At 10 years old, while never stepping foot on a golf course, Lawrence Inks III, otherwise known as “Chip,” joined his grandfather for nine holes of golf at Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Chip loved it and considered golf his “fun” sport, because he didn’t want golf to get in the way of the baseball and soccer that he played competitively. That fun that Chip experienced on the course with his grandfather over 40 years ago has shaped his mindset and philosophy as a teacher and coach, culminating in being named the 2025 South Florida PGA Youth Player Development Award recipient, which recognizes the Professional who has made extraordinary contributions to youth player development. “The biggest thing for me is that I want my juniors to have fun first,” Chip, the PGA Director of Instruction at Village Golf Club in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, emphasized. “Yes, it’s time to be serious, and get our work done, but let's still have fun.” Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Chip was a standout baseball and soccer player who earned the opportunity to play both sports at Anderson University, a small Division III school in Anderson, Indiana. Except Chip never actually played on the baseball team and only played on the soccer team for two years before suffering an injury that derailed his soccer ambitions. Instead, he walked on to the golf team after being encouraged by a few friends he had met who were on the team. Chip had never played a competitive round of golf in his life at that point, but again, it was extremely fun for him and allowed his personality to shine, and Chip became hooked. By the time he was a senior at Anderson, Chip had almost become like a coach to other players who would come to Chip for swing advice, a small glimpse into what the future could hold for him. “Everybody who had a swing issue would come to me, and I became known as the swing guru and helped the whole team with lessons,” Chip explained. Shortly after graduating, Chip returned to Anderson University as an assistant golf coach. His passion for teaching led him to pursue PGA Membership, which he earned in 2006 while working at The Country Club at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. His time at The Country Club was extremely valuable, as he was introduced to and able to learn from individuals such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, David Leadbetter, and Butch Harmon, only intensifying his desire to become an instructor. Over the next three years, Chip worked himself up to becoming a head professional at Delaware Golf Club in Delaware, Ohio. While serving as a head professional, Chip did not feel the same level of fulfillment, realizing his passion lay more on the lesson tee than in the golf shop. Seeking his next opportunity, Chip and his wife relocated to South Florida, where he began working at the Polo West Country Club in Wellington. Soon after, Chip met Dustin Massey, PGA, at a Southeast Chapter Fall Meeting, offering him an opportunity to help run junior clinics at Park Ridge Golf Course in Lake Worth. Excelling in his role, Chip eventually became the PGA director of instruction at Park Ridge in 2014, under the leadership of Donna White, PGA, who oversaw all Palm Beach County-owned facilities. Chip began running junior programs for Park Ridge, and in 2019 alone, he saw 2,500 juniors come through the program, earning his first U.S. Kids Top 50 Coaches recognition. “His simple approach creates a supportive, not intimidating learning environment, dedicated to helping others improve their game, which is exemplified in the success of his students, especially his juniors,” explained White, a 2022 South Florida PGA Hall of Fame inductee. “His commitment to youth player development is worthy of recognition.” Following a record-breaking 2019 for junior participation, Chip and his team were on pace to reach 3,500 juniors in 2020 until COVID-19 hit, forcing Chip to move on. From Park Ridge, Chip became the director of Instruction at Village Golf Club, the facility where he currently resides today. While giving lessons and running clinics for juniors primarily aged 3-12 at the Village, Chip also serves as a Certified Instructor for the First Tee and coaches the girls' Palm Beach Central High School golf team, which advanced to the Regional finals this year for the first time in the program's 17-year history. As an instructor and coach, Chip takes a different approach with his students, not necessarily obsessing over the swing and mechanics, but more so the attitude and feelings of the individual. That personable approach goes a long way for younger students, as Chip emphasizes the importance of being an athlete and not just a golfer. “Aside from golf, he has been a caring leader once he learned I was diabetic, like his wife,” shared Wylie Inman, a student of Chip’s who has committed to play golf at the University of South Florida. “It shows his true character, that he cares about the person too, not just the golf swing.” From a 10-year-old just wanting to spend time with his grandfather to becoming a nationally recognized U.S. Kids coach to being named the 2025 South Florida PGA Youth Player Development Award recipient, Chip has maintained the same positive, fun approach that, in his eyes, keeps him young and full of joy.  “Golf very easily parallels life; golf is not always going to be fairways and greens. You are going to be stuck in the rough sometimes. How you get out of the rough really depends on what type of attitude you have, and that's really what I want the juniors to learn,” Chip explained. “We are going to do things right, we are going to have a good attitude, and I want you to have fun with it.”

