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Five Elected to SDGA Golf Hall of Fame

The Board of Directors of the South Dakota Golf Association is pleased to announce the election of five new members to the South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame. An induction ceremony will be held at the SDGA Annual Banquet at 6 PM on Thursday, September 14 at the South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame, located at the Holiday Inn and Suites at 2040 West Russell Street in Sioux Falls. Those interested in attending can email hof@sdga.org or call 605-740-7085.

Tom Hendricks – Muscatine, IA
Dave Austad – Sioux Falls, SD
Rick Werner – Lexington, VA
Julie Jansa – Sioux Falls, SD
Ryan Jansa – Sioux Falls, SD

Tom Hendricks - Muscatine, IA

Tom Hendricks grew up in Yankton and played college golf at Black Hills State College, winning the 1975 NAIA District Championship and qualifying for the National Championship. From 1974-1978, Tom won two SDGA Match Play Championships and was a runner-up and semifinalist, and was SDGA Male Golfer of the Year in 1975. He has won three Amateur Championships and one Senior Amateur Championship at the Hillcrest Pro Am. Moving to Muscatine, Iowa, Tom won many championships at his home course, Geneva Golf & CC and the 2001 Iowa Father-Son Young Adult Division Championship. In addition to his playing accomplishments, “Taco Tom” has worked tirelessly to benefit the community through Muscatine Charities and the Taco John’s Youth Golf Classic, earning the high honor of Iowa Volunteer of the Year in 2016.

Dave Austad - Sioux Falls, SD

Dave Austad grew up in Sioux Falls, son of Oscar and Dorothy Austad. Oscar and Dorothy founded Austad’s Golf, a pioneer in the golf retail and mail order industries. Dave eventually became President of Austad’s Golf and has guided the company through myriad challenges, always ahead of the curve in a difficult business. Austad’s is consistently in the top 100 club fitters in the nation and has 10 retail stores in addition to an online store. Dave has also been instrumental in growing the game and helping the community through his service on numerous boards, including as President of the SDGA Junior Golf Foundation and First Tee—South Dakota and the Austad Family Foundation with his wife Denise.

Rick Werner - Lexington, VA

Rick grew up in Huron and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1973. In 1973, Rick won the SDGA Amateur Championship.  Also, in 1973 he was medalist in the North Central Conference Tournament and was named NCAA All-American that same year. Rick had two top 10 finishes in the National Club Pro Championship, and in 1979 won The Ohio PGA Sectional Championship. Rick is a Life Member of The PGA of America.  He was the Teaching Professional at the prestigious Quaker Ridge GC in Scarsdale, NY, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Ashland in Ohio and retired as Director of Golf at Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, Florida after 23 years of service.  Rick was also the Men’s Golf Coach at Washington & Lee University from 2007-2012.

To enhance his teaching skills, Rick spent quality time with outstanding instructors such as John Jacobs, Jim McLean, Gary Wiren, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Bob Toski, Davis Love, Jr., J.D. Turner and others. Over the years, Rick was fortunate to play numerous rounds of golf with Hall of Famers Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi.  Other notables who influenced his career were Jackie Burke, Jr., Byron Nelson, Charlie Sifford, Duane Clodfelter, Ara Parseghian, Dave Hanten, Curt & Tom Byrum, Hobe Richards, Jeff Burey and many others. Rick now resides in Lexington, VA with his wife Judy. 

Julie Jansa - Sioux Falls, SD

Julie Colville grew up in Cranbrook, British Columbia and won the BC Junior Championship before moving on to play for New Mexico State University where she met her future husband, Ryan Jansa. Moving with Ryan back to South Dakota, Julie worked as a golf professional at Elmwood and Prairie Green, and then after regaining her amateur status she amassed 12 SDGA Championships and 17 runner-up finishes. Julie’s passion for the game and youth development led her to working with First Tee, first as Executive Director in South Dakota and then as Regional Director for the national office. In 2021, Julie came back as the CEO of the SDGA Junior Golf Foundation and First Tee—South Dakota. Julie joins her husband Ryan and his father Steve in the SDGA Hall of Fame.

Ryan Jansa - Sioux Falls, SD

Ryan Jansa is the most decorated amateur golfer in South Dakota history, with 33 Championships, countless runner-up finishes, and a record seven SDGA Male Golfer of the Year awards. Ryan is a member of the Lincoln High School Hall of Fame and took his game to New Mexico State University where he was the 1995 Big West Champion. Ryan met his wife Julie while at NMSU and they moved back to Sioux Falls where he played professionally for several years, winning two Dakotas Tour events. Ryan joins his father Steve and wife Julie in the SDGA Hall of Fame.