HURON — Huron native Rick Werner is one of five individuals included in the 2023 class of inductees for the South Dakota Golf Association Hall of Fame.

An induction ceremony will be held at the SDGA Annual Banquet at 6 p.m. on Sept. 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.

Also in the 2023 class of inductees are Tom Hendricks,  Muscatine, IA; Dave Austad, Sioux Falls; Julie Jansa, Sioux Falls; and Ryan Jansa, Sioux Falls.

Werner grew up in Huron and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1973. He served as captain for the Coyotes golf team from 1972-1973.  

In 1973, Werner won the SDGA Stroke Play Championship. He was also the medalist in the North Central Conference Tournament that year.

Werner went on to place 15th in the NCAA Championship in California and was named NCAA All-American that same year.

Werner competed in 10 national championships and recorded a pair of top-10 finishes in the National Club Pro Championship with over 300 contestants.  

In 1979, Werner won the Ohio PGA Sectional Championship. Over the years, he was low professional in several South Florida Pro-Am Tournaments and set three course records in Ohio and Florida with scores of 62, 63 and 63.

Werner is a Life Member of The PGA of America. He was the Teaching Professional at the prestigious Quaker Ridge GC in Scarsdale, N.Y., Director of Golf at the Country Club of Ashland in Ohio and retired as Director of Golf at Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, Fla., after 23 years of service.

Werner was also the men’s golf coach at Washington and Lee University from 2007-2012.

To enhance his teaching skills, Werner 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, Werner 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 Byrum, Tom Byrum, Hobe Richards, Jeff Burey and many others.  

Werner now resides in Lexington, Va., with his wife, Judy.