Dave Ryan

Dave Ryan graduated from Taylorville High School in 1972. He was an outstanding member of the Tornadoes Golf Team for three years and has gone on to become one of the best golfers in central Illinois. Ryan will be inducted into the Taylorville High School Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet to be held in the auditorium of St. Vincent’s Memorial Hospital on Saturday, April 17, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.    As a member of the high school golf team Dave Ryan was the team leader both on and off the course. He led the tornadoes to a six and one season his senior year and was medalist in all six of those wins.    After graduation, Ryan continued playing golf and participated in many amateur events thought the state of Illinois. He has most recently become a dominant player in the Central Illinois Amateur Golf Tour. Last year he won five titles out of six events and finished in first place in point standings. Because of his consistency and competitiveness, Ryan was selected as the Illinois State Journal Register’s “Central Illinois Player of the Year” for 2003. This was the eighth time he had earned that honor.    He also was winner of the Illinois Mid-Amateur last spring and finish fourth in the Illinois State Amateur Golf Championship. He capped the 2003 season by being chosen to represent the state of Illinois on the United States Golf Association Men’s Team Championship held in Newton Massachusetts. With only two team members’ scores determining the teams’ total, Ryan’s scores of 74, 72 and 74 were counted towards the team’s total each day.

Beyond competing in Central Illinois, Dave Ryan has qualified for seven United States Golf Association Championships. The Chicago District Golf Association has selected him for eight “Heartland Cup Teams”. They also selected him to compete for two Radix Cup Teams. Both of these tournaments provide a competition between the ten best amateurs and the ten of the best club professionals in the state.

Dave Ryan has excelled in golf and represented Taylorville and Taylorville High School in a manner that makes him an excellent choice to be selected in the Taylorville High School Sports Hall of Fame.