Head of House and former LPGA Tour member Caroline (Peek) Blaylock (’91) will be inducted into the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 28, along with amateur athletes David Watkins and Dickie Sapp and professional athlete Wayne Minshew.
During her high school years at Darlington, Blaylock was involved in softball, basketball, golf, track and tennis. She earned more than 15 varsity letters and was recruited by 40 colleges to play basketball, but only four to play golf. After graduating, she attended Furman University, where she was a three-time NCAA All-American and a three-time NCAA long drive champion. She also represented the United States in the U.S.A. versus Japan Goodwill Matches in 1994.
After graduating from Furman in 1995, Blaylock turned professional. In 1998, she led the LPGA Tour in driving distance with a 266.98-yard average. The next year, she posted a career-best finish with a tie for 10th at the LPGA Corning Classic and recorded a 66 in the second round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, the lowest round of her LPGA career. In 2000, she again led the Tour in driving distance and tied for 10th at the Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic to tie her career-best finish from the previous year.
Blaylock returned to Darlington in 2002 and currently serves as head of Regester House. She and her husband, Eric, have two sons, Jackson and Stiles. Her siblings are also Darlington alumni – Asa Peek (’88), Gardner Peek (’86), Julie Peek (’81) and Jule Peek (’81).
The Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame was started in 1971 in order to recognize amateur and professional athletes and those who contribute to the growth and development of sports.
Tickets to the induction ceremony will go on sale Jan. 8 and are $30 for the public, $20 for Hall of Fame members and $300 for a table. Tickets may be purchased online at www.rfpra.com or in person at 300 W. Third Street. For more information, please contact Lisa Nash, event coordinator, at lnash@rfpra.com.