As Scott Kash tells the story, the Veterans he was teaching golf to that spring day in 2023 had it all wrong. There were 15 or so Veterans who had participated in a PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) class at Stoneybrook Golf Club in Estero, Florida, and during the ceremony held at the conclusion of the class, each of them walked up to Kash, one of the PGA of America Professionals who had served as an instructor that day. "Every one of them is coming up and thanking me," says Kash. "I'm thinking, 'I'm here to thank you.' That's when it hit me that what I'm doing is making a difference. It is truly the least that we can do, as golf professionals, to teach them the game and give back to those who put on the uniform so that we are able to do what we do every day." The passion that Kash has for providing various means for Veterans to start the game and continue to enjoy it is evident to anyone who knows the man who is truly making the most of his second career, which has now seen him honored with the 2025 South Florida PGA (SFPGA) Patriot Award. Kash is the sixth recipient of the Patriot Award, which recognizes a PGA of America member who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to all who have served the United States of America. The SFPGA began recognizing the Patriot Award, one of the PGA of America's national awards, on the Section level in 2019. "This is a unique award, and I'm incredibly honored to receive it," says Kash, the Tournament Director at Quail Creek Country Club, a 36-hole private facility in Naples, Florida. "The Patriot Award is unique because it goes beyond what we do as a profession. I have looked at ways that I can give back, and when it comes to the military, I'm all in." Kash serves on the Home Base Golf Tournament Committee at Quail Creek. He played a vital role as the Tournament Director for the event itself, helping to raise more than $175,000 for the Home Base Foundation last year. Home Base is a national non-profit organization dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war through direct clinical care, wellness, education, and research, all at no cost to Veterans, service members, and their families. As a PGA HOPE Certified Professional, Kash has successfully graduated 58 Veterans across four classes since 2023. Furthermore, as a leader for the PGA HOPE Basecamps in the SFPGA's Southwest Chapter, Kash has organized three additional sessions, offering enhanced instruction and playing opportunities to 30 Veterans. One of those whose lives Kash has touched is Ronald Dixon, a disabled Veteran and one of Kash's Player Development students. "I have experienced firsthand the patience, encouragement, and genuine care that Mr. Kash provides to those he mentors," Dixon wrote in a letter recommending Kash for the SFPGA Patriot Award. "Mr. Kash has gone above and beyond in supporting me not only as a student of the game but also as a Veteran navigating the challenges of recovery, growth, and transition ... His support has helped me grow both on the course and personally, reinforcing the sense of pride and confidence that military service instilled in me." As so many Veterans have discovered how golf can help change their lives, so too has the game enriched the second part of Kash's professional arc. After a career in manufacturing planning and logistics, Kash started playing more golf. A lot more ... upwards of 175 rounds per year, in fact. He went to work at a local municipal course in the New York City area, decided to dedicate his efforts to achieving PGA of America membership, and after helping his parents move to Southwest Florida, Kash became a PGA of America member in 2010. Kash said he "felt something that day" in Maine in 2016 when he assisted in one of the early PGA HOPE events, in Maine. Part of the pull, to wanting to help Veterans, emanated from thinking about his Dad, Gerald, who had served as a special enlisted reserve in Korea. "My Dad was my rock," he says now of his late father. The son went to it, and the fire for helping veterans continues to burn strongly. He is currently working with Home Base to establish a golf league for veterans. Through PGA HOPE Basecamps, which are designed to keep veterans engaged in golf, Kash has helped secure facilities and collaborated with other PGA HOPE Certified Golf Professionals to deliver five weeks of instruction, culminating in a final 9-hole scramble. This summer, the third Basecamp session that Kash oversaw featured eight returning participants who had previously attended at least one session. Heather Angell, also a PGA of America Professional, went through PGA HOPE training with Kash. "I ran four PGA HOPE Programs in Fort Myers, and Scott was with me every step of the way making sure the Veterans had a great experience," says Angell, the PGA Director of Instruction at The Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek in Naples, Florida. "When he asked me if I could assist him with a Basecamp he created and organized this year, I did not hesitate to help out, as I knew he was offering a meaningful experience for those Veterans who had already completed the original PGA HOPE Program. Scott saw the importance of the program and the need that the graduates wanted more. PGA HOPE has become his passion and the program in Southwest Florida has been elevated because of him." Paul Fitzpatrick, PGA Director of Golf at Babcock National Golf & Country Club in Punta Gorda, Florida, has worked with Kash on several Basecamp events and echoes the praise from Angell. "Scott's genuine care for veterans and passion for providing them with opportunities to improve their golf game and feel comfortable are always evident," says Fitzpatrick. "We organize Drive, Chip, and Putt challenges, as well as a 9-hole scramble. In addition, Scott has conducted multiple surveys to better understand the participants’ needs and enhance their overall experience. Scott has found his passion and is dedicated to giving our veterans every opportunity to enhance their lives and golf experiences. His vision for the PGA HOPE program will have a lasting impact on our Section." So many of us try to find that calling in life. What is it that we can do to genuinely make a difference? Will it really matter at all? For Scott Kash, the answer is simple, really. In part, it's in what he calls "that look of amazement" on the faces of the Veterans he teaches, when they react to a golf ball they have struck well, soaring up in the air. In part, it's in honoring his Dad by "waking up each day with a passion for Veterans and these programs." Put together, the whole of it adds up to the intense commitment that Kash has made to those he gets to thank through the game that brings joy, renewal and, in many ways, peace, to those who deserve it the most. "You have to pour your heart and soul into this if you commit to giving back to our Veterans," he says. "I have had conversations with fellow PGA Professionals about the PGA HOPE program, and I often share the profound impact of seeing Veterans' appreciation for what we do for them. This has truly been a truly life-changing experience for me."

