Maryland Golf Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Induction Class

(Lutherville, Md. February 4, 2026) - Nine distinguished figures in Maryland Golf will be inducted into the Maryland Golf Hall of Fame on April 21, 2026, at Chevy Chase Club. This will be the fourth class inducted into the Maryland Golf Hall of Fame. 

Helen Dettweiler - A Washington, D.C. native and member of Manor Country Club and Congressional Country Club, Dettweiler was one of the founding members of the LPGA and served as its first vice president, while also earning recognition as the LPGA’s first Teacher of the Year in 1958. Her prominence in building women’s professional golf earned her recognition as a 2022 inductee to the LPGA Hall of Fame and a 2024 inductee to the World Golf Hall of Fame.  A dominant amateur and professional golfer and a long hitter by the standards of her era, she was a multiple-time Maryland State Amateur Champion, the 1937 Women’s District Champion, and the 1939 Women’s Western Open Champion. During World War II, she served as a cryptographer and was one of only 17 women selected to fly B-17 bombers as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

Fred Funk - A native of Takoma Park, Maryland, is one of the most accomplished golfers in the state’s history. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Funk served as the Terrapins’ golf coach from 1982 to 1988 and was a two-time Maryland Open Champion before joining the PGA TOUR in 1989. Over his TOUR career, he played in 650 events, made 452 cuts, recorded eight victories, highlighted by his win at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2005. Funk later enjoyed remarkable success on the PGA TOUR Champions, earning nine victories.  Funk represented the USA in a Ryder Cup and two Presidents’ Cups.  He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame, the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Middle Atlantic Golf Association Hall of Fame.  Funk has also made a lasting impact off the course through the Fred Funk Family Scholarship Fund.

Sarah LeBrun Ingram - Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in U.S. history, Ingram compiled an exceptional competitive record in Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region, and nationally. A Green Spring Valley Hunt Club member and two-time All-American at Duke University, she dominated Middle Atlantic competition, winning multiple Maryland State Golf Association and Middle Atlantic Golf Association championships. Her national resume includes three victories at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship (1991, 1993, 1994), numerous appearances representing the United States in Curtis Cup and World Amateur Team competitions, and a No. 1 world amateur ranking in 1993 by Golf Digest, Golfweek, and Golf World. She later took on leadership roles, serving twice as captain of victorious U.S. Curtis Cup teams.

Edward A. Johnston - Widely regarded as one of Maryland’s most accomplished amateur golfers and a lifelong leader in the administration of the game. A Baltimore native, Johnston compiled an extraordinary competitive record spanning more than five decades, winning multiple Maryland State Junior and Father-Son Championships, capturing club championships at Country Club of Maryland and Baltimore Country Club, and qualifying for 17 USGA championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur, and U.S. Senior Open. Beyond competition, Johnston made a lasting impact through service, including serving as president of the Maryland State Golf Association, president and longtime general counsel to the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, and a leader within the Society of Seniors. Inducted into the Baltimore University Athletic Hall of Fame and Middle Atlantic Golf Association Hall of Fame, Johnston was widely respected as a fierce competitor, dedicated administrator, and complete gentleman whose influence on the game in Maryland and beyond remains enduring.

Clark MacKenzie - A lifelong steward of amateur golf, Clark MacKenzie’s remarkable career spans more than seven decades as a champion player, respected leader, and philanthropist. A tournament winner from age 12 through nearly 80, he has competed and succeeded at the high school, collegiate, national, and international levels, including a victory in the 1966 Maryland Amateur at The Elkridge Club. A longtime member of Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, MacKenzie chaired the 1999 USGA Girls’ Junior Championship, founded the Mackenzie Cup Invitational in honor of his father, established the Rees Jones Award, sponsored and co-authored four books with Hall of Famer John Stewart, and through his real estate expertise and generosity, played a pivotal role in making the MSGA’s new headquarters a reality. He also served in numerous leadership roles with the United States Seniors’ Golf Association, including four years as international team captain, and was honored with the organization’s highest recognition, the William C. Campbell Award.

Jane Mason - A distinguished competitor, leader, and advocate for women’s golf, Jane is a two-time Maryland State Amateur Champion and 11-time Mid-Atlantic Golf Association Champion. A graduate of the University of Maryland, her playing career includes 13 Green Hill Women’s Club Championships, 12 Delmarva Peninsula Golf Association Championships, and 10 victories at the Annual Pepsi Invitational at Green Hill. She qualified for the USGA Girls’ Junior Championship at age 16 and the USGA Senior Women’s Championship, finishing ninth. Beyond competition, Jane was a founding force in Maryland women’s golf, serving as Vice President of the inaugural MSGA - Women’s Division Board and later as its second President, helping negotiate the formation of the MSGA-WD and guiding the creation of the Maryland Women’s Open in 1999. Her service includes work as a USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Committee member and Rules Official. Her impact has been recognized with induction into the Middle Atlantic Golf Association and the Eastern Shore Golf Halls of Fame, as well as the MSGA-WD Distinguished Service Award in 2008.

Larry Ringer - A highly respected golf professional whose exceptional playing career and decades of service have left a lasting mark on the game in the Middle Atlantic region and beyond. A Middle Atlantic PGA Hall of Fame inductee (2011), Ringer won 20 MAPGA Championships, earned multiple Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year honors, and competed on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, including appearances in PGA Championships, U.S. Opens, and U.S. Senior Opens. A Maryland native, he began playing golf at age 11 and went on to earn All-America honors at Murray State University, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1967. Ringer served as Head PGA Professional and Golf Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for 15 years and later held leadership roles at several clubs.  Equally distinguished for his service, he has held numerous leadership positions within the Middle Atlantic PGA, including Northern Chapter President and Tournament Chair, and has been recognized for his unwavering dedication to the profession, mentorship of young professionals, and lifelong commitment to growing the game.

Joan Winchester - One of the most accomplished female golfers in Maryland history, highlighted by four Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) Women’s Amateur Championships and two additional runner-up finishes, along with three Baltimore Metropolitan titles and two MSGA Senior Women’s Championships. Her remarkable competitive resume also includes a 1970 MSGA Mixed Two-Ball Championship and an extraordinary 16 club championships at Rolling Road Golf Club spanning more than three decades. Following her success on the course, Joan continued to give back to the game as an inaugural member of the Maryland State Women’s Division Board, a member of the USGA Regional Affairs Committee, and President of the MSGA Women’s Division from 2002-03.

Jack Vardaman - A distinguished amateur golfer, respected leader in the game, and accomplished attorney whose impact extended well beyond the fairways. A member of several of the nation’s most prestigious clubs, including Congressional Country Club, Vardaman enjoyed an exceptional competitive career highlighted by multiple club championships, Mid-Atlantic Senior Amateur titles, state and regional senior championships, and appearances in USGA championships, including the U.S. Mid-Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur, and U.S. Senior Open. Jack was more influential off the course. He served on the USGA Executive Committee and as USGA General Counsel for many years, and was a longtime champion of youth golf, creating and supporting scholarships, and was a very impactful Board Chairman of the First Tee - Greater Washington, D.C.

For information about the Maryland Golf Hall of Fame, please visit marylandgolfhalloffame.org, and for ticket information, contact Kevin Crowley at kcrowley@msga.org