Joe Tesori ‘71, who has enjoyed a long and successful career as a golf coach and instructor, and played on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour for two years, will receive Le Moyne’s highest honor, the Simon Le Moyne Award, at the Founders’ Day Gala on Friday, Oct. 20.
“I am so honored and humbled to be recognized by Le Moyne in such a meaningful way,” said Tesori. “Ever since I was a student at Le Moyne more than 50 years ago, I have felt like a member of an extended family no matter what my role at Le Moyne has been. I am grateful to the members of the Founders’ Day committee for selecting me.”
“Joe truly exemplifies the values and attributes that are at the core of Le Moyne and the Simon Le Moyne Award,” said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura. “I’m thrilled that we will pay tribute to all that Joe has meant to Le Moyne and countless students over the years, as well as his involvement with the community.”
Tesori has served as the head coach of the Le Moyne’s men’s golf team since 2007 and is currently in his second year as the women’s head coach. During his time as coach, the men’s program has been a regular participant in regional competitions and achieved national recognition by advancing to the national finals in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2008, 2016 and 2021 his teams captured NE10 league titles, with the league bestowing him with Coach of the Year honors each of those years. In 2010, while serving as head coach of the women’s golf team at Le Moyne, he helped to guide the program from a club sport to an intercollegiate varsity program.
Additionally, he serves as head PGA Professional at Pompey Golf Club in Jamesville and as head coach of the Jamesville-DeWitt Girl’s Golf Team. Prior to Pompey Golf Club, Tesori was head PGA professional at Lafayette Hills Country Club in Syracuse and, before that, spent 27 years at Drumlins Country Club as a club professional and director of golf operations.
In 1971 he became the first Dolphin to qualify for the NCAA Championship, competing against such luminaries as former Vice President Dan Quale, NBC golf commentator Mark Rolfing and former PGA Tour player and CBS analyst Gary McCord. He has competed both professionally and as an amateur, receiving his PGA status in 1974 and playing on the PGA Tour in 1980 and 1981. He was CNY PGA senior player of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Joe has been honored as PGA Professional of the Year, in 1995 and 2004, and was CNY PGA Teacher of the Year in 1986. He has been a leader and mentor to 15 men and women who have gone on to earn PGA Member status, including Suzy Whaley, who in 2018 became the first woman president of the PGA of America.
Tesori was inducted into the Le Moyne Gold Wave Hall of Fame in 1991, the CNY PGA Section Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In July 2016, he was named recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award by the PGA of America. In 2017, Tesori was one of seven individuals to be enshrined in the PGA of America Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was bestowed the Labron Harris Sr. Award, which is presented to the coach and PGA professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game and represent the finest qualities the game has to offer.
In addition to his golf accolades, Tesori was honored with the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Award in 2010 and the Man of the Year Award from Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School in 1987. He was a high school and college basketball official for more than 40 years and a golf columnist for the Syracuse Post-Standard for 20 years. He has volunteered with Francis House, with the Fayetteville-Manlius Pop Warner Youth Football Association and has served on the Board of Directors of First Tee of Syracuse. Lynne, his wife of 42 years, is retired from the athletic department at Syracuse University, his daughter Jaclyn has been in the local restaurant business for more than 20 years and his son, Joseph is a 2009 Le Moyne graduate and currently serves as an assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at Le Moyne.