national level competitions. He found success, qualifying for a United States Golf Association Mid Amateur, a USGA Senior Amateur, A USGA Senior Open and finally, two USGA Senior Amateurs. He was Medalist or low scorer in 4 of these qualifiers.

In 2008, Slater was selected to be a playing member on the United States Senior Golf Association International Team. He was Team Captain in 2013 and led his squad to victory over Great Britain and Canada at Prestwick, Scotland. His International record is 15-6-6.

Slater and his wife live in Cleveland. They have eight children and 12 grandchildren.

Deceased 2021

August 14, 2017/by admin

2011, Golf, I-M

Mucha, Barb

Barb Mucha

Induction Year : 2011

Sport: Golf

If it hadn’t been for a junior golf tournament that she entered as a 10-year-old, Barb Mucha may be rolling strikes instead of putting for birdies. She won the tournament, fell in love with golf, and the bowling ball went into mothballs.

The rest is professional golf history. Mucha, a Parma Heights native and a graduate of Valley Forge High and Michigan State University, won five times on the LPGA tour with career earnings of $2.4 million.

Perhaps even more impressive than Barb’s victories was her consistency. Of the 321 LPGA tournaments in which she competed, Mucha posted top 10 finishes an astonishing 115 times, including 30 of them in her last 37 tour stops from 2004 through 2009.

Barb credits the yearly season pass that her parents, George and Lillian, bought her to Ridgewood Municipal Golf Course in Parma where she studied under head pro Leo Zampedro. Mucha believes Zampedro, who became her longtime coach, is the reason she was a success on tour.

There is also a tip of the hat towards the ethnic kitchens of her hometown. Barb admits to developing a weakness for pierogies and baklava.

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Golf

Head golf professional at The Cleveland Club (later The Country Club) and a top player of his day, he collaborated with Coburn Haskell in the invention of the rubber-cored golf ball. This ball is still used today in modified form.

November 30, 2009/by admin