COLUMBUS, Ohio — Golf Digest writer Ryan Herrington has just released a great article on the passing of Jesse Haddock who coached numerous PGA Tour players during his famed tenure at Wake Forest University. 

Wake Forest is widely considered the greatest college program in the history of NCAA golf, and it was the collegiate home of the great Arnold Palmer whose statue stands at their campus golf facility. Only a few programs such as the University of Houston and Oklahoma State University can challenge the Demon Deacon legacy. 

In 1975 as a first-year member at the Ohio State Golf Courses, I was treated to one of the greatest NCAA championships in history. It hooked me on golf like no other event had ever done. Wake Forest led by future tour stars Jay Haas and Curtis Strange would storm to the largest NCAA championship margin in history that week. Their Demon Deacon team also featured future PGA Tour golfers Bob Byrum and frosh Scott Hoch. The event featured an early charge to the lead by Buckeye golf captain Craig Carson before he fell back. The amazingly talented field included Jerry Pate (Alabama) who would win the 1976 U.S. Open as a PGA rookie at the Atlanta Athletic Club after one of the greatest closing shots in USGA history and legendary Andy Bean (Florida) who was the talk of the event for displaying the ability to bite a balata golf ball in half. 

Click here to read the story of Coach Haddock and his amazing teams, including the famed 1975 NCAA championship team that won the event at OSU Scarlet by a record 33 strokes.