West Palm Beach, FL - Justin Hicks, Ashley Grier, Tim Cantwell, and Jerry Tucker have been awarded 2025 South Florida PGA Rolex Section, Women's, Senior Player, and Super Senior of the Year honors, respectively, based on the season-long points race. Annually, the SFPGA recognizes a Section, Women's, Senior, and Super Senior Player of the Year, determined by total points earned during Section individual stroke play events, PGA Professional Championships, and participation in the Challenge and Senior Challenge Cup Matches. For the second consecutive year, Hicks, a PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, has earned the Section's top playing honor, earning a total of 1,657 points, 213 points better than Michael Kartrude, PGA of The Bear's Club. Hicks' season was highlighted by qualifying for the PGA Championship by way of the PGA Professional Championship, where he finished in a tie for ninth, earning him entry into his first career PGA Championship. Less than a month later, Hicks was competing in the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club after successfully surviving golf's longest day and qualifying for his eighth Major Championship of his career. At the Section level, Hicks managed a top-10 finish in all four majors, including a T9 finish to open the season at the Fort Lauderdale Open, a fourth-place finish at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, a T7 finish at the Bushnell Stroke Play Championship, and a third-place finish at the South Florida PGA Professional Championship to close the season. Since becoming a member of the SFPGA in 2022, Hicks has taken full advantage of his Class-A Membership, earning two Rolex Player of the Year titles, resulting in two PGA TOUR starts, a Section major title at the 2024 Bushnell Stroke Play Championship, three Corales Puntacana Championship member qualifier titles, and a PGA Championship start. In her first year as a SFPGA member, Grier, a PGA Assistant Professional at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club, was named the Rolex Women's Player of the Year, earning 1,487 points, nearly 1,000 points ahead of her closest competitor. After transferring in from the Middle Atlantic PGA Section, where she became the first female to be crowned the Section Player of the Year in 2024, Grier's talent followed to South Florida, where she managed a T2 finish at the Fort Lauderdale Open which marked her first Section event. Grier later competed in the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, earning low PGA Professional honors, the first SFPGA Professional to do so in Section history. Her momentum carried into the South Florida PGA Professional Championship, ending in a tie for fourteenth before capturing the Women's Section Championship title to cap off the season. The Women's Player of the Year honor only adds to Grier's PGA of America playing career, where she has competed on the U.S. Women's PGA Cup Team in 2019, was awarded the 2020 PGA of America Women's Player of the Year honor, and has competed at four PGA Professional Championships and will make her fifth in 2026. Cantwell earned his first Rolex Senior Player of the Year honor, narrowly beating Alan Morin, PGA of the Club at Ibis, and the 2023 and 2024 player of the year, by 112 points. The PGA National Golf Club Teaching Professional opened the 2025 season with a second-place finish at the Florida Senior Open, a top-10 finish at the Fort Lauderdale Open, and a T3 finish at the South Florida Senior Open. Cantwell then joined 34 other PGA Professionals at the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club, where he made the cut, ultimately finishing at T58. Sustaining that momentum into the summer, Cantwell managed a top-15 at all Section majors, including a third-place finish at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, a T5 finish at the Bushnell Stroke Play Championship, and a T11 finish at the South Florida Senior PGA Professional Championship. To end the season, Cantwell competed and finished fourth in the Senior PGA Professional Championship, earning him entry into the 2026 Senior PGA Championship for the second consecutive year. For the fourth time in five years, Tucker of Jerry Tucker Golf has claimed the Super Senior Player of the Year honor, accumulating a total of 1,000 points. Tucker's season was highlighted by a seventh-place finish at the South Florida Senior Open, an 18th-place finish overall at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open (first in the Super Senior division), and an T8 finish at the South Florida Senior PGA Professional Championship (first in the Super Senior division). Closing the year, Tucker competed at the Senior PGA Professional Championship and was a member of the Senior Challenge Cup team. Tucker adds to his historic SFPGA playing resume, which includes six Senior Player of the Year honors and one overall Player of the Year honor. The Player of the Year is presented by Rolex and is a season-long points race designed to honor the best overall Section, Female, Senior and Super Senior players.

