Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Former PGA Pro Named Golf Coach

Long-time professional golfer Joe Inman, who has enjoyed success on the PGA and Champions Tours, has been named the Georgia State men’s golf coach, Director of Athletics Mary McElroy announced.

Inman, a Marietta resident, takes over a program that has reached the NCAA Regionals 10 of the last 11 years. He replaces Matt Clark, who moved to UNC Wilmington.

Spanning more than 25 years, Inman’s pro playing career includes four victories, one on the PGA Tour and three on the Champions Tour. He had nearly 100 Top 25 finishes on each circuit, and his career earnings total over $5 million.

“Joe Inman is the right person to take over the Georgia State golf program and take it to the next level,” said McElroy. “He brings instant recognition and credibility in the golf community and in the Atlanta area, which raises the profile of Georgia State golf. He is a perfect fit because of abilities as a teacher and recruiter, combined with his energy and passion for working with young people and promoting the game of golf.”

Inman’s career on the PGA Tour saw him play in 329 events, highlighted by a victory in the 1976 Kemper Open. He also posted three runner-up finishes and four third-place showings on the PGA Tour, along with 32 top 10 performances and 98 finishes in the top 25.

After working as a sales representative for PING from 1989-97, Inman began playing on the Champions Tour in 1998. He owns three tournament titles, winning the Pacific Bell Open in 1999 and 1999 and the SBC Open in 2000. He also compiled two runner-up finishes, three third-place efforts, 33 top-10 showings and 88 top-25 performances while missing only seven cuts in 276 events on the senior circuit.

Inman has been heavily involved in community and charitable activities, particularly in the Atlanta area. He serves on the board of directors of First Tee Atlanta, and he founded the Larry Nelson-Joe Inman Foundation to support youth golf initiatives.

As a collegian, Inman was a three-time all-America at Wake Forest, earning first-team honors in 1969 following second-team accolades in 1968 and honorable mention recognition in 1967. Playing on powerhouse teams under legendary coach Jesse Haddock, Inman helped the Demon Deacons to three straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and top-three NCAA finishes in 1968 and 1969. His college teammates included future PGA Tour standouts Lanny Wadkins and Leonard Thompson.

He graduated from Wake Forest in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in history and turned pro in 1972.

Inman, 60, and his wife, Nancy, have three children: Craig, Sally and Kate. His younger brother, John Inman, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who is now the head coach at North Carolina.

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