Western New England University

Paul Winkler makes school history as he and classmate Kevin Bennison become the first men’s golf players inducted into the Downes Athletic Hall of Fame.

Paul became an immediate starter as a freshman and helped lay the foundation for the success that the current team now enjoys.

The West Springfield, MA native made the All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Team after finishing second at the conference tournament in the Fall of 2000 to help the Golden Bears win the team title.

He was the individual champion with a 79 at the City of Springfield Championship his sophomore season and at the Williams Eph Classic with a 71 as a junior.

Paul tied for fourth with a 76 to help the Golden Bears capture the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Qualifying Tournament in the Fall of 2002 to advance to the ECAC Championship for the third straight year.

A former team captain, he also contributed to several other team victories, including the GNAC Championship his freshman year.

Paul had a great stretch in the fall of his senior year with four top five performances. He was selected to the PING Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Northeast Region Team in 2003.

Paul received the team’s Low Stroke Average Award as a sophomore and junior, and was the Western New England Co-MVP as a senior.

Paul, who earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance, works in the Springfield area for The Lawn Company (which is based in Shrewsbury, MA).

He and his wife Megan are the parents of two children, Dennery (3) and Raelynn (1).