FRISCO, Texas (Nov. 6, 2025) - The PGA of America celebrated its 2025 Hall of Fame Class with an induction ceremony at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Wednesday night during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting in Frisco, Texas. The PGA of America Hall of Fame honors individuals who through their lives, careers, service and support have made significant and enduring contributions to the Association in its mission to grow the game of golf. The biennial ceremony, emceed by CBS Sports Reporter Amanda Balionis, honored and celebrated PGA of America Past President Jim Richerson, PGA ; PGA Members Ronny Glanton, PGA, Jim McLean, PGA and JD Turner, PGA ; LPGA Tour Legend Nancy Lopez ; and PGA of America Honorary Member and adaptive trick-shot artist Dennis Walters. "The PGA of America Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is always a special night, and the 2025 Class truly represents the very best of our Association and the game we love," said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr. "It's a tremendous honor to celebrate their profound achievements in growing and elevating golf and the industry. Their collective legacy is inspirational." The PGA of America Hall of Fame originated in 1940 at the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice and is the highest honor the PGA of America can bestow upon its members and ambassadors of the game. The Hall of Fame includes four induction categories: PGA of America Golf Professional Category (Glanton, McLean, Turner); PGA of America Past President Category (Richerson); Tour Player Professional Category (Lopez); and PGA of America Ambassador Category (Walters). The evening started off with a local legend, Ronny Glanton, PGA, who began his career in 1981 as an Assistant Professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson, Texas. Upon achieving PGA of America membership in 1984, he took over as Head Professional and has been at the Richardson facility ever since. He’s the namesake of The Ronny Golf Park, a first-of-its-kind facility located on campus at PGA Frisco that features a two-acre, lighted golf park made entirely of fully synthetic turf and hosts programs for children ages 3-14. “About 15 years ago (Northern Texas PGA CEO) Mark Harrison had this idea to build a golf park and allow kids to come participate for free,” said Glanton. “It took a lot of people, but Mark Harrison was the key and he kept it alive. It’s very humbling and an honor to be part of it.” Glanton then reflected on his 44 years at Sherrill Park. “First and foremost, the city of Richardson gave me a chance to be their Head Professional at a young age of 25 years old, and then I had to prove myself,” said Richardson. “They’re commitment to golf is unprecedented for a municipality. If it weren’t for the people who supported what we do, I would never be sitting here today.” Jim McLean, PGA, is one of the most influential PGA of America Golf Professionals in the world and is recognized globally for his teaching. In 1991, he founded the Jim McLean Golf School, which has grown into an internationally respected academy. A PGA Master Professional, McLean has taught thousands of golfers, including over 100 PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour professionals, among them Cristie Kerr, Keegan Bradley, Lexi Thompson and Bernhard Langer. Not only is McLean an expert coach, but a mentor to countless PGA of America Golf Professionals. “(Mentoring) has been the most important thing in my life, I think,” said McLean. “Working with a lot of juniors, that’s been the most fun thing. We have a great staff and a lot of great young people working for me, and that’s been the most important thing. We built a template for hiring young professionals, and the difference between a good future teacher and a great one is massive. We hire the great ones.” JD Turner, PGA, learned the game on a nine-hole golf course in Perry, Iowa. From there, he played collegiate golf at the University of Iowa and started a career as a PGA of America Golf Professional at facilities throughout Iowa and Nebraska, most notably as the Head Professional and Director of Golf at Des Moines Golf & Country Club. He reached a broader audience with the “The Iowa Golf Show” and then the “JD Turner Golf University” television programs, reaching 1.2 million viewers in the mid-1980s and ran for an incredible 25 years. As a PGA Master Professional, Turner’s skills as an instructor landed him on Golf Magazine’s “Top Teachers” list from 1991 to 2012. “I played golf with some producers in Des Moines, Iowa, and I said ‘why don’t we start a golf show’ and they were intrigued,” said Turner. “I put together a resume and they said ‘let’s do it,’ so we started the show. It turned out quite nice.” A mentor to many, Turner reflected on how the importance of leading others was instilled in his own life. “My dad was a school teacher and a coach and he gravitated toward a small town of about 6,000 people, a blue collar town,” he said. “He had a strong feeling for kids who came from tough places, and he passed that on to me. It was a wonderful quality of his and that was a big influence on me.” PGA of America Honorary Member and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Walters turned tragedy into inspiration after being paralyzed from the waist down from a golf cart accident in 1974 at age 24. He not only found a way to keep competing at a high level, helping to create a new category in the game: Adaptive Golf. He has also inspired thousands through his world-famous trick-shot clinic, the “Dennis Walters Golf Show,” always accompanied by his co-star rescue dog, who also made a star appearance on the PGA Frisco stage. “I want to thank the PGA of America for this honor,” said Walters. “I have basically fulfilled my boyhood dream of making it through this world as a professional golfer. That was my original goal, to