Tim Dunlavey was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 27, 1968. He and his wife Dr. Elizabeth (Stretcher) Dunlavey are the proud parents of David, Kate and Ally. Tim is currently self-employed, operating LTDK, Inc., a real estate company managing residential, commercial and timberland properties in South Carolina and Florida.

Tim started hitting fairways and greens, at age 9, while honing his skills under the watchful eyes of his grandparents, David and Rose Clugston, at the Kahkwa Club. He was a quick study and joined the golf team at Cathedral Prep as a freshman. Before the Rambler graduated in 1986, Tim won three consecutive District 10 titles. Tim knocked on the state title door as a sophomore and junior, finishing third and second respectively, before finally capturing the gold in 1985. At the age of seventeen, with his name on the PIAA State Junior Boys championship trophy, Tim joined the prestigious list of former title holders including Arnold Palmer, Jim Furyk, Jay Siegel and Nathan Smith.

Leaving the high school ranks, Tim moved on to the University of Virginia where he competed on the Cavaliers’ golf team.  In 1989, due to his strong play throughout the season for the Cavs, including his first collegiate individual title at the Gamecock Invitational, Tim was named to the ACC All-Conference First Team. He ultimately qualified for the NCAA Division I National Championships at the Innisbrook Golf Resort. He finished tied for 33^rd, 14 shots behind the 1990 champion, Phil Mickelson.

The two-time All ACC selection graduated from the prestigious UVA in 1991 with a BS in Psychology. More treasured than the degree and his golf accomplishments, Tim left the University’s commencement ceremony with his future bride, Liz.

Just as he quickly rose to the top in high school and college events, so too did Tim in the EDGA events.  After placing 5^th and 6^th in the 1984 and 1985 EDGA Amateur Championships respectively, the “youngster” captured the 1986 title by two strokes over veteran Dave Ciacchini at Lake Shore. At the time, Tim was the youngest to ever hoist the EDGA Amateur trophy.  Enjoying the view from the top, Tim continued his winning ways claiming the prestigious West Penn Amateur title at Kahkwa in 1987, with a score of 8 under par. Later that year and again in 1988, he finished third in the EDGA Amateur championship.

The summer and fall of 1989 were exceptionally good for Tim. Before capturing the Gamecock Invitational, he rattled off two more big victories. The first came in July at Chartiers Valley where he returned to the West Penn Amateur podium to accept the first-place hardware. Then, in August, he took a three-shot lead into the final round of the EDGA Am at Gospel Hill. Dave Ciacchini’s course record 64 was enough to catch him, but Tim won on the first hole of sudden death. At the age of 21, now with his father, Dr Michael Dunlavey watching, Tim could legally toast to Two West Penn Am titles; two EDGA Amateur crowns; and a 1989 Father Son Championship.

While 1989 was stellar, 1990 continued to build an already impressive resume for time. He finished 2^nd in the West Penn Am at Alcoma, losing in a playoff. He then took a single lead over Gary Murray into the final round of the EDGA Amateur at Downing, Murray’s home course. Like Ciacchini the year before, Murray was able to forge a tie at the end of regulation only to see Dunlavey reign victorious in the playoff. The win enabled Tim to become the first 3-time EDGA Amateur Champion in the stroke play era. Only two other players held three titles, Norm Gaylord (1929-31-33) and Harold Cloyd (1942-43-51), both in match play.

Tim’s amateur record was outstanding with three victories, two thirds and a 5^th and 6^th in only seven events. Tim only competed in three Match Play events. In 1985, as a 16-year-old, Tim fell to Dario Cipriani in the semi-finals, an event won by Ed Podufal. Tim ended his short EDGA match play career with a 6-3 record.

Tim’s EDGA major championship record closed in 1990. Competing at the highest level of the EDGA, Tim was only defeated by 9 players. Six of his losses came at the hands of EDGA Hall of Fame members and the other three defeats were by EDGA Major Champions.

Tim turned professional in 1991. He captured both the Carolina Open and the South Carolina Open in both 1995 and 2000. He was also recognized as the Carolinas PGA Player of the year in those two years. He became a full-time member of the PGA Nike Tour in 1996 and played in the Heritage Classic and Greater Greensboro Open on the PGA Tour, making the cut in both, that same year.

In 2000, Tim was selected to represent the US team in the PGA Cup, hosted by Celtic Manor Resort in South East Wales. He compiled a 3-0-1 record to help lead the US team to a 13½ -12½ victory. He also competed in the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla; an event won by Tiger Woods.

In USGA events, Tim has made a number of appearances beginning with the 1985 US Junior Amateur when he qualified for match play. He also played in the US Amateur at Merion in 1989. Most impressively, Tim had his best USGA finish in 1994 when he made the cut in the US Open at Oakmont. He finished tied (with Phil Mickelson) for 47^th. That event was Arnold Palmer’s last US Open.

Tim regained his amateur status in 2001. He qualified for the Senior US Open on three occasions; in 2018 at The Broadmoor; in 2019 at the Warren Golf Club; and in 2024 at Newport Country Club.

Tim currently plays at the Country Club of Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, SC, his new home away from home since 1999. He serves as an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church and he is on the board of TOTAL Ministries of Spartanburg.

Cathedral Prep inducted Tim into its Hall of Fame in 2006. He is also a member of the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame where he was inducted in 2004. The Erie Times-News recognized Tim Dunlavey as one of the greatest local athletes of the 20^th century.