Godwins join Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The first family of golf in Poplar Bluff has officially taken its place among the state's best athletes.

Buddy Godwin and his sons, Bobby and Ben, were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday in Springfield. They join another Poplar Bluff High School alumnus, Tyler Hansbrough, in the Hall of Fame.

“It was humbling to go into the Missouri Hall of Fame with my family,” Bobby Godwin said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have family and friends around Poplar Bluff that have supported us over the years. Many of them traveled to Springfield for the ceremony and it means a great deal to our family.”

The Godwin family has become synonymous with success on the golf course in Poplar Bluff

Buddy Godwin has won more than 100 amateur tournaments and is an eight-time winner of the Ozark Open. Starting in 1965, he qualified for the United States Amateur several times, reached the quarterfinals in the U.S. Mid-Am in 1985 and played in the U.S. Senior Open in 1987. He also won the Missouri Amateur in 1973 and later competed in several PGA Senior Tour events.

“Dad has worked with hundreds and hundreds of kids throughout the years from Poplar Bluff — and he has had his his hand, whether he would admit it or not, in all of the state championships for the high school,” Bobby Godwin said.

The oldest of Buddy Godwin's two sons, Bobby Godwin was a three-year letterman at Poplar Bluff High School and competed on the Mules’ 1980 and 1981 state championship teams. He went on to play at the collegiate level for Three Rivers Community College and at Arkansas State University, where he was a three-year letterman.

Beginning in 1989, Bobby Godwin qualified for seven USGA events and won numerous local, state and national amateur tournaments, including the 1999 Missouri State Stroke Play championship, and was the Missouri Golf Association Player of the Year that year.

Meanwhile, Ben Godwin lettered in golf for four years at Poplar Bluff and was part of the Mules’ 1988 state championship team and later earned four varsity letters for the University of Missouri.

Ben Godwin began winning local and state amateur tournaments in 1990, qualifying for six USGA events. He won the two-man state team event with Bobby in 1998 and eventually won the Missouri Amateur in 2003 and 2006.

Buddy and Ben Godwin are only the second father-son duo to win the Missouri Amateur, following Bill and Payne Stewart.

“As are many people I am extremely proud of my family, not only through golf, but the kind of people they are — 'yes sir,' 'no sir' and just being kind carries a lot of weight according to our family,” Bobby Godwin said. “Nothing is going to change in our lives since this induction, but we are extremely honored to be accepted into the Hall of Fame. I had great parents (who have been) married for 64 years. and have taken care of Ben, Becky (my sister) and myself.”

Joining the Godwins in the 2025 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame were a list of standout Missouri athletes, including former Kansas City Royals outfielder Johnny Damon, who later won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox; former St. Louis Cardinals player Matt Adams; former Mizzou running back Brock Olivo; Willard Harrell, who played for the St. Louis Football Cardinals; and many more.

The Hall of Fame also presented the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award to Wilson Logistics and recognized St. Louis native Rita West with the President’s Award. Additionally, the Hall of Fame recognized each of the eight high school state football championship teams from the 2024 season.