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JR

GCAA Hall of Fame Member Ron Balicki Passes Away

Balicki

College golf lost one of its greatest friends with the passing of Ron Balicki. Since practically inventing the college golf beat in 1983, so far back it was known as Florida Golfweek, Ron became part of the fabric of the college and amateur game. He covered his first golf tournament in 1980 while with the Florida Daily News. A 2010 inductee into the GCAA Hall of Fame, Ron covered every NCAA Championship dating back to 1985 and every GCAA National Convention since its inception. Dubbed "Wrong Ron" for his propensity to incorrectly pick the winner of the NCAA Championships and playfully teased for his uncanny ability to bring the rain with him to events he covered, Ron was truly fond of the sport and people he covered and was loved back by the players, coaches and everyone involved with college golf. Truly one of the kindest men one could ever meet, Ron will be greatly missed.

"On behalf of the Golf Coaches Association of America and our member coaches, I would like say how sad we are at the passing of GCAA Hall of Fame member Ron Balicki," said GCAA President Todd Satterfield. "Ron was a true friend and ambassador of college golf and helped college golf become what it is today.  He touched the lives of more players and coaches than he will ever know and we will all miss "Wrong Ron" for all of the right things he did for all of us."

We feel that no one could give as touching tribute as Golfweek's Jeff Babineau and welcome all of Ron's friends to follow the link below if they haven't had the opportunity to read his moving words:

http://golfweek.com/news/2014/mar/26/ron-balicki-dies-65-tribute-jeff-babineau/