make it through this world on my golf skills. And I did it.” In his more than 3,000 shows, Walters always leaves a message that has altered the direction of his own life. “If you have a dream and it doesn’t work out, that’s okay because the solution is simple: Get a new dream.” Nancy Lopez has a long history of breaking records. In 1978, she was LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and won the Vare Trophy for scoring average: She is still the only woman to capture all three honors in the same season. Today, the World Golf Hall of Famer’s influence remains strong through her company Nancy Lopez Golf, helping women learn the game and feel more comfortable on the golf course. However, as she spoke about her career, it was the influence of her own family that made the difference. “My dad was my teacher, my hero, my best friend,” the Hall of Famer said. “He helped me to learn to love the game. I’ve been very blessed, I have a wonderful family, a wonderful husband and three wonderful daughters. There was a lot of juggling, but I always looked at it this way: When I was mom, I was going to be the best mom I could be. Once I walked inside the ropes, that’s where I needed my focus, because if I didn’t, I was just wasting my time. Then when I was back outside the ropes, I thought only about my life.” The culmination of the inspirational evening was PGA of America Past President Jim Richerson, PGA. The General Manager & Chief Operating Officer of The Riviera Country Club & The Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Richerson was elected President at the 104th PGA Annual Meeting in 2020, and oversaw record participation and growth of the game, further elevating the role and stature of the PGA of America Golf Professional. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit,” Richerson said. “I think anybody that’s had any type of success in our business has a lot of people that have supported them along the way. From a business standpoint, I’ve had great partners, but it starts and ends with my family. I grew up in a very supportive family, my parents supported six kids that all went into different industries. And my wife, Kristi, for those who don’t know her, is better than me in every way. She’s the most genuine person I know. You can’t have any success unless you have people supporting you, and I’ve been very fortunate that the little bit of success that I've had is because of such great support. For a full list of PGA of America Hall of Fame Members, click here .

FRISCO, Texas (November 5, 2025) - The PGA of America held a special National Awards Ceremony Tuesday night to honor 12 PGA of America Golf Professionals for their outstanding performances and superior achievements, both on and off the course, at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas. Emceed by Sirius XM’s “PGA of America Radio” host David Marr III, the inspirational evening on the eve of the Association’s Annual Meeting was highlighted by PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Scott Paris, PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year Jason Baile and PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year Tony LaFrenere. “Our PGA of America National Award recipients represent the impact our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals have on this great game,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr. "Their expertise in our game is felt throughout the industry, but most importantly, within their local communities on a daily basis. The award ceremony is a special evening and reminds us all why working in the golf industry is so rewarding. For our recipients to be recognized and honored by their peers as industry leaders, and stand out among our entire Association, is an incredible achievement.”

Dreams. For many of us, dreams drive us daily, seeking goals, ways of life, that can be attainable for some, almost in reach for others. In the world of golf, some dreams are achieved while others have a shelf life, a finite period when reality deals a blow and forces the pursuit of different opportunities. Take the case of PGA of America Professional Christine Meier, the recipient of the 2025 South Florida PGA Player Development Award, which bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements to help more people play and enjoy the game of golf. The award also considers the PGA Professional's growth of the game leadership and commitment, and the meaningful impact made at the facility where they are employed. Meier, the PGA Director of Player Development at The Club at Mediterra, in Naples, Florida, began building the Player Development Programs at the 36-hole private facility in 2019. Since then, she has led a massive growth in programs from one weekly women's clinic helping 119 players in that first year, to more than 15 different programs that include two weekly clinics, monthly short-game sessions, five Golf Schools, monthly distance mapping clinics, two 6-week Operation 36 clinics and monthly Men’s Only Clinics. The implementation of those combined programs -- Meier is most proud of the "30-N-3" program that includes three holes of on-course instruction -- has benefitted nearly 500 players and has helped grow overall Player Development at Mediterra by more than 500% in six years. "We have such a remarkable team at our club that is committed to growing the game through these various programs, and I'm honored to represent them with this award," says Meier. "I was shocked when I learned I had won. I just know that I love what I do." Funny thing, the winding career path that Meier has undertaken since graduating from Michigan State University in 2014. What for so long was a relatively straightforward voyage, what with the dream for so long to pursue playing the game at the highest level. And what a run she had. A four-year-starter on the women's golf team in East Lansing, Meier won three Big 10 Conference