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Utah Section PGA Names 2016 Award Winners
Pictured: 2016 Utah Section PGA Professional of the Year, Wasatch Mountain Golf Course Head Professional, Chris Stover
By Randy Dodson, Fairways Media President
SALT LAKE CITY – Chris Stover, head golf professional at Wasatch Golf Course, was recently honored as the Utah Section Professional Golf Association’s Professional of the Year. Stover headlines the 2016 list of award winners.
An awards committee of local golf professionals, chaired by Valley View Golf Course Head Professional Dustin Volk deliberated for many hours before voting for this year’s award honorees. After reviewing support material, the Utah Section PGA general membership were asked to vote for the Professional of the Year, Assistant Professional of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. The award winners come from all aspects of Utah’s golf industry including golf professionals, golf course superintendents, manufacturer representatives and golf administrators.
Stover, the current president of the Utah Section PGA said, “It is truly an honor to be recognized by your peers. I am honored and humbled to receive such an award. There are so many hard working professionals in our Section who are deserving of this award. This award is motivation for me to work even harder to live up to the greatness of the golf professionals in our Section who have been given this honor in the past.”
Stover said, “I am super excited about the state of the Utah Section PGA and golf in Utah. It is truly a privilege to serve with friends who are such great examples of what being a PGA Professional is all about.
“I couldn't be happier with the results of this year’s Utah Section PGA Awards voting, said Volk. “The committee did a wonderful job nominating great applicants. We received great input and insight from everyone on the voting committee. Congratulations to President Stover on his Professional of the Year award.”
2016 Utah Section PGA Awards recipients:
Golf Professional of the Year – Chris Stover, Wasatch Golf Course at Wasatch Mountain State Park
Assistant Golf Professional of the Year – Paul Phillips, Stonebridge Golf Course
Teacher of the Year – Ryan Holt, Golf The Round
Player Development Award – Jared Barnes, Cedar Ridge Golf Course
Youth Player Development Award – Pete Stone, Valley View Golf Course
Horton Smith Award – Chris Newson, Soldier Hollow Golf Course at Wasatch Mountain State Park
Bill Strausbaugh Award – Todd Brenkman, El Monte Golf Course
Merchandiser of the Year: Public Facility – Clark Garso, Stonebridge Golf Course
Merchandiser of the Year: Private Facility – Jake Hanley, Jeremy Golf & Country Club
Bill Howard Golf Citizen Award – Randy Dodson, Fairways Media
Superintendent of the Year: Public Facility – Lance Larsen, Wasatch Golf Course
Superintendent of the Year: Private Facility – Ross Laubscher, Entrada Golf Club
Gentleman Jeff Award – Wayne Volk, PGA Professional
John Wallace Award – Kelly Jo Wykes, Travis Mathews/JoFit
President’s Service Award – Wendover Gentlemen
Golf Industry Service Award – Jeff Beaudry, PGA of America
The Utah Section PGA is one of over 40 PGA Sections across the country. It is the Mission of the Utah Section PGA to be a leader in promoting the enjoyment of and involvement in the game of golf. The Section seeks to be a strong and prominent organization within the golf community by providing quality programs and services to both PGA members and others.
Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is the largest working sports organization in the world, comprised of more than 28,000 dedicated men and women promoting the game of golf to everyone, everywhere.