The North Florida PGA Section is pleased to announce our 2020 Special Award winners!
[KISSIMMEE, FL, February 12, 2020] – The North Florida PGA has named its 13 award winners, as recognized by their peers, for outstanding performance during 2019. These awards recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our NFPGA Professionals on and off the course. The following PGA Professionals are this year’s honorees in the Tampa area and will be honored at the NFPGA Awards Celebration at Reunion Resort on June 1st, 2020.
Fred Curits, PGA- Patriot Award
Fred Curtis, Head Golf Professional at Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country Club, has been awarded as the NFPGA’s Patriot Award. The Patriot Award is presented to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
Glenn Scapin, PGA- Player Development Award
Glenn Scapin, Head Golf Professional at Pasadena Yacht and Country Club, has been awarded the NFPGA’s Player Development Award. The President’s Plaque is designed to recognize a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. This award considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment and the impact made at the facility.
Marianne Rechtoris- Amateur of the Year
Marianne Rechtoris, from Oldsmar, has been awarded as the NFPGA’s Amateur of the Year. The Amateur of the Year Award is designed to recognize the amateur whose contributions to the game show exceptional commitment of passion, time, and resources to grow the game and contribute to a better future.
Matt Jordan, PGA- Horton Smith Award
Matt Jordan, Head Golf Professional at Streamsong Resort, has been awarded the NFPGA’s Horton Smith Award. The PGA Horton Smith Award recognizes the PGA Professional who is the model educator of PGA Golf Professionals. This award is designed to give special recognition to an individual PGA Professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.
Nick Kowal- Sales Professional of the Year
Nick Kowal of Titleist, has been awarded as the NFPGA’s Sales Professional of the Year. The Sales Professional of the Year is designed to recognize the Sales Professional whose support and contributions enhance relations with the facilities and the company. This sales professional goes above and beyond to help support initiatives and tournaments.
Other NFPGA Special Award winners from outside of theTampa area include:
Brad Brewer, PGA- Teacher of the Year
Brad Brewer Golf Academy, Orlando, Fl
Brian Overbeck- Sales Professional of the Year
Taylormade Golf, Jacksonville, Fl
Brian Riddle, PGA- Merchandiser of the Year (Resort)
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl
Bruce Mohler, PGA- Merchandiser of the Year (Public)
Jax Beach Golf Club, Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Bryan McManis, PGA- Merchandiser of the Year (Private)
Lakewood Ranch Golf & CC, Lakewood Ranch, Fl
Hal Cowen- Amateur of the Year
Kissimmee, Fl
Jim and Debbie Kehoe- Amateur of the Year
Sarasota, Fl
John and Kathi Skelton- Amateur of the Year
Sarasota, Fl
Scott Vandame- Sales Professional of the Year
FootJoy, Sarasota, Fl
Therese Quinn- Amateur of the Year
Jacksonville, Fl
Tim Beckwith, PGA- Bill Strausbaugh Award & Golf Professional of the Year
The Oaks Club, Osprey, Fl
Tina Wiswedel- Sales Professional of the Year
Jacksonville, Fl
Tom Mirus, PGA- Deacon Palmer Award
Golfweek Amateur Tour, Orlando, Fl
Trevor Hughes, GCSAA- Superintendent of the Year
Jax Beach Golf Club, Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Vincent Burbank, PGA- Youth Player Development Award
Orlando, Fl
Zoran Ilic, PGA- Assistant Professional of the Year
Lone Palm CC, Lakeland, Fl
The North Florida PGA (NFPGA) is one of 41 Sections that make up the PGA of America. Formed in 1979, the NFPGA is the 4th largest of the 41 geographic Sections that make up the PGA of America. The NFPGA geographic area is the northern 42 counties east of the Apalachicola River and includes cities of Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota. With over 1,400 members, NFPGA Professionals are the experts in the business of golf, and are responsibilities include, but not limited to executive management, facility operations, teaching and coaching, tournament operations, merchandising, and youth development.
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