Tenth class of honorees reveal the next chapter in golf shrine’s storied history
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Sept. 18, 2019) – The Texas Golf Hall of Fame recently revealed its 2019 Class of Inductees. The Hall announced its 2019 class will be honored with a formal induction ceremony at The San Antonio Country Club on Monday, Oct. 14th.
Along with the evening’s festivities that are open to the public, each of the Inductees of the 2019 class has a distinguished history of achievement that will be commemorated on granite markers on the prestigious Texas Golf Walk of Fame at historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course earlier in the day.
2019 Texas Hall of Fame Inductees:
Professional Player: Jimmy Walker, Boerne
Amateur Player: Mike Booker, Houston
Lifetime Achievement: Fin Ewing, III, Dallas
Golf Professional / Teacher: Cameron Doan, Dallas
TX Registry of Historic Golf Courses: Shady Oaks Country Club, Fort Worth
“2019 has proven to be one of the finest years ever for the Texas Golf Hall of Fame,” said Loren Singletary, its Board Chairman. “The depth of nominees in each category speaks to the significant contributions made to the game of golf by the elected inductees. Their peers have validated their standing in the Texas Golf community, and it is with great pleasure that we extend a hearty congratulations to the 2019 Class of Honorees.”
The 2019 Hall Inductee in the Professional Player Category, Walker turned professional in 2001 at the age of 22 and is a six-time PGA Tour and three-time Nationwide Tour Winner. His wins include a Major championship coming at the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club located in Springfield, New Jersey. Walker was also a Ryder Cup Team Member in 2014 and 2016, and a member of the 2015 President’s Cup Team.
Walker attended Baylor University in Waco, and currently resides in Boerne, Texas. Off the golf course, Walker is also an avid astrophotographer, and his photos have been featured on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day website.
The 2019 Hall Inductee in the Amateur Player Category, Houston, Texas resident Booker has a distinguished pedigree behind him. As a collegiate golfer with the University of Houston’s Golf team, Booker played on the 1977 NCAA Championship team, and was selected to the Associated Press’ NCAA All-America Team; selected to the All Southwest Conference Team and was the winner of multiple Collegiate Golf Championships.
As a Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur Player, Booker amassed a staggering number of awards, titles, and championships. Including winning a record 10 Texas Golf Association events and being voted Senior Texas Golf Association Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He also has claimed the Houston City Amateur and Senior Amateur Championship seven times.
The 2019 Hall Inductee in the Lifetime Achievement Category, Ewing III, has a rich history of philanthropic and title sponsorship work spanning decades.
A resident of Dallas, Texas, Ewing is the long-time title sponsor of The Project Shelter Pro-Am, which has raised more than $5 million dollars for the Genesis Women’s Shelter, a non-profit organization dedicated to the supporting abused women and children. He also has done extensive fundraising work for the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s Junior Tour, a non-profit organization with more than 4,000 Junior Tour members ages 7-19, and the Ewing Charity Classic which has raised more than $4 million in funds to support the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, an organization focused on the growth of the game.
The 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee in the Golf Professional/Teacher Category, Doan is a second-generation PGA professional. Doan won the PGA of America’s Bill Strausbaugh award in 2018, which is presented to PGA members who have shown outstanding integrity, commitment to mentoring PGA Professionals and make a significant impact on the careers of PGA Professionals.
Doan, a PGA Professional since 1994, and the Head Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, has proven to be a great mentor, having had eight former assistants become Head Professionals, and three former assistants becoming Directors of Instruction. He coached Rich Beem to three PGA Tour wins, including 2002 PGA Championship. He is also the co-founder of KidSwing, kids’ golf tournament that benefits Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, started in 2002, has raised more than $2 million in funds.
The 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee in the Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses, Shady Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth, completed in 1958 by Marvin Leonard, who also built the Colonial Golf Club in 1936. The legendary Ben Hogan was a founding member of Shady Oaks, stating at its opening “Shady Oaks is special and that there was no place like it anywhere, this one is my pet.”
Shady Oaks is home to the Ben Hogan Foundation, which funds charities, programs and scholarships that reflect Hogan’s core values. Multiple Shady Oaks Country Club members that are also members of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame include: Marvin Leonard, Ben Hogan, Bruce Devlin, Lindy Miller, Marty Leonard, John Grace, Dan Jenkins and Chad Campbell.
Shady Oaks also served as the host to the 2008 USGA US Senior Amateur Championship and the 2014 TGA Senior Amateur Championship as well as almost every Northern Texas PGA major event, and approximately 20 USGA qualifiers.
This will be the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s 10th class to be inducted since the Hall’s reconstitution in 2009. Public nominations made online were voted on by living Hall members, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and designated Texas golf media members.