World Golf Hall of Fame Set to Welcome New Class

Several World Golf Hall of Fame members will reunite on Monday, November 14th to welcome inductees Ayako Okamoto and Karrie Webb, and those being inducted posthumously, Bernard Darwin, Alister MacKenzie and Willie Park Sr., into the Hall of Fame as the Class of 2005. The ceremony will be broadcast in the United States on The Golf Channel at 9:30 p.m. ET.

"We look forward to welcoming an esteemed international group of deserving individuals into the Hall of Fame next month," said Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. "The stories of this year's class – along with the Hall of Fame members and special guests who are planning to attend – will make for an exciting and important evening in the sport's history."

Hall of Fame members participating in the ceremony include Beth Daniel, who will introduce Okamoto, elected on the International ballot. Ben Crenshaw will present and accept on behalf of MacKenzie, a Lifetime Achievement selection, and Tony Jacklin will do the same for Park Sr., the Veteran's category selection.

Former LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw will present Webb, who qualified for the Hall of Fame through the LPGA Point System. Other special guests include John Hopkins, who shares the same role as lead golf writer at The Times of London that Darwin held for more than 45 years. Hopkins will present and accept on his predecessor's behalf. Darwin also was a Lifetime Achievement category selection.

PGA Tour Commissioner and World Golf Foundation Chairman Timothy W. Finchem and LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Vesper Bivens will address the current state of the golf industry.

Fran Charles, studio host of USA Network's golf coverage and weekly golf show, PGA Tour Sunday, will host this year's Induction Ceremony. Charles' resume includes work for HBO and NBC Sports, as well as for local network affiliates in New York and Boston.

For more information about the 2005 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, call 904/940-4123 (International 001-904-940-4123) or visit www.wgv.com.