Harbor High, SJSU alumnus to be inducted into San Jose Sports Hall of Fame
By JIM SEIMAS | jseimas@santacruzsentinel.com | Santa Cruz Sentinel PUBLISHED: October 9, 2019 at 11:50 a.m. | UPDATED: October 9, 2019 at 5:05 p.m.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Juli Inkster — a Santa Cruz native who burst on the national golf scene as an All-American at San Jose State University — will be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 14 at the SAP Center in San Jose.
Inkster is one of four South Bay sports legends set to be inducted. Others include former MLS star John Doyle, an All-American soccer player at University of San Francisco who competed for the U.S. National Team; coach John Dunning, who led Stanford University women’s volleyball team to five NCAA Division I titles; and Seana Hogan, a record setting cross country cyclist.
Each inductee will be recognized with a bronze plaque permanently installed on the concourse at the SAP Center at San Jose. Including the 2019 inductees, there will be 114 South Bay sports icons enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
“This is going to be awesome,” Inkster said. “I never thought I’d get where I’m at with the game of golf. I’ve been to so many great places and met so many wonderful people. And to be honored is icing on the cake.”
Santa Cruz native Juli Inkster looks on during her first round at the Women’s British Open championships at Sunningdale, England, on July 31, 2008. Inkster will be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 14 at the SAP Center.
Inkster, a 59-year-old Harbor High and SJSU alumnus, was a three-time All-American for the Spartans (1979, ’81 and ’82) and won three U.S. Women’s Amateur championships (1980-’82).
Inkster still competes in LPGA events and recently completed her third stint as the U.S. captain for the Solheim Cup. She has won seven majors and 24 LPGA Tour events. Her 31 wins rank her second among all active players on the LPGA Tour. She was named to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
“Any Hall of Fame is good,” said Inkster, when asked to compare HOF honors. “But I went to school in San Jose and will have friends, family and my peers there. And the older you get, you appreciate these things more.”
The annual induction is an event of San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose Arena Authority, SAP Center Management/San Jose Sharks, and City of San José. The event benefits Special Olympics Northern California and high school sports programs.
“San Jose’s incredibly rich and diverse sports history makes the Hall of Fame selection process very difficult each year,” Charlie Faas, Chairman of the San Jose Sports Authority Board of Directors, said in a release. “The Class of 2019 is a wonderful representation of the deep and meaningful impact athletes and coaches with South Bay connections have made in their respective sports, locally, nationally and internationally. We are excited to welcome these four remarkable individuals into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.”
Executive Director John Poch of the San Jose Sports Authority said in a release, “The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019 represent all that we value, including integrity, work ethic, sportsmanship, and excellence. Individually and collectively, their accomplishments, both in the Bay Area and across the world of sport, are the stuff of legend. We look forward to honoring their legacies in November at our Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the SAP Center in San Jose.”
The ceremony kicks off with a reception followed by dinner and induction ceremony. Individual tickets begin at $300 each; sponsorship and table packages are available starting at $3,000. For information and to purchase event tickets call 408-288-2936.
If You Go
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame
When: Nov. 14
Where: SAP Center, San Jose
Tickets: 408-288-2936
2019 Inductees
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame
John Doyle: All-American, MLS soccer star, Olympic and U.S. National Team member
John Dunning: U.S. National champion volleyball coach
Seana Hogan: Record setting cross country cyclist
Juli Inkster: All-American, amateur and professional golf champion