Topeka native Gary Woodland to be inducted into KS Athletics Hall of Fame

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Topeka native and 2019 U.S. Open champion, Gary Woodland, will be inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame.

The University of Kansas announced in a press release on Thursday, Sept. 4 that Woodland will be inducted into the hall of fame on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Jayhawk Club in Lawrence.

Woodland competed for the University of Kansas from 2004-2007, according to Kansas Athletics. He turned pro in 2007 and joined the PGA Tour in 2009. Over his career, he’s had four individual PGA tournament wins with 30 top-five finishes and 56 top-10s. Woodland’s PGA wins include:

• 2011 Transitions Championship.
• 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open.
• 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
• 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Woodland underwent surgery in 2023 after a brain lesion was discovered, according to Kansas Athletics. He secured three top-25 finishes that season, including a T9 at the Shriners Children’s Open – his first top-10 since the diagnosis.

“Gary has been an incredible fan, supporter and friend to the Kansas golf team. He is always willing to give his time to the team, and he has been a donor for many years,” said KU Men’s Golf Head Coach Jamie Bermel. “Gary Woodland is the standard for Kansas golf. Not only is he a great golfer, but more importantly he is an incredible person, friend, husband and father.”

The Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame will be the third to induct Woodland, who is already a member of the Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame.

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