Carolinas Hall of Fame to Honor Two Professionals

The Carolinas PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame will enshrine two new members on February 17, 2008. Robert M. (Bob) Boyd and Rod Myers will be honored for their accomplishments and contributions to golf and to the Carolinas PGA (CPGA) Section. Only the 37th and 38th PGA professionals to receive the honor since the CPGA Hall of Fame was established in 1981, Boyd and Myers were selected by the Carolinas PGA Selection Committee after being nominated by their peers.

"It is a distinct honor to honor Bob Boyd and Rod Myers with a permanent home in the Carolinas PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame," said Rick Murphy, Carolina PGA President. "To have been an ordinary 'good' PGA professional is not enough to be voted into our Hall of Fame. We seek honorees that have demonstrated ability, interest, and service beyond the expected and both Boyd and Myers have shown these characteristics throughout their PGA professional careers."

Boyd will be remembered for his extraordinary success on the golf course since joining the Carolinas PGA section in 1978. The native of Wilmington, N.C., was named the CPGA Player of the Year in 1988, '89, '92, '93, '98, '99 and 2002, and recorded 22 CPGA major championships during his career. Boyd also captured four CPGA Section championships, four Carolina Open championships, five South Carolina Open championships and 17 CPGA Team titles.

During his 27-year playing career, Boyd competed on the PGA Tour and the European Senior Tour, where he captured the Senior Open of Spain in 2005. Boyd also participated in 10 PGA Championships, five U.S. Opens and was a member of the 1990 and 2000 PGA Cup Team.

To honor his competitive spirit, winning attitude and professionalism, the CPGA PGA Professional selected annually as the top player in the section will receive the "CPGA Bob Boyd Player of the Year" award, starting in 2008.

The 52-year-old Boyd is a life member of the PGA of America and has worked with golf clubs in Pinehurst, Charleston, Isle of Palms, Florence, Hilton Head and Wilmington.

"When I first got the call from CPGA President Rick Murphy to tell me that I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the first thing that ran through my mind was what a tremendous honor to be recognized by my peers," said Boyd. "I've known and competed against many of the members of the Hall of Fame in the past. They are a great group of golfers, and to have my name included with them is very special to me."

Myers achieved many personal and professional milestones during his life, but will be perhaps remembered best for his contributions to help shape the future of thousands of young golfers. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan in 1961, Myers became the head coach at Ohio State University for seven seasons before taking over the Duke men's golf team in 1974. During his 34 years with the Blue Devils, Myers guided Duke to 30 tournament victories, one ACC Championship and seven NCAA Championship appearances. In 2005, he was selected as the ACC Coach of the Year and Golfweek's National Coach of the Year after leading Duke to its first ACC Championship since 1966 and a school-record eighth place tie at the NCAA Championships.

While at Duke, Myers coached 16 All-Americas, nine Academic All-Americas, 24 All-ACC selections and three ACC individual champions. In 2007, the golf training center was named after him and an endowed athletic scholarship was created in his honor.

During his 37 years as a PGA of America member, Myers was a Master PGA Professional, served on the staff of the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, was a member of the PGA Rules Committee and officiated at every Masters Championship from 1995-2003. A PGA professional while at Ohio State, Myers was a former president and treasurer of the Golf Coaches Association of America and a former chairman of the NCAA Golf Committee and the USGA Rules Committee.

In 2007, Myers received the Labron Harris, Sr. Award, which is presented to the college or high school coach and PGA professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game and represent the finest qualities the game has to offer. Myers was inducted into Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in May of 1986, and was also named to the Ohio Wesleyan Sports Hall of Fame and the Springfield (Ohio) High School Hall of Fame.

The Springfield, Ohio, native passed away March 30, 2007, at the age of 67, after a battle with an acute form of leukemia. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, three daughters and five grandchildren.

Other Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame members include:

2002 - Bill Clemmer, Will Mann
2001 - Hamp Auld and Gene Hamm
2000 - D. Sherrill Austin and Norman Flynn
1999 - Henry Poe and Bruce Sudderth
1998- Jim Ferree and Don Padgett
1997 - Joe Davis and Roger Watson
1996 - Buck Adams and E. Harvie Ward
1995 - Gary Schaal and Luke Veasey
1994 - Tommy Card , Joe Cheves and Palmer Maples
1993 - Ed Bullock, Charles Farlow, Al Goodrich and Melvin Hamphill
1992 - Aubrey Apple, Sr.
1991 - Joe Ellis Maples
1985 - Grant Bennett, J. Fairley Clark and Orville White
1984 - Jimmy D'Angelo
1983 - Purvis Ferree and Clayton Heafner
1982 - Johnny Palmer
1981 - Dugan Aycock, Henry Picard and Donald Ross