PA Golf Legend Succumbs to Cancer
Jim Sykes died Sunday after a lengthy battle with cancer. Sykes, 78, was a world-class golf administrator who served as IAGA president in 1983 and was Executive Director of The Golf Association of Philadelphia for twenty-five years. As a life-long golfer, he won the Philadelphia Junior, 1954 Pennsylvania Amateur and twice the prestigious Crump Cup at Pine Valley, where he was also a member. His club championships include victories at Pine Valley, Huntingdon Valley, Old York Road and Bonita Bay in Florida.
He created an inner city youth golf program called Kids-on-the-Hill, and in his role as executive director saw the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust experience vigorous growth. Jim served as a tournament volunteer for Florida State Golf Association and as Field Staff for the Philadelphia Section of the PGA.
Sykes is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Dana, son Andy and four grandsons. Services are set for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday October 27 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ardmore, Pa.