Tom Kelley won a record eight Men's City golf tournaments in three different decades.
Though today he is primarily known in Fort Wayne as president of Kelley Automotive Group and the owner of the Kelley Racing team, Tom Kelley is also an outstanding athlete and amateur golfer.
Kelley, now 47, played in his first Men's City Tournament at age 13 in 1966. After his first city tournament victory in 1974, shooting a 208 at Lakeside, Kelley won seven more titles. He won three in a row from 1977 to 1979, and won his most recent title in 1991. His eight titles are three more than anyone else in the 74-year history of the tournament.
Consistency has also marked Kelley's play in the city tournament. From 1970 to 1993, he finished in the top 10 every year, including finishing second six times.
Besides city tournaments, Kelley has also played in five U.S. Amateurs, the British Amateur and national Mid-Amateurs. Five times he's gone to the final 16 in match play in national tournaments, including the finals of the U.S. Amateur in 1981.
He also played on a Big Ten championship team at Indiana University in 1974 and had 14 top-10 finishes in the State Amateur.
Among other highlights: He beat Jack Nicklaus 75-79 in an exhibition at the grand opening for Sycamore Hills Golf Club in 1989, and he served as caddie for former President George Bush at the Bob Hope Classic.
He also competed three times in the Reno National Air Races, winning the Silver championship in 1985.
