06/03/2026
This year’s NYSGA Hall of Fame class spans more than a century of New York golf, from Devereux Emmet’s turn-of-the-century course design influence to multi-decade competitive careers and PGA Tour success. Meet the class 👇
⛳ Gail Purdy Brophy — A two-time NYS Women's Amateur Champion (1961 & 1963) and two-time Women's Super Senior Amateur Champion (2007 & 2008), the Glens Falls native also made the cut in two U.S. Women's Opens and was dubbed a "Golfing Superhero" by the Times-Union.
⛳ George Burns III — The Brooklyn native won the 1974 NYS Men's Amateur, represented the U.S. in the 1975 Walker Cup, and went on to a decorated PGA Tour career spanning 571 events, 4 wins, and a runner-up finish at the 1981 U.S. Open.
⛳ Gail Sykes Clayton — The Schenectady native won both the NYS Girls' Junior Amateur (1964) and U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur (1965) before a long career in coaching, and is honored today by the Northeastern Women's Golf Association's "The Sykes" better ball tournament.
⛳ Devereux Emmet — A legendary Long Island course architect who designed over 150 courses worldwide during golf's golden age, leaving an enduring mark on New York State through iconic designs including Bethpage State Park (Green), Leatherstocking, and McGregor Links.
⛳ Mike Hulbert — The Horseheads native became a two-time All-American at ETSU before competing on the PGA Tour for 22 seasons, winning four times including the 1986 FedEx St. Jude Classic, and later serving as a 2002 Ryder Cup Captain's Assistant and CBS rules analyst.
⛳ Charlie Murphy — The Albany native dominated NYS amateur golf for 30 consecutive years, winning the inaugural NYS Men's Mid-Amateur Championship in 1984 and claiming six titles each in the Eastern New York Golf Association Championship and Tri-County Stroke Play Championship.
⛳ Billy Shields — A three-time NYS Men's Amateur Champion (1951, '52 & '55), Shields also made the cut at the 1951 Masters and appeared in the U.S. Open, cementing his place among only seven players to win the NYS Men's Amateur at least three times.
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