titles and became the first Spartan to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open while still in school. Upon graduation, Meier criss-crossed the country for five years in her car -- 1 1/2 of those years with her older sister, Amy, who played golf collegiately for four years at The Ohio State University -- competing on the Symetra Tour (now the Epson Tour), seeking a path to reach one level higher ... as a full-time player on the LPGA Tour. She did play in two LPGA events, but at 27, with friends marrying and finances tightening, she started looking at other ways to fulfill her ambitions in golf, albeit with a different focus. "In a lot of ways, I did fulfill my dream," Meier says, "and If I had to do it all over again, I would. My best friends in the world are from those years on Tour. At the end, I just didn't see the level of success that I had experienced earlier. [Playing] golf was such a huge part of my identity that it was really difficult to wrestle with the potential of that not being the case anymore, of not playing a ton anymore. I really struggled with that idea." Enter the opportunity to continue to be part of the golf experience, this time in a group environment. First, the road veered as Meier came across a high school coaching position in Memphis, Tennessee, and took it. The coaching "bug" hit Meier, who had worked at The Club at Mediterra dating back to her days on Tour. Not long after Kevin Swan took over as the PGA Director of Golf Operations at The Club at Mediterra in 2018, he met with Meier, and encouraged her to assume a greater role by overseeing the Player Development initiatives at Mediterra. Meier admits that "emotionally it was really challenging to take on such a different role" as a "coach" in charge of finding new ways to inspire club members to take up the game and play more often. Swan has only seen Meier blossom in her newfound capacity. "We have an outstanding team at Mediterra, and Christine is at the heart of it," says Swan, a PGA Master Professional and the 2024 South Florida PGA Golf Professional of the Year. "She brings a lot of energy, professionalism and great ideas to our operation. In the process, she has mentored her fellow Professionals here at the club and helped them develop into excellent teachers, as well. Her passion for the game and the club are an inspiration for the entire team, and I've seen her mature and grow into her role and professional career. "I could not think of a person who is more deserving of the South Florida PGA Player Development Award than Christine." With the ability to participate in South Florida PGA tournaments, it's no surprise that Meier is heavily involved with the Tournament Committee for the Section's Southwest Chapter. Meier also volunteers her time with The First Tee program of Naples and several PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programs. Adam Bazalgette, the PGA Director of Instruction at Mediterra, says that "Christine strikes me as one who is passionate about golf, period. She takes a personal interest in the people she teaches, and she looks for any opportunity to improve her knowledge." For Meier, the improvement is ongoing. Indeed, a woman whose play was of such high quality that the Golf Association of Michigan, the governing body for amateur golf in the state, named Meier its female Player of the Decade for the 2010s, now dreams of even greater achievements when it comes to developing more players and enhancing players' experiences. "I love to teach and see others enjoy the game," she says. "It's really ironic how my career has evolved, and it goes to show you how many types of opportunities are out there in golf. I'm really exctied about what we can do at Mediterra, and I know I can learn so much more."

West Palm Beach, FL - For the fifth consecutive year the South Florida PGA defeated the North Florida PGA in the 20th Annual Senior Challenge Cup Matches, played October 28-29 at The Breakers Rees Jones Course at Breakers West Country Club. The South Florida PGA, captained by Roger Kennedy Sr., PGA Life Member, earned 20.5 points to North Florida’s 10.5 points in the annual Ryder Cup style matches. The two-day event was broken up into four separate formats, played over 36-holes.

As the Head Professional at Tatnuck Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the early 2000s, Dr. Tara McKenna, PGA, was approached by a member asking if she had any interest in being an adjunct professor at nearby Anna Maria College. Confused by the question but later intrigued by the opportunity, as someone who is passionate about continued education and had already earned a Master's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science, McKenna took the opportunity and began teaching Sports Ethics. “Teaching that class was frightening; it was probably one of the scariest things I have ever done because I had no idea what I was doing," McKenna explained of her semester teaching. While the experience was daunting and involved a huge learning curve compared to her traditional Club Professional role, it gave McKenna a glimpse into what an academic career could be like. “It put my foot in the door for academia, and little did I know how much that would benefit my career now,” McKenna said. “Just having that experience on my resume really put me in front of this opportunity to run a PGM program in 2010.” Fast-forward several years, and McKenna, now the Director of Golf Management at Florida Gulf Coast University for over 15 years, has been named the 2025 South Florida PGA Professional Development Award recipient. This award honors Professionals for outstanding contributions to professional education. McKenna previously won the same award in 2015. Coming from a golfing family in upstate New York, McKenna always demonstrated a passion for golf while consistently striving to set herself apart academically. Her talents took her to James Madison