Official Kick-Off for Shriners Hospitals for Children Open - The 2016 Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Inductees have been announced and the public is invited. For more info visit LasVegasGolfHOF.com.
For the fifth-consecutive year, the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction is the first official event of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
The 5 new inductees for 2016 are long drive legend Mike Dunaway (1955-2014), developer, benefactor and course owner Irwin Molasky, golf course superintendent and volunteer Bill Rohret and PGA TOUR player Dean Wilson.
The enshrinement will be on Friday, October 28, in the The Hill at TPC Summerlin. The public is invited to support their favorite inductee or the entire class. Tickets can be purchased at www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com.
“We at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open are honored to once again host the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction. It is now a tradition during tournament week,” said Patrick Lindsey, Tournament Director for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
“It is another worthy class of inductees who have done so much for the game of golf in this area. Part of our mission is to help promote golf in Las Vegas and this special event is a nice extension to our tournament.”
Class of 2016
Mike Dunaway (1955-2014) was the epitome oflong driving for show and earning dough for it. Dunaway, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 59, was one of the biggest of hitters and a cornerstone for the Long Drivers of America, which was created by fellow Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famer Art Sellinger.
Dunaway was the founder of the “350 Club”, created for guys who could hit it 350 yards in long drive competitions who traveled the country performing legendary exhibitions.
Dunaway was also the “swing model” for the original Callaway Golf Big Bertha driver as he worked directly with Ely Callaway on the creation of the club. Dunaway was introduced to Callaway by fellow Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famer Bill Walters.
Bill Rohret has been in the golf course business for more than 44 years, 27 of those with superintendent experience in Las Vegas. He got his start with fellow Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famer Jim Colbert as Rohret moved to Vegas from Iowa and spent his first 10 years working with the Colbert brand.
Rohret worked at many Vegas courses including Desert Rose, Stallion Mountain, Angel Park and The Legacy. In fact, even in retirement he’s still at it as he’s a spray technician at Highland Falls Golf Club.
He also was twice elected as the president of the Southern Nevada Golf Course Superintendent’s Association. He is also a dedicated volunteer for the Special Olympics as a past Southwest Section PGA of America Southern Nevada Chapter Person of the Year.
Irwin Molasky, along with his partners, developed Winterwood (now Desert Rose) and Stardust Country Club (now Las Vegas National) golf courses as well as the communities around the courses. He also helped bring the Las Vegas Country Club to prominence.
He also was on the ground floor in bringing the LPGA Championship to Las Vegas from 1961 to 1966 as well as the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions event in 1953. He was also a member of the Las Vegas Founders Club and a supporter of the UNLV golf program.
Molasky and his partners also built Sunrise Hospital. Molasky also helped create the UNLV Foundation and was a partner in Lorimar Productions, one of the top production companies in Hollywood with hits such as Dallas and Knots Landing.
Dean Wilson lived in Las Vegas for more than 10 years, enjoying most of his success on the PGA Tour during that time span. Wilson has earned more than $8.9 million on the PGA Tour and played in 262 Tour events with his lone victory coming at The International in Colorado in 2006. He also has two runner-up finishes.
Wilson helped make PGA Tour history in 2003 when he was paired with the LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam in the Bank of America Colonial. Sorenstam joined Babe Didrikson Zaharias (58 years earlier) as women who have competed on the PGA Tour.
About the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame:
The mission of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame is to celebrate and bring awareness to players, administrators, benefactors, groups, instructors, teams, and other worthy golfers who have served the game of golf in Las Vegas in a positive and meaningful way; whether through performance on the course, volunteerism, financial support, promotion, or other dedicated service.
An additional aspect of the mission is to help reveal Las Vegas as a great golf destination and has done this by hosting international media at the home exhibit.
The museum-quality exhibit in the clubhouse of Las Vegas National Golf Club features an in-depth Las Vegas golf time line, historic photos, and a special area honoring the Las Vegas Founders Club that features the official trophies used by Las Vegas’ PGA Tour and Champions Tour events.
The museum is open and free to the public during regular Club hours. A 16-person committee made up of Las Vegas golf professionals, media, amateur association leaders, and Hall of Fame members, oversees the voting process. www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com
Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Inductees with Class Year: Frank Acker, 2014; Tommy Armour III, 2008; Craig Barlow, 2011; Charlie Baron, 2010; Jerry Belt, 1991; Voss Boreta, 2015; Jimmie Bullard, 2009; Helen Cannon, 2004; James Cashman, Jr., 1998; Barb Christensen, 2015; Clyde Cobb, 1991; James Colbert, 2002; Mike Davis, 2015; John Difloure, 2014; Eddie Draper, 2004; Eric Dutt, 2008; Brady Exber, 2006; Jerry Foltz, 2015; Edward Fryatt, 2009; Brenda Knott, 2013; Las Vegas Founders, 2004; Robert Gamez, 2002; Butch Harmon, 2006; Ernest Haupt, 1998; Charley Hoffman, 2012; Richard Huff, 2004; Laurie Johnson, 2011; Joe Kelly, 2010; Dwaine Knight, 2009; Stephanie Louden, 2015; Bob May, 2013; Don "Mac" McCoy, 2012; Ryan Moore, 2012; Ray Norvel, 2013; Doug Pool, 2015; Louis Redden, 2008; Stuart Reid, 1991; Chris Riley, 2004; Jerry Roberts, 2008; Art Sellinger, 2011; Jack Sheehan, 2009; Tom Storey, 2006; Charlie Teel, 1991; Tournament of Champions, 2010; 1997-98 UNLV Golf Team, 2002; Valley View Golf Club, 2012; C. Pat Walker, 1998. Bill Walters, 2013.
About the 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open:
The 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open brings the FedExCup to Las Vegas as the PGA TOUR returns to the Las Vegas valley for the 34th consecutive year.
Many of the top golfers in the world will participate in the competition and help support the mission of Shriners Hospitals for Children® from Oct. 31 – Nov. 6 at TPC Summerlin. For more information, visit shrinershospitalsopen.com.
About the PGA TOUR:
The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 30 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving.
In 2015, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $160 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.3 billion.
The PGA TOUR's website is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
# # # # #
For More Information about the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open:
Kirvin Doak Communications
702.737.3100
shco@kirvindoak.com
For More Information about the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame:
Brian Hurlburt
702.497.3003
bhurlburt5@gmail.com
____________________________________
Brought to You by PRonlineNews
"The Golfers Voice of Twitter"
"The Golfers Voice of Twitter"
