The Shadow
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Former James Madison men’s golfer Jay Woodson was named one of four inductees to the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the organization recently announced.
Woodson, a member of the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022, becomes the first Duke to take a spot in the prestigious Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.
The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year in 2004, Woodson was also a member of the NCAA East Regional Team and was named the JMU Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2004. He was also a two-time All-CAA and All-State honoree during his time at JMU.
Woodson was also named to the CAA 25th Anniversary team, which recognized the top 25 men’s golfers in the first 25 years of the league’s existence. He was also the Virginia State Amateur Champion in 2002 and 2003.
After graduating from James Madison, Woodson turned pro and captured three consecutive Virginia State Open Championships from 2012 to 2014 and won for a fourth time in 2016. He became the seventh player to win both the amateur and open championships in Virginia.
Woodson has competed in two PGA Tour events and spent different parts of his pro career on the NGA, Web.com and Canadian tours.
Though mostly retired from regular competition, Woodson still competes in the State Open of Virginia and was runner-up as recently as 2024, when he posted a final-round 62 to get into a playoff against eventual winner Logan Reilly.
This year’s class will be inducted on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Omni Homestead Resort and is also comprised of Ned Baber, Lauren Couglin, and Dr. Bob Rotella. NBC/Golf Channel’s Steve Sands will emcee the ceremony.
