J.P. Leigh
About J.P. Leigh
Distance is relative for short-hitting Virginia Golf Hall of Fame inductee J.P. Leigh. In the late 1950s, Leigh got a lesson from fellow 2024 inductee Tom Strange, who told Leigh to spend his practice time concentrating on chipping, putting and hitting bunker shots around the green. “If you do so,” Strange said, “with the talent you have, you’re going to be a very good player.”
Leigh has proved that distance is just one aspect of golf. He’s competed in VSGA events for 65 years and has shown no sign of slowing down, winning his most recent VSGA championship in spring 2024.
Crowning Moment…
Played in every State Open of Virginia from 1977-2012 and qualified for match play at the VSGA Amateur for 32 straight years.
10
VSGA championships, tied for eighth all time
4
Consecutive victories in the VSGA Senior Stroke Play Championship from 2003-06
65
Leigh’s score in the final round of the 2005 Senior Stroke Play, the lowest closing round ever by a winner
1984
Year Leigh was inducted into the Old Dominion University sports Hall of Fame
Achievements & Media
Special thanks to the USGA, PGA Tour, VSGA, MAPGA, WVGA and inductee family members for contributing photos and videos to this project.
Statistics
Date of birth: September 1, 1947
VSGA championships won
1978 – Four-Ball
1982 – Mid-Amateur
2003 – Senior Stroke Play
2004 – Senior Stroke Play
2005 – Senior Stroke Play
2006 – Senior Stroke Play
2015 – Super Senior Four-Ball
2018 – Super Senior Four-Ball
2023 – Super Senior Four-Ball (75+)
2024 – Super Senior Four-Ball (75+)
Accomplishments and awards
- Old Dominion University’s first golf All-American
- Member, ODU sports Hall of Fame
- 2004 VSGA Senior Golfer of the Year
- During brief stint as a professional, served as an assistant at Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club and Sleepy Hole Golf Course
