Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1996
Larry Ringer was a dominating golfer at MSU from 1965 to 1967. He set a school record that remains unbroken today, and his talent and hard work took him to the next level in 1973 when he entered the professional tour.
However, Ringer almost missed his opportunity that Ringer had to play golf at MSU.
After transferring to MSU from a junior college in Maryland, Ringer became homesick and almost left Murray to return home. In fact, he would have returned home if it was not have been for golf coach Buddy Hewitt.
“Buddy was a friend and a second father to me,” Ringer said. “He helped me not only mature, but deal with being away from home. He was really the reason I stayed.”
Today, Ringer and Hewitt still keep in touch and play golf together.
Ringer was rewarded for his decision to stay by earning All-American honors in 1967, and he was part of an MSU squad that finished second in the OVC that year. He was later named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
“When I won the first MSU Invitational individual title in 1966 (68-67-69-204, believed to be the lowest three round total in MSU history), it helped convince me that I could play on the college level,” he said.
Ringer still holds the school record for the lowest 54-hole score with a 204 (68-67-69).
Tied for ninth (71-68-72-78-289) in the NCAA Championship held at Murray State, when the team placed second.
He graduated with a degree in business administration and returned to Maryland after graduation. He admits he did not want to leave college life.
Since joining the professional golf tour in 1973, Ringer has worked as a golf coach, golf professional and school teacher.
He currently serves as a PGA golf professional at the Country Club of Woodmore in Mitchellville, Md., and is a full-time player on the Senior Series Tour and a part-time player on the Senior PGA Tour.
“Everything I have done and accomplished is because my family has supported me in my quest to play golf,” Ringer said. I began playing golf at age 10 after watching my father. It was a challenge to me, but I got lucky and worked hard at it.” (The Murray State News, October 4, 1996, Staff Report)
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