University, where she competed on the women’s golf team and earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Still uncertain of what she wanted to pursue as a career, McKenna accepted a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to work as a graduate assistant (GA) while pursuing a master's degree in Exercise and Sports Science. During her time at UNC Greensboro, McKenna, as part of her GA role, kick-started and began coaching the women’s golf team, which had been dormant for 10 years. In addition to coaching the women’s golf team, McKenna served as a GA under Dr. Debbie Cruz, an LPGA Member and Hall of Famer. At the same time, McKenna was working at The Farm at Greensboro Country Club, learning golf instruction from MaryBeth McGirr, the 2015 LPGA Coach of the Year, and Dot Gunnels, the 1993 NCAA National Women’s Coach of the Year at the University of North Carolina. Upon completing her master's degree and with the knowledge gained from her experiences and mentors in North Carolina, McKenna began working towards her Class-A PGA of America Membership. She accepted an assistant professional role at Normanside Country Club in Delmar, New York, the facility where she grew up. She even won her first Women’s Club Championship there at the age of 14. “I went back to the club I grew up at, spent four years there, and got my PGA membership,” McKenna recalled. “I knew once I started working there as an assistant golf professional, that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to run things, I wanted to wear all the hats.” Up until 2003, McKenna moved seasonally between New England and South Florida, serving as an assistant professional at several facilities until she earned a full-time head professional role at Tatnuck Country Club. She remained the head professional until 2009, when she came across a job posting at Florida Gulf Coast University looking for a Professional Golf Management Director. “I’d been on the green-grass side for about 18 years and saw this as an opportunity to have a little bit of a more normal schedule," McKenna explained. “But I can still stay connected to golf, I can still play and contribute to a Chapter and Section. It was more like the normalization but still tethered to golf, which really was the cool thing.” In 2010, McKenna started full-time at Florida Gulf Coast University. Still not completely sure what she was getting herself into, she quickly fell in love with helping her students grow. “It is so rewarding when your first graduate comes up to you and says, ‘Wow, thank you, that was an amazing experience, and I would not be where I am without your help,’” McKenna recalled when she knew she was in the right place. While seemingly instantly passionate about the role, McKenna admits the transition from the green-grass side of the industry was difficult. However, she is incredibly fortunate to have had 2013 South Florida PGA Professional Development Award recipient and FGCU Assistant PGM Director Marty Hall, PGA, by her side the entire time. “Marty’s been here longer than me, but I think we complement each other so well, and that was right out of the gate,” McKenna said. “We also buy into the mission and are here to make our students incredibly successful. I don’t make decisions here without running things by her first.” Within her first five years at FGCU, McKenna won her first SFPGA Professional Development award, solidifying herself as a leader within the SFPGA and incredibly talented in her new role. McKenna was still not done furthering herself as a professional educator. In 2022, she began working towards her Doctorate in Education, which she successfully completed in June 2024. This only added to her resume, which also includes being an LPGA Professional. Lastly, McKenna is well on her way to achieving her PGA of America Master Professional honor, the highest educational designation for a PGA Professional. A decade after receiving her first PGA Professional Development Award, McKenna still shares the same passion and mission for helping others. “I want to help students find their way.”

PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (Oct. 26, 2025) - Justin Hicks added yet another highlight to his standout year on Sunday at the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship. Hicks (Wellington, Fla.) hoisted the Leo Fraser Trophy for the first time after recording a final-round 1-under-par 71 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker course to finish the week at 8-under-par 280 and win by one. Sunday’s victory continues a strong run for Hicks, a PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, who claimed seven victories at the South Florida PGA Section and Chapter levels earlier this year. “It’s a really good group of players out there and to come out on top of it I feel pretty good about it,” said Hicks. “I play against so many good players in our section. I steamrolled it a little bit into continuing what I was doing this summer to beat the young guys.” Alan Morin (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) finished second at 7-under-par 281. Omar Uresti (Austin, Texas) took third at 6-under-par 282. Tim Cantwell (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) finished fourth at 5-under-par 283 while Jeff Gove (Sandpoint, Idaho) claimed fifth at 4-under-par 284. Hicks entered Sunday’s final round with a one-shot advantage. Following an opening-par on the par-5 1st hole, he went birdie-bogey on holes 2-3 then collected six consecutive pars on holes 4-9 to make the turn at even-par 36. A bogey at the par-4 12th proved to be a mental turning point for the South Florida PGA Member when he three-putted from 20 feet. “I tried to say ‘okay it was one bad putt’ and really the rest of the way in I hit a lot of good putts,” said Hicks. “I found a way to take a negative and learn from it and apply it. I knew that my tempo had gotten off with that putt so