After a successful career
as an LPGA Tour player and Solheim Cup captain, Judy Rankin moved closer to the
LPGA Hall of Fame as she was nominated by the Veteran's Committee for entry consideration.
The LPGA amended the entrance
criteria for the Hall of Fame last year to include a Veteran's Category for "outstanding
players from the past who had an extraordinary career and have positively impacted
women's professional golf."
As part of the new criteria,
the veteran's committee nominates one retired player each year to the LPGA Tournament
Division for consideration. Rankin must receive a 75 percent vote of the ballots
cast by the membership at the upcoming meeting on May 2 to gain entry.
"The Veteran's Committee
believes Judy Rankin was the perfect player to nominate to the Tour membership
for consideration for the Hall of Fame," veteran's committee chairman Judy Dickinson
said. "Judy is among the best players ever to have competed on tour and her 26
victories, coupled with numerous records, in our opinion signify a Hall of Fame
career."
Rankin won 26 tournaments
during her 22-year career, including seven victories in 1976. She garnered Player
of the Year honors in 1976-77, won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average
three times, and set an LPGA record with 25 top-10 finishes in 1977.
Rankin also captained the
United States to the Solheim Cup title in 1996 and 1998. She currently works
as an analyst for ABC and ESPN.
The criteria for gaining
entrance into the LPGA Hall of Fame as an active player also were amended last
year. Active players must accumulate a total of 27 Hall of Fame points based
on performance and a 10-year minimum for LPGA Tour membership.
There currently are 18
players in the LPGA Hall of Fame, with Sweden's Annika Sorenstam the latest to
qualify for entry after winning the Welch's/Circle K Championship earlier this
month.
