Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1989
- Class:
- 1977
Playing his first three years in an era where Marshall competed as an independent in the mid-1970s, golfer Harold Payne still managed to receive postseason honors as he was named an honorable mention All-American in 1975 and 1976. An accomplished golfer even before being recruited to Marshall by Coach Joe Feaganes, Payne earned West Virginia All-State status in 1971 and 1973 at South Charleston High School and in 1972 shot the low round by any amateur at the West Virginia Open. As a member of the Thundering Herd, Payne led the team in stroke average all four seasons and won four individual tournament titles: the Ashland College Invitational in 1975, the Marshall Invitational and Michigan State’s Spartan Invitational in 1976 and Ohio State's Northern Intercollegiate in 1977. His senior season came in Marshall’s first year as a member of the Southern Conference and he was a first team all-league honoree.
Payne qualified as an individual to play in the NCAA Tournaments hosted by Ohio State University in 1975 and at Colgate University in 1977. As a junior in 1976, he led the Thundering Herd to a team berth in the NCAA Tournament at the University of New Mexico, where Marshall finished No. 17 in the nation. In that event, Payne’s second-round total of 3-under-par 69 was the best round anyone shot that day at New Mexico’s South Course. He continued to have great success on the links after graduating from Marshall; Payne has won six West Virginia Amateur titles and four West Virginia Open championships, taking both of those championships in 1986, 1987 and 1993. He served as president of the West Virginia Golf Association from 1996-2001, and was inducted into the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. Payne was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
