Eastern Michigan Athletics
Spork Heads Inductees into the PGA of America Hall of Fame
9/10/2019 5:43:00 PM | Women's Golf
The 2019 class will be honored Nov. 5 at the PGA’s 103rd Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Famer and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) co-founder Shirley Spork will be adding another honor to her incredible list of career accomplishments. Spork was recently named one of the inductees into the 2019 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America Hall of Fame, the organization announced Sept. 4, 2019.
The 2019 class will be honored Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the PGA's 103rd Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla. The class includes: PGA Champions Dave Marr II and Davis Love III; women's golf legend Annika Sörenstam; former PGA President Derek Sprague; the late golf club designer and philanthropist Karsten Solheim; and Spork.
"We take great pride in welcoming this outstanding class into the PGA of America Hall of Fame," said PGA President Suzy Whaley. "They are some of the most inspiring and exceptional performers in golf. These honorees followed individual accomplishments by becoming ambassadors to grow the game. Their contributions have forever impacted the next generation of players in our sport. We proudly inscribe their names on an honor roll of those who have made golf the greatest game."
The first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
"It is very special and I'm glad I am included in that great group," said Spork at age 92.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour, but along the way realized she was still a teacher at heart. In 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
"I've been in just about every phase there is in the golf business, starting early and luckily getting a good college education," Spork said. "I was able to find a niche in the golf profession, the golf business."
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989. Among her honors are the 1994 Byron Nelson Award, the 1998 LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, membership in the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Division Hall of Fame in 2000 and being a 2002 inductee in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
Since 2017, the EMU women's golf team hosts a tournament in Spork's honor at EagleCrest Golf Club. This year's tournament is scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 on the par 72, 6,176-yard setup.
The 2019 class will be honored Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the PGA's 103rd Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla. The class includes: PGA Champions Dave Marr II and Davis Love III; women's golf legend Annika Sörenstam; former PGA President Derek Sprague; the late golf club designer and philanthropist Karsten Solheim; and Spork.
"We take great pride in welcoming this outstanding class into the PGA of America Hall of Fame," said PGA President Suzy Whaley. "They are some of the most inspiring and exceptional performers in golf. These honorees followed individual accomplishments by becoming ambassadors to grow the game. Their contributions have forever impacted the next generation of players in our sport. We proudly inscribe their names on an honor roll of those who have made golf the greatest game."
The first female inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 1981, Spork began her golf career early in life. She started playing with one club, a putter, at age 10. While attending then-MSNC, Spork won the Women's District Match Play Championship three times in four years. In 1947, she was the winner of the first-ever National Collegiate Championship held for women's athletics, plus she was the victor of the 1949 Michigan Amateur.
"It is very special and I'm glad I am included in that great group," said Spork at age 92.
After graduation, Spork became a teacher in the Detroit public schools, but realized she would much rather be playing golf. She turned professional in 1950 and played the tour, but along the way realized she was still a teacher at heart. In 1959 along with Marilynn Smith, Betty Hicks and Barbara Rotvig, she founded the LPGA's Teaching and Club Professional Division.
"I've been in just about every phase there is in the golf business, starting early and luckily getting a good college education," Spork said. "I was able to find a niche in the golf profession, the golf business."
Spork was the first LPGA professional to conduct golf clinics in foreign countries and was a two-time LPGA Teacher of the Year (1959, 1984). She was the chairperson of the LPGA T&CP Division from 1960-66, and received the Meritorious Service Award in 1989. Among her honors are the 1994 Byron Nelson Award, the 1998 LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, membership in the inaugural class of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Division Hall of Fame in 2000 and being a 2002 inductee in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
Since 2017, the EMU women's golf team hosts a tournament in Spork's honor at EagleCrest Golf Club. This year's tournament is scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 on the par 72, 6,176-yard setup.
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