Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame Adds Four New Members

Franklin, Tenn.—The Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame has added four new members. The Tennessee Golf Foundation approved the induction of Ann Baker Furrow, Connie Day (posthumously), Joe Campbell, and Bobby Greenwood. The induction of Furrow, and Day will be conducted in Maryville, Tennessee during the 2007 Tennessee Women's Amateur Championship. The date and location for Greenwood, and Campbell's induction is not yet determined.

Ann Baker Furrow greatly affected Tennessee golf on and off the course. Furrow was a five time Tennessee Women's Amateur Champion with victories in the event spanning nearly 20 years. Along with her championships, Furrow placed second in the 1962 USGA Amateur Championship. She was recognized as the top-ranked junior golfer in the United States. Ann was the first female to participate in a men's varsity sport at the University of Tennessee, competing for the golf team in 1964 and 1965.

In 1991 she played a major role in the establishment of a varsity women's golf team at UT. Through her dedication to the program, she was able to raise more than $2 million toward fully endowing the team. Ann Furrow is known for being a leader on the leader board and in the community.

Connie Day was a lifelong resident of Cleveland, Tennessee. Day is a four-time champion and a three-time runner-up in the Tennessee Women's Amateur Championship. In 1993 Connie claimed the State Senior Amateur Championship. She was recognized as one of the top female amateurs in the country by Golf Digest in 1966, and appeared on the cover of Golf World Magazine in April 1967. She was exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open for two years, and was an alternate on the Curtis Cup team in 1966 and 1970.

Connie is remembered for her great golfing ability, her integrity in the business world, and her friendship. Connie Day passed away on August 30, 2002.

Before joining the PGA Tour in 1959, Joe Campbell established one of the nation's most outstanding amateur golf records. Campbell was a standout golfer and basketball player at Purdue University. He won the 1955 NCAA Championship, along with the 1956 and 1957 Big Ten Conference Championships. A win at the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur in 1955 added to his impressive golf resume. Campbell competed in the Masters in 1956, 1957, and 1958 as an amateur. After college, Campbell made his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. During his eight-year career on the PGA Tour, Joe compiled 103 Top 25s, 43 Top 10s, and won three tournaments. He received Golf Digest's Rookie of the Year Award in 1959.

From 1965 to 1972 Campbell won five State PGA titles. In the 1965 State Open, Joe shot a record 204, twelve under par, breaking the previous low of 207. Campbell became the golf professional at Knoxville's Whittle Springs in 1967 and remained there in 1974 before moving back to Indiana.

Bobby Greenwood was introduced to golf at Cookeville Country Club at the age of twelve. During the 1960s there was no better amateur player in Tennessee. Greenwood won the 1966 State Amateur and the 1968 State Open, becoming the third of eight golfers to accomplish this double. Greenwood became one of seven players to win the Sunnehanna Amateur multiple times, winning the event in 1965 and 1968.

Golf Magazine ranked him among the nation‚s Top 10 amateurs twice. From 1969 through 1975, Bobby played on the PGA Tour. He made seventy-two cuts and compiled six Top 10 finishes and fifteen Top 25s. Greenwood had a busy career in golf off the course as well. He served as director of golf at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; was a design coordinator for Golden Bear International; was president of his own golf course architectural firm and the designer with Kevin Tucker of Fairfield Glade's Dorchester course; was editor-in-chief of one of Tennessee's first golf publications, Nifty Knicker; and was a partner in a golf school operation and a discount golf shop.

For more information on the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame call (615) 790-7600 or visit the Golf House website at www.golfhousetennessee.com.