SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 3, 2021) – The Texas Golf Hall of Fame announced today that the previously postponed formal 2020 induction dinner has been rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 9, 2021 and will be held at the River Crest Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas. The event was originally slated for October 2020 but was postponed as a cautionary measure due to COVID-19.
Last July 2020 the Hall announced its 2020 class of Inductees that are to be honored during this formal induction ceremony that is open to the public.
2020 Texas Hall of Fame Inductees:
• Professional Player: Angela Stanford
• Amateur Player: Hank Kuehne
• Lifetime Achievement: Verne Lundquist
• Golf Professional / Teacher: Mike Wright
• Golf Professional / Teacher: Dow Finsterwald, Jr.
• Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses: Oak Hills Country Club
In addition to the upcoming induction dinner, each of the Inductees has been commemorated on a granite marker on the prestigious Texas Golf Walk of Fame at historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course, in San Antonio Texas.
“We are very excited to finally give this class of inductees the celebration that they deserve!” said Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board Chairman, Reid Meyers. “These are extraordinary times, and we are fortunate to be able to slowly return to the normalcy of life. We hope you join us in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of this class to the State of Texas and the great game of Golf.”
Angela Stanford
The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Professional Player Category, Angela Stanford born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Angela Stanford won numerous junior Women’s Championships. Following graduation from Boswell High School in 1996, Angela enrolled at TCU. She won nine collegiate tournaments for the Horned Frogs, was a four-time All American, and a four-time All-Western Athletic selection. She was named Western Athletic Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Angela was also a member of the 2000 U.S. Curtis Cup Team. Angela turned professional in 2000, earning a victory on the Futures Tour at the season-ending event, and finished 4th at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status on the LPGA in 2001. Angela has 95 Top-10 finishes on the LPGA, including six Championships and one Major (2018 Evian Championship). She has played in six Solheim Cups and ranks 11th on the LPGA Career Money List. Angela created the Angela Stanford Foundation in 2009 to give scholarships to students who have been affected by cancer.
Hank Kuehne
The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Amateur Player Category, Henry “Hank” Kuehne II is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and a professional golfer who enjoyed some success on the PGA Tour. Born in Dallas, Texas, Hank’s father started him playing golf at a young age. Hank began his college career at Oklahoma State University but transferred to SMU. He earned All American honors three times, won the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and played on the U.S. Eisenhower Trophy Team in 1998. He has been inducted into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame, was ranked Golf Digest’s #1 World Amateur in 1999, and received numerous other Amateur titles and distinctions. Kuehne’s best finish on the PGA TOUR was a T-2 at both the 2003 Shell Houston Open and the 2005 John Deere Classic. In 2003, Hank won the TOUR’S Driving Distance title, unseating John Daly, who had won eight consecutive titles. Hank joins his sister Kelli, a former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and brother Trip, winner of the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur in the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Lingering back problems have prevented Hank from playing, but he remains involved in the game as an instructor.
Mike Wright
The first of two 2020 Hall Inductees in the Golf Professional/Teacher category is Mike Wright. At just 23 years old, Mike Wright was appointed as the Head Golf Professional at Shady Oaks, a Hall of Fame course. He had the unwavering support and emphatic endorsement of Ben Hogan. Now as the Shady Oaks Director of Golf, Mike has served the club for 36 years. Eleven of Mike’s assistants have been promoted to Head Professionals/General Manager positions. He co-founded the Ben Hogan Foundation, which has awarded over $835,000 in scholarships to deserving students and children of soldiers and is now breaking ground on a new learning center. Mike has received the highest honors as a merchandiser, teacher, and player. As an instructor, he has an enviable reputation from both the professional and amateur rank. He counts Angela Stanford, Gerina Piller, Chad Campbell, and Mark Brooks among his students. He has been a thoughtful, graceful representative of Ben Hogan’s legacy and his service to the PGA of America at both the section and national levels is admirable.
Dow Finsterwald, Jr.
The second of two 2020 Hall Inductees in the Golf Professional/Teacher category is Dow Finsterwald, Jr. Finsterwald Jr. is the son of PGA Champion Dow Finsterwald Sr., who won 11 PGA Titles and played on four Ryder Cup teams. Dow Jr. grew up working for his father at the Broadmoor Country Club caddying, working the driving range, and helping guests. After graduating from Arizona State in 1981, Dow was hired by Oak Tree Country Club in Oklahoma City as an Assistant Golf Professional. In 1987, his life changed dramatically when he was hired by Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas as its Head Golf Professional. Dow Jr. has been the host of 33 PGA TOUR events and a Women’s U.S. Open. He has won the Metro Chapter Championship (1990) and the Club Pro Championship (1991); he’s played in four Joe Black Cup Matches and has qualified for the Byron Nelson Championship and Colonial National Invitationals. Daily, Dow Jr. keeps busy with the 700 golf members at Colonial Country Club. Dow and his wife Mary Lou have two children, Dow the third and Katy, and two grandchildren.
Verne Lundquist
The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Lifetime Achievement Category, Verne Lundquist graduated from Austin High School and Texas Lutheran University. Verne now serves on TLU’s Board of Regents and has also given much of his time to various charities. After beginning his career in Austin, Verne went to Dallas as a sports anchor. He was an immediate success, and it wasn’t long before he was courted for the national stage. His career rocketed with ABC Sports, then CBS. From the NFL and the Olympics to SEC Football and PGA Golf, Verne’s achievements in broadcasting are legendary. Notably, it was Verne’s voice that richly illustrated, beautifully and timely, The Masters. The honors he has amassed during his career are numerous.
Oak Hills Country Club
The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses, Oak Hills Country Club is one of the oldest and most respected private member-owned country clubs in the country. Originally founded in 1922 as the Alamo Country Club, Oak Hills was designed by premier architect A.W. Tillinghast – perhaps the most prolific golf course designer of his time, with a course portfolio including Winged Foot, Baltusrol, and San Francisco Golf Club.
Tillinghast brought his vision of beauty and challenging play to life on the course, now regularly enjoyed by PGA, collegiate, and amateur players. Oak Hills has hosted 32 PGA TOUR events, including the inaugural PGA TOUR Championship, the USGA Jr. Amateur Championship, TGA Tournaments, and USGA Qualifiers.
This will be the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s 11th 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. As a reminder the Induction Dinner will take place at historic River Crest Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas on Monday, Aug. 9th. For tickets and sponsorship information please visit www.texasgolfhof.org/donate.
