3 minute read

Jay Fox, ASGA

from October-December 2006

from October-December 2006, page 32

Gene Mortensen, Rules

The Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) will induct four men and one woman into the 2006 Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame. The banquet and induction ceremony will be held Nov. 1 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.

Louis Lee, who has won nine ASGA Championships, headlines this year’s class that includes Jack Jordan of Monticello, Tanna Lee Richard of Fort Smith and Al Alexander of Arkadelphia. William “Bill” Martin will be a posthumous induction.

Lee won the 1975 ASGA Stroke Play Championship at the Texarkana Country Club; 1977 and 1978 ASGA Match Play at the Hot Springs Country Club, and five state 4-ball championships with his brother Stan, a 1999 inductee. Louis also won the ASGA Junior Stroke in 1974 and earned all SEC honors all four years at LSU and was honorable mention all American in 1977.

Jordan’s career was well-established when he holed a 5-iron from 173-yards to win the 1999 ASGA Senior Stroke Play at the Pine Bluff Country Club. He began the hole trailing C.W. Knauts of Piggott by a stroke, who made a par-4 and lost by one. Jordan also won the 1998 Senior Stroke at Pine Bluff Country Club, 2000 Senior Match at Helena Country Club and the ASGA Senior Player of the Year titles in 1997 and 1999 and was runner-up in 1998 and 2000.

William “Bill” Martin built the Longhills Golf Club in Benton in 1955 and designed at least 35 courses in Arkansas and Missouri. Longhills, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, was the home club of numerous state champions including Barry Howard, Jack O’Keefe, Bart Owens and Judy Besancon. Martin also served as the “unofficial” coach of the Benton High School golf team, that produced four state championships. He sold Longhills to current owners Bud Busken and Jeff Hamm in 1986.

Tanna Lee Richard, 48, won the 1973 and 1974 Arkansas State Girls Junior Championship and played on the University of Missouri Lady Tiger Team 1975-1979. She won the AWGA State Match Play in 1980 and the AWGA Stroke Play in 1996. From 1987-2000, she competed in all 14 USGA Women’s MidAmateur Championships, reaching the quarter-finals in 1987 and 1989. She qualified and competed in 13 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships 1979-2000, reaching the quarter-finals in 1990. She continues to play at scratch from the men’s white tees at Hardscrabble Country Club. She is married to Ron Richard, a 1996 Hall of Fame inductee.

Al Alexander, who turns 84 in May, joined the ASGA Board of Directors in 1985 and immediately went to work. He volunteered his time and resources to travel the state measuring golf courses with a laser called a “mini 10.” The process was a lengthy one, requiring a tripod to be set-up in the fairway and measurements were taken to the front and back of the green, establishing the center. Then the person holding the crosshairs drove to the teeing grounds and each measurement was recorded. Sometimes, one hole would take 30 minutes, resulting in a full day’s work to measure all 18. He has measured more than 150 courses, many on more than one occasion. One of the ASGA’s most active board members over the past 20+ years, he also chaired the club representative committee and was elected to the Executive Committee, serving the Association as Secretary.

For more information, contact the ASGA at 501-455-ASGA or www.asga.org.

ASGA Views

Jay Fox ASGA Executive Director

Louis Lee has won nine ASGA State Championships, including five with his brother Stan.

NEEDTOMAKEROOMFORNEWMERCHANDISEINYOURPROSHOP? HAVEAPRODUCTORDESTINATIONTOPROMOTE? IFSO, THE SOUTH CENTRAL GOLF EXPOSAREFORYOU. Reserve your booths now! Reserve your booths now!