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2018 Hall of Fame Inductee: Buddy Alexander

Buddy Alexander is the newest member of the Florida State Golf Association Hall of Fame.

By Florida State Golf Association

November 14^th, 2018

2018 FSGA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Formed in 2005, the Florida State Golf Association Hall of Fame recognizes exceptional individuals for their contributions to Florida Golf. The Hall of Fame is open to great players, dedicated volunteers, sportswriters, architects, and other individuals who have had a profound effect on the game of golf in Florida.

On Friday, Stewart “Buddy” Alexander will be the 26th individual inducted into the FSGA Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa in conjunction with the Annual Dinner.

Alexander won the 1986 U.S. Amateur Championship and served as the men’s golf coach at the University of Florida for 27 seasons. He won the 1991 Florida State Amateur and has competed in over 40 United State Golf Association championships.

2018 Hall of Fame Inductee: Buddy Alexander

From the beginning, it was golf

Alexander was born in St. Pete, Fla. and grew up near the eighth tee of Lakewood Country Club (now St. Petersburg Country Club), where his father, Skip Alexander, was the head golf professional.

He was surrounded by the game from a very young age, thanks to his father, who was a long-time PGA Tour member and a two-time Ryder Cup team member. Buddy Alexander spent most of his childhood working for his dad at the course, bagging tees and cleaning golf balls.

Skip Alexander, Buddy's father, helped lead the U.S. to victory in 1949 and 1951 Ryder Cup.

buddy soars as an eagle

When it came time for college, Alexander chose to attend Georgia Southern University, where he was named an All-American in 1974 and 1975, as well as helped lead the Eagles to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1974 and 1975.

Alexander graduated from Georgia Southern in 1975, before going on to get a master’s in education administration in 1980.

Alexander was a two-time All-American while at Georgia Southern.

A LEGENDARY COACHING CAREER BEGINS

His collegiate coaching career began just two years after he graduated. Alexander stepped into the head coaching role at Georgia Southern in 1977, when his coach left to take a position at Wake Forrest University. While at Georgia Southern, he led the Eagles to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Alexander gave playing professional a try, but returned to coaching in 1983 when he took over the men’s and women’s programs at Louisiana State University. At LSU, Alexander led the Tigers to back-to-back Southeastern Conference titles in 1986 and 1987 and two SEC individual titles.

He regained his amateur status in 1986 returned to competitive amateur golf.

Buddy raises the Havemeyer Trophy

The same year he regained his amateur status, Alexander went on the win the U.S. Amateur at Shoal Creek (Ala.) Golf and Country Club. Alexander, who was 33 years old at the time, overcame numerous collegiate All-Americans on his way to hoisting the Havemeyer Trophy. Alexander defeated Chris Kite, of Hiddenite, N.C., 5 and 3, in the finals.

Following his U.S. Amateur win, Alexander played on the victorious 1987 Walker Cup team, captained by current Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, and would go on to play in both the Maters and U.S. Open.

Alexander with the Havemeyer Trophy (USGA).

Alexander with his mother and father, Skip and Kitty.

1986 U.S. Walker Cup Team (Alexander-Top row, second from the right) (Photo credit: USGA)

Alexander celebrating during the 1986 U.S. Amateur (USGA).

“As time goes by, it means more with every year, just like Fred Ridley (1976 Amateur winner) told me it would. It’s the most significant thing that I ever did. It’s the high water mark of my career,” Alexander said in a 2008 USGA article.

becoming a Gator

After a short hiatus from coaching, Alexander took a job in 1988 that he would hold for 27 years, the head men’s golf coach at the University of Florida. He led the Gators to eight SEC Championships and two NCAA National Championships in 1993 and 2001.

He also coached team captain Nick Gilliam to an individual NCAA golf championship in 2001 and led eight players to SEC individual titles. Alexander was a seven-time SEC Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year.

In total, 26 of his players would go on to play golf professionally on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour and Champions Tour, including his son, Tyson Alexander, who is currently a player on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. Some of those other players include Chris DiMarco, Brian Gay, Billy Horschel and Camilo Villegas.

Horschel, who played in FSGA championships as a junior golfer and was a four-time All-American under Alexander at Florida, captured both the TOUR Championship and FedExCup in 2014.

Villegas, who was a member of the Gators’ 2001 National Championship team, also captured the TOUR Championship in 2008.

Villegas played for the Gators from 2001-04.

Villegas captured the TOUR Championship in 2008.

Horschel was a member of the Gators' golf team from 2006-09.

Horschel won both the TOUR Championship and FedExCup in 2014.

“You get into coaching because you love to compete, you love golf and you love the kids,” Alexander said.

it runs in the family

Alexander has played in two U.S. Opens. His son, Tyson, qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, and his father, Skip, competed in six, making the Alexanders one of just three families to have had three generations compete in the championship.

Alexander caddying for Tyson at Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Tyson Alexander played for his father at Florida from 2006-10.

Alexander and his father, Skip, with the Havemeyer Trophy.

Life after retirement

Alexander retired in 2014 and now resides in Auburn, Ala. with his wife, Joan, who is the director of operations for the Auburn men’s and women’s golf teams.

The 65-year-old, who is still actively involved in amateur golf, advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in August and was the runner-up at the 2015 Florida State Senior Amateur Championship.