David K. Barnes (1991) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

David K. Barnes

Induction:
1991
Class:
1978

1974-77
Golf
‘78

He stands alone as the only first team All-American in golf from The University of Akron. Dave Barnes earned that honor his junior season by firing consecutive rounds of 74, 78, 74, 74 in the 1976 NCAA II Tournament. His score of 300 garnered him a fifth-place finish at Avalon Country Club in Warren, Ohio. A four-year letterman under Head Coach Jim Hackett, Barnes also had the distinction of playing on four winning teams from 1974 thru 1977, in which all earned NCAA II Tournament berths. Barnes certainly played a big role in the Zip linkmen’s cause during this unprecedented achievement, but he had lots of help. Joining him on all four of those teams were boyhood pals Terry O’ Rourke and Bob Heffelman. ‘They both made me a better golfer”, praised Barnes. “We have been playing together or against each other since we were 13”. As a freshman, Barnes was third on the team with a 78.6 stroke average. He improved to 76.9 as a sophomore, a career best 76.1 average as a junior and closed out his career with a 76.3 as the Zip golfers compiled a 46-15 record. Barnes was voted the team’s Most Valuable Golfer his final two campaigns. Still active in local amateur gold. Barnes, who is vice president of the Akron District Gold Association, participate in 10 to 15 gold tournaments a year. For the past 12 years, Barnes has been in sales at Portage Broom and Brush Company. He and his wife, Mary, have an infant daughter, Lauren and they reside in Akron.