the rest of the way in, that's all I focused on was having good tempo with each stroke.” Hicks’ adjusted tempo yielded immediate results when he made a 15-footer for birdie on the following hole at the par-5 13th. His third and final birdie of the day came at the par-5 16th where he hit the green in two and guided his 19-foot eagle putt to within an inch and tapped in. Hicks parred the par-3 17th and par-4 18th to clinch the victory. Hicks credited his community of PGA of America Golf Professionals consisting of Matt Messer, PGA (Bear Lakes Country Club), Steve Haggerty, PGA (PGA National Golf Club) and Jeremy Wells, PGA (Cypress Lake Golf Club) for aiding in his recent success. “Jeremy and I are constantly trying to get better,” said Hicks. “Steve and Matt are more like mentors and instructors that I talk to on a daily basis as far as how do I teach better and also how do I play better. I have a really good community of people that I work with.” Defending champion Morin, a PGA Assistant Professional at The Club at Ibis, started Sunday’s finale in second at 6-under. The South Florida PGA Member shot even-par 36 on the front-nine, which included a bogey-birdie stretch on holes 6-7. After a bogey at the par-3 11th, Morin birdied the par-5 13th and par-5 16th to post a 1-under-par 35 on the back to finish 1-under-par 71. “I was really trying to win it back-to-back this year, but with a field like that it’s so hard to accomplish something like that,” said Morin. “To be able to come down and have a chance at it and play with a good friend like Justin Hicks, we’re both in the South Florida Section. It was a good battle out there. I was really trying to win it back-to-back, but overall I’m happy with how I played the week. I didn’t really make too many mistakes.” Uresti, a PGA Life Member from the Southern Texas PGA Section, recorded his low round of the week, a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday. Cantwell, a PGA Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, registered 1-under-par 71. Gove, a PGA Life Member from the Pacific Northwest PGA Section, shot 4-under-par 68, which matched the low round of the day. Hicks leads the Corebridge Financial Team of 35 PGA of America Golf Professionals set to compete in the 2026 Senior PGA Championship, taking place at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida, April 16-19. “I’m really looking forward to having a chance to play against those guys and seeing what I can do with it and see how I measure up,” said Hicks. “Obviously I’m not looking at giving up my day job anytime soon, but it would be fun to have a really good week with those guys and see how competitive I can be.” The complete list of 35 PGA of America Golf Professionals who earned a place on the Corebridge Financial Team for the 2026 Senior PGA Championship is below in the order they finished. Justin Hicks (Wellington, Fla., Stonebridge Country Club, South Florida Section) Alan Morin (Royal Palm Beach, Fla., The Club at Ibis, South Florida Section) Omar Uresti (Austin, Texas, PGA Life Member, Southern Texas Section) Tim Cantwell (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., PGA National Golf Club, South Florida Section) Jeff Gove (Sandpoint, Idaho, PGA Life Member, Pacific Northwest Section) Rohan Allwood (Prosperity, S.C., Chester Golf Club, Carolinas Section) Ryan Malby (Kalispell, Mont., PGA Life Member, Pacific Northwest Section) Rod Perry (Port Orange, Fla., Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club, North Florida Section) Bob Sowards (Dublin, Ohio, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, Southern Ohio Section) Paul Scaletta (Jupiter, Fla., The Bear’s Club, South Florida Section) Neil Thompson (Hoover, Ala., Pine Tree Country Club, Alabama-NW Florida Section) Brian Thornton (Sumner, Wash., Meridian Valley Country Club, Pacific Northwest Section) Warren Pineo (Reno, Nev., Montreux Golf & Country Club, Northern California Section) Matt Schalk (Erie, Colo., Colorado National Golf Club, Colorado Section) Mark Brown (Hobe Sound, Fla., The Yacht & Country Club, South Florida Section) Mick Smith (Summit, Wis., Mick Smith Golf, Wisconsin Section) Steve Holmes (Ventura County, Calif., Rustic Canyon Golf Course, Southern California Section) David Roesch (Menomonee Falls, Wis., Storm’s Golf Range, Wisconsin Section) Frank Bensel (Jupiter, Fla., Galloway National Golf Club, Philadelphia Section) Kyle Dobbs (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., Ardsley Country Club, Metropolitan Section) Brian Smock (Coronado, Calif., Coronado Golf Course, Southern California Section) Greg Bisconti (South Salem, N.Y., The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club, Metropolitan Section) Grover Justice (Lexington, K.Y., Bluegrass Golf Academy, Kentucky Section) Jim Deiters (Midland, Mich., Midland Country Club, Michigan Section) Jeff Martin (Attleboro, Mass., Wollaston Golf Club, New England Section) Todd Sapere (Cobbtown, Ga., Ohoopee Match Club, Georgia Section) Jeff Hart (Solana Beach, Calif., PGA Life Member, Southern California Section) Jeffrey Schmid (Iowa City, Iowa, Brown Deer Golf Club, Iowa Section) Tracy Phillips (Tulsa, Okla., Cedar Ridge Country Club, South Central Section) Craig Hocknull (Queen Creek, Ariz., Westchester Country Club, Metropolitan Section) Mike Small (Champaign, Ill., University of Illinois, Illinois Section) John Pillar (Hawley, Pa., CC at Woodloch Springs, Philadelphia Section) Mike Stone (Toledo, Ohio, Belmont Country Club, Northern Ohio Section) Brennan Little (Plano, Texas, PGA TOUR, Northern Texas Section) Brad Elder (Dallas, Texas, PGA Life Member, Northern Texas Section) The top eight finishers —Hicks, Morin, Uresti, Cantwell, Gove, Allwood, Malby and Perry— also qualified for the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona. For more about the Senior PGA Professional Championship, supported by Golf Channel and PXG, visit here .