Parks, Recreation and Marine to Induct Three New Members into Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame
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Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame will welcome three new members – Larry Benson, Jeff Evans and Brett Lederer – during a public ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. The Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame was created by the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) in 1996 to recognize individuals who "left their mark on Golf in Long Beach."

"Congratulations to Larry Benson, Jeff Evans and Brett Lederer on their induction into the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This recognition honors excellence in golf, and these 2024 inductees are exemplary examples of leadership and commitment to the sport." - The Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will follow the conclusion of the Long Beach Open professional golf tournament at El Dorado Park Golf Course on Aug. 4, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

"The City of Long Beach has a rich tradition of good golf, good golfers, and great tournaments," said Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Bob Livingstone. "We want to acknowledge those people who were born or have lived in Long Beach and excelled at the game or made it better for those who play it. These inductees represent what is good about golf in general and golf in Long Beach in particular, and we are happy we can bring in another class in 2024."

"We are honored to welcome Larry, Jeff and Brett to the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame and acknowledge their wonderful achievements and enduring contributions to golf in Long Beach," said PRM Director Brent Dennis. "This exceptional group has not only demonstrated excellence on the course, but has also served as invaluable mentors and coaches, shaping the skills and passion of golfers at every level, from juniors through high school and beyond, to the professional arena. I extend my thanks to the Hall of Fame Committee members for their diligent and thoughtful efforts in recognizing these outstanding individuals."

Larry Benson grew up learning the game of golf in Long Beach, getting his first job as a range attendant at Skylinks Golf Course under fellow Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame member Frank Newell, Sr. He had a good junior and prep career winning the Lakewood and Los Alamitos Golf Course junior championships against much older players, was runner-up in the So Cal Junior Championship and was the number one player on the 1963 Millikan High School team that won the Boys' Team CIF Championship. He played for the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a four-year letterman and was named an Honorable Mention All-American in 1969. Following his college years, he served as a Lt. Junior Grade in the United States Navy. Larry worked as head Pro at several courses, including Heartwell, El Dorado and the Sepulveda courses in the City of Los Angeles. During his 37-year career as an active and now Life Member of the PGA of America, he eventually rose to be the Executive Vice President for Operations for Club Corporation of America (CCA) overseeing multiple facilities in the US. While the Head Professional at El Dorado Golf Course, he notably persuaded future World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples to turn pro on a whim at the Queen Mary Open after Couples arrived too late to register for the Amateur Qualifier; Fred and Larry are good friends to this day. Larry won the 1974 Southern California Assistant PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the Bob Hope Desert Classic, twice, and the Andy William San Diego Open in 1978 and 1979. Larry is now retired and living with wife Judi in North Carolina.

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Jeff Evans served as the head boys' and girls' golf coach at Wilson High School, garnering a storied tenure and, thanks to his coaching, produced 22 individual league champions. He was the head boys' golf coach from 2007-2019, and again in 2021, during which time the team won 14 Moore League Championships, two CIF Championships, and were undefeated in Moore League matches 146-0. He was the head girls' golf coach from 2006-2018, and again in 2021, guiding the team to 13 Moore League championships. Jeff was the 2015 California Coaches Association Boys' Golf Coach of the Year; has been named Boys' Golf Coach of the Year seven times and Girls' Golf Coach of the Year five times by the Long Beach Press Telegram; and was named the Long Beach Century Club High School Coach of the Year in 2017. He was also the boy's golf team head coach at St. John Bosco High School from 2001 to 2006 and served on the CIF Southern Section Golf Advisory Committee for 15 years. As a player, he was the Skylinks Men's Club champion in 2001 and played on the Skylinks team that won Southern California Public Links Golf Association Team Championship in 2000 and 2005. He also played on the Southern California Professional League Golf Association (SCPLGA) team that won the 2007 Southwest Team Championship. Jeff is also committed to giving back to the Long Beach golf community: He is a volunteer golf instructor for Little Linksters and weekly Long Beach Junior Golf League group lessons, being named the MPV in 1999, and has volunteered with the Long Beach Golf Festival for 13 years.

Brett Lederer is a California State University, Long Beach golf team alumni who played professionally for 12 years before establishing himself as a renowned golf instructor and coach out of Virginia Country Club. Born in Long Beach, he played with the Long Beach Junior Golf Association as a youth, winning the 1998 and 1999 LB Junior Championship and the 2001 Knabe Cup. He excelled on the Mayfair High School golf team, where he was the Suburban League champion in 2002. He served as team captain for Long Beach State, where he was a four-year letter winner, including the team's first Big West Team Championship in 31 years in 2004, and he won the men's Big West individual championship in 2007. The individual championship capped a college career that included being named First Team All-Conference in 2004 and 2007, receiving Honorable Mention in 2005, and being named Second Team All-Conference in 2006. In 2003 and 2007 he won the Long Beach Men's City Stroke Play Championship before making his pro debut in the Long Beach Open. He played on the Golden State Tour from 2007-09, and on the Nationwide Tour in 2010, securing a top-10 finish at the WNB Golf Classic. Much of his professional career was spent on the Adams Tour, winning the 2008 Rising Star Open and earning three second place and four third-place finishes, as well as on the PGA Tour Canada, where he earned three top-10 finishes and 17 top-25 finishes over six seasons. He maintained Korn Ferry Tour status for five years and made nine cuts in 23 starts over two seasons.

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For the past five years, Brett has been coaching full-time at Virginia Country Club, giving lessons to dozens of Club members as well as some notable professional students including TJ Vogel, who had a win on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022, and Lilia Vu, who won four times on the LPGA Tour in 2023, rising to be the number one ranked woman player in the world, and captured her first and second women's major championships at the AIG British Open and the Chevron Championship. He has also recently begun working with Gabi Ruffles who is a leading contender for 2024 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. - This year's induction brings the total number of honorees to 94. More information on the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame and its members is available on the PRM webpage.

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