NEWS
Brian Johnson, Dan Novak, and Paul Viola to join Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame
June 13, 2016
BETHLEHEM TWP. — The Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2016 includes two accomplished amateur golfers, and a mentoring connection.
Paul Viola, the head golf professional at The Bethlehem Golf Club since 2003, two-time Lehigh Valley Amateur champion Brian Johnson, and senior amateur standout Dan Novak are the three newest inductees.
The group was announced Tuesday morning at a press conference at Green Pond Country Club.
The Class of 2016 brings the hall to 63 members in it’s twelfth year. With three members per year slated to be inducted the next 12 years, the hall of fame will have 100 members after 25 years.
The 13th annual induction dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26 at Green Pond Country Club.
Viola, a 42-year-old Elizabeth, New Jersey native who now resides in Lower Macungie Township, has taught many of the region’s finest golfers during his two-decade club professional career. Among his many amateur pupils is fellow inductee Brian Johnson, who came to him in 2011.
“I never had a lesson before going to Paul,” Johnson said. “My misses used to be hard left. You can’t do that against state and national competition. He gave me confidence with my game.”
After serving as an assistant pro at Silver Creek Country Club from 1994-2002, Viola has built a successful teaching practice at The Bethlehem Golf Club.
He has taught and worked with four state champions: Alex Knoll, Robin McCool, Noreen Mohler, and Johnson. He has also worked with several Division 1 golfers such as Knoll (Davidson), Evan Notaro (Temple), Grant Schumaker (Robert Morris), and Chad Hess (Old Dominion).
“It’s a huge honor,” said Viola, a 1991 Allentown Central Catholic graduate. “It’s very humbling. I would not be here without my players playing well. To get into a hall of fame with all of the great players is an honor.”
Viola, who graduated from the Golf Academy of the South in 1995, said he always starts with a specific plan to guide each student toward improved results.
“As far as results, when a player comes to see me I have a plan,” Viola said. “I demand a lot. When I have a kid, I get them to play a tournament schedule.”
Johnson, a 40-year-old Macungie resident, was the region’s dominant amateur golfer from 2008-2011.
A native of East Greenville, PA, Johnson won the 2010 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur Championship.
Johnson also won the 2008 and 2011 Lehigh Valley Amateur, the 2009 and 2010 Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur titles, 2009 Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship, 2010 Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur, and was the Lehigh Valley Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
A student of local golf history, Johnson said he was humbled to join the ranks of many great amateur golfers who have proceeded him.
“I have a lot or respect for the game, including those before me who have the game,” Johnson said. “Our local golf tradition ranks up there with other areas.”
Despite being busy with his four children ranging from ages 5 to 14, Johnson said he may increase his tournament schedule this year. “I’ll play two or three events this year,” he noted.
Novak, who lived in Bethlehem and Allentown for many years before retiring to Nanticoke, PA, was one of the top senior amateur golfers in northeastern Pennsylvania during the 1990’s. The highlight of his career was qualifying for the 1998 U.S. Senior Amateur.
A native of Alben Station in Newport Township (near Nanticoke), Novak won three consecutive Lehigh Valley Senior Tournament of Champions from 1998-2000, three Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Amateur titles in 1995, 1998, and 2004; and he captured the 1989 Bethlehem Golf Club Medal Play Championship.
Novak has also won several club championships at Berwick Country Club, and numerous better ball events.
“I’m humbled,” said Novak. “There are a lot of great golfers. It’s an honor.”
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