Steve Melnyk was inducted into the Florida State Golf Association’s Hall of Fame during their Annual Dinner held at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville on November 21, 2008.
Steve was born in Brunswick, Georgia on February 26, 1947. At just 18 years old, he won the1965 Georgia Open. He then went on to attend the University of Florida where he was a three time All-American before graduating in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management. That same year, Steve won the US Amateur, Western Amateur, and was a part of the victorious Walker Cup Team. Between 1970 and 1971, he won the Eastern Amateur and the British Amateur.
Steve joined the PGA Tour in 1972 and in his first year, he won the Masters Par 3 Challenge. He was runner-up four times before leaving the tour due to an elbow injury in 1983. Since then, he has been a television analyst for CBS Sports, ESPN, and ABC Sports until his retirement in 2004. In 2009, he regained his amateur status and continues to play in tournaments today.
He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1970, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. His name continues to live on as the Melnyk Golf Practice Facility was built at his alma mater in honor of his impact on the game.
