Jeff Diehl

This is the last in a series of articles profiling the 2018 inductees into the Butler County Sports Hall of FameAVON LAKE, Ohio — Like father, like son.When former Butler High School golf great Jeff Diehl gains induction into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame this Saturday, he will be joining his father.Again.Jeff Diehl was inducted into the Butler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame in December — two years after gymnastics standout Cliff Diehl received that honor.Cliff Diehl gained entrance into the then-Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.“I remember attending that dinner,” his son said. “Joining my dad like this ... It means everything to me, to be perfectly honest.”Diehl will be inducted into the BCHOF at the organization's 53rd annual banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lyndora American Legion Hall.Jeff Diehl won the WPIAL golf title as a junior in 1990. He competed in numerous American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events and placed second in the AJGA Bluegrass Junior tourney in Kentucky that same year.“I was pretty much in from that point.” he said of gaining consideration for college golf.Diehl wound up earning medalist honors with the Keystone Public Golf Association in 1991, was Elks junior champion in 1989 and 1990 and won the Armco Junior Club Championship in 1989.He was men's club champion at Armco three consecutive years, from 1992 through 1994. He went on to play two years of golf at Ohio State University before transferring to Penn State for his final two seasons.“We made the NCAA regionals a couple of years at Penn State,” Diehl said. “We faced teams like Florida, Oklahoma ... It was great competition.”While golfing in college, Diehl placed third at the Loyola Invitational, made the Scotty Duncan Memorial All-Tournament team at the Naval Academy and tied for first at the James Madison Invitational.He was a scholar-athlete at Ohio State in 1992-893.When Diehl graduated from Penn State, his golf career was far from over.In fact, it isn't over yet.Diehl went on to become assistant golf pro at Oakmont from 1996 through 2004, then took a position as Director of Golf at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in New Jersey for three years.Since 2007, he has worked for Polo Ralph Lauren as a regional account executive in the company's golf division.“I manage the midwest area, from Michigan down to Washington D.C.,” he said. “It keeps me busy, but I love the fact I've been able to stay around golf my entire life.“We're the primary sponsor of the USGA, so I've worked closely with the last three Ryder Cup teams. I've gotten to know a lot of (PGA) Tour players and have worked closely with Tom Watson, Davis Love and Justin Thomas.”Diehl still finds time to golf himself, though not as much as he once did.“I don't play as much competitively these days,” he said. “I've got a 9-year-old who keeps me pretty busy. I'm hoping she catches the (golfing) bug, but it hasn't happened yet. I'm not gonna push her.“I still get out and play maybe 30 times a year. I was pretty shocked when the Hall of Fame called me. This will be pretty special.”