I recently played in my second Three Day Member-Guest of the summer at the Country Club of York (CCY) in York, Pennsylvania, compliments of my buddy Dave. CCY, a stunning Donald Ross designed course founded in 1899, meanders through the rolling hills of southcentral Pennsylvania. (Details on our performance will follow at a later date.)
During my time on the property, I heard rumors about a certain Club Champion for which the details were way beyond my sphere of comprehension. As I began to dig into the specifics, the story became more and more astounding!
On Saturday, the last day of the event, I arrived at CCY at 6:30am with a #2 pencil and a Big Chief tablet in hand. I scampered straight for the main entrance to document details from the various plaques that adorn the walls of the Hall of Champions. The search for Connie H. Shorb’s name was underway!
I quickly found the Women’s Club Champions plaque that listed the individual Champion’s from 1928 through 2018. It didn’t take long for me to find Mrs. Shorb’s name. Her name first appeared in 1974 and last appeared in 2017. During this 45 year span, Mrs. Shorb’s name was listed 38 times, including 17 straight Championships between 1974 and 1990, then another 15 straight Championships between 1992 and 2006. Stunned, I turned my attention to the Senior Women’s Club Champions plaque where her name first appeared in 1997 and last appeared in 2017. During this 22 year span, Mrs. Shorb’s name was listed 19 times, including 10 straight Championships between 1997 and 2006, then another 8 straight Championships between 2010 and 2017.
Note: The name plates for the 2019 Women’s Club Championship and Senior Women’s Club Championship had not yet been installed.
Leaving the “Hall”, I headed to the locker room to change my shoes, then up the stairs to breakfast where I met my playing partner and a few friends, eager to share the news of my extensive research. After quickly spilling my guts, my playing partner paused for a moment, rubbing his chin with his fingers, suggested my information may be a bit off the mark. With little time for confirmation, we headed to the range and then to our carts to begin our final day of competition.
Prior to our first match of the day, Kevin Bales, Head Golf Professional, walked past our cart with a cheerful greeting. We pulled Kevin aside for a moment, marveling at Mrs. Shorb’s accomplishments, and began asking a few quick questions. Kevin shared a few thoughts, needing to move along to address the field prior to play:
- Shorb won her first Club Championship at the age of 18, under her maiden name, Connie E. Hirshman.
- Shorb won the 2019 Club Championship.
- To the best of his knowledge, Miss Hirshman/Mrs. Shorb only lost in the Club Championship on three occasions over the past 54 years, unable to participate in a number of events.
Well, this additional information was a bit of a game changer! The new statistics are as follows:
- Club Championship wins in six decades.
- Over a 54 year span, Mrs. Shorb won the Club Championship 48 times.
- She recorded 26 straight Club Championships between 1965 and 1990. The 1991 Club Championship was won by Ami Schonauer and the 2007 Club Championship was won by Amy M. Young. It is possible that Mrs. Shorb did not compete in the 1991 and 2007 Club Championships. In the event she did not compete in 1991, she won 41 straight Club Championships. In the event she did not compete in 1991 and 2007, she won 45 straight Club Championships.
- Combined, Mrs. Shorb has won 67 Club and Senior Club Championships.
- Only two other women (Ami Schonauer and Amy Young/Amy Kennedy) have won the Club Championship over the past 54 years.
- Shorb has won 31 individual WYCAGA (Women’s York County Amateur Golf Association) Championship titles.
- Shorb has won 3 Pennsylvania State Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championships.
- Shorb has won a record 10 Pennsylvania State Women’s Senior Golf Association Amateur Championships.
- Shorb has competed in a number of USGA Senior Amateur Championships.
The numbers are simply staggering! I have been told, in addition to Mrs. Shorb’s achievements, she is kind, reverent and unassuming. It is unlikely that I will have the opportunity to meet or talk with Mrs. Shorb, but if I did, I would love to know if she competed in 1991 and 2007 Women’s Club Championship. In the event I would somehow obtain this information, you will be the first to know.
Mrs. Shorb is quite an inspiration!
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The back nine can only get better!
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