MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Richard A. “Dyke” Raese Hall of Fame, sponsored by Greer Industries, Inc., has announced the induction of golfer Mike Krak into its 2021 class.
The Weirton native played golf for West Virginia University from 1944-1948 and is still regarded as either the best golfer or one of the best golfers to ever at the university.
As the team’s top golfer in 1947, Krak helped WVU to a perfect 12-0 match play record, including a pair of victories over arch rival Pitt. WVU qualified for the NCAA regionals in Ann Arbor that year, a feat that has only been duplicated a few times in school history.
“Mike had a most successful and illustrious golf career that spanned over five decades,” said Bob Gwynne, Pikewood National Curator.
Krak played in 15 majors on the PGA Tour— nine PGAs, five U.S. Opens, and one British Open. He made the cut in four PGA Championship tournaments with his best finish being a tie for 34th in the 1963 PGA at the Dallas Athletic Club. He also made the cut in the PGA at Laurel Valley in 1965, Olympia Fields in 1961, and Llanerch Country Club in 1958.
His credentials on the PGA Tour include competing in 96 tour events from 1953-1973. He made the cut in 90 of those events with one top ten finish and twenty top 25 finishes.
In addition to his PGA tournament play, Krak was considered one of the longest hitters on tour, twice winning long drive competitions at the PGA Championships in 1956 and 1957.
The ceremony inducting Krak is scheduled for Saturday, Dec.4, at the Dale Miller Building in Morgantown.
Krak, who is also a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame along with Raese, graduated from WVU in 1948 with a degree in physical education. He died Jan. 28, 2017 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.