Angela Stanford - © Frederic Stevens / ffgolf

The list that the veteran LPGA Tour grand champion is talking about is the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, where Angela Stanford will join the three founders of the LPGA. Jameson was inducted in 1979, Smith in 1994, and Zaharias in 1978. Now Angela Stanford in 2020.

"I'm just a kid from a small town in Texas, how the hell did I end up with these other names?" " Angela Stanford asked. "I felt great emotion, I had the feeling of being blessed and lucky when I was told the news"

If Angela Stanford remained humble and moved when she received the news, it did not surprise the general public and her peers. Angela Stanford was a four-time All-American at Texas Christian University (a college athletic distinction in America), has six LPGA wins including a Major, and six Solheim Cup appearances. Yet these accolades only scratch the surface of what she has accomplished. In 2009, for example, she created the Angela Stanford Foundation, which grants scholarships to students with cancer.

"I didn't even think I was going to be part of my roving team at TCU", said Angela Stanford with a laugh. “So getting to that level, I certainly didn't think it would happen. What has served me well is my competitive nature. Growing up I didn't necessarily know what AJGA was, but I knew that every time I played golf I just wanted to win. "

As her fourth Hall of Fame induction ceremony approaches, Stanford said it particularly touches her.

"I don't know why, but Texan pride is something I've always had", said Angela Stanford. “I'm not sure where it came from, but I'm so proud of where I come from. "

The TCU graduate and assistant captain of the 2021 Solheim Cup U.S. team is the first woman to be inducted into the Hall's Tour professional class in 10 years.

"I think it's always good when a woman enters the Pantheon in a sport, whatever it is", said Angela Stanford. “You can find negative aspects in everything, but I choose to find positive aspects. I hope this will only start a long series of women entering the Hall. I'm hopeful because there are so many talented young girls out there, I think it's about time. "

Besides Angela Stanford, four other names will join her in the 2020 class. One of them is Mike Wright, director of golf at Shady Oaks Country Club and former Stanford professor.

"Mike and I worked together from 2005, intermittently until 2015", she said. “He certainly had a huge influence on my professional career. I think I got four wins with Mike, which is obviously a big part of my Tour wins. It's going to be special to walk into the Hall with him. "

Wright is one of the handful of people who have had a great influence on his career. Angela Stanford said she considers herself blessed to have supportive people in her life, including her parents.

"I'm very lucky to have grown up where I grew up and to have parents who allowed me to pursue my dreams", said Angela Stanford. “Looking back, we were pretty much middle class and that's good I think, but I don't remember them ever saying no to me. Whatever I wanted to do in competition, they always found a way to make it happen. "

This has been an interesting year to say the least, but for Angela Stanford, some good news has come out. First of all, she learned that she was going to be assistant captain of the United States team for the 2021 Solheim Cup and now this.

To end the summer, Stanford has confirmed that she will participate in the first five events as soon as golf resumes at the end of July, but for the moment, she will soak up all the good vibes that come to her.

Angela Stanford will be inducted on October 6 in a ceremony at the Houston Country Club. The six new members will all be honored with granite markers on the Texas Golf Wall of Fame at Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio.

To know more : https://www.lpga.com

To read our last article on the same subject :

Evian Championship: American Angela Stanford wins her 1st Major at 40