PGA of America Celebrates National Award Recipients at 109th PGA Annual Meeting at PGA Frisco

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.”

PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year is the highest honor annually awarded to a PGA of America Member. Paris, the PGA Director of Golf at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, embodies the meaning of the award, which recognizes leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.

Paris’ impact at Plainfield has been significant since he was hired in 1997 as the PGA Head Professional. The Director of Golf since 2006, he was instrumental in the club hosting two PGA TOUR FedEx Cup Playoff events and establishing the First Tee of Plainfield, the first chapter of this important organization to be located at a private club.

“Plainfield Country Club is a special place,” Paris said. “We’ve got some communities near us that need some help and we’ve made it a priority to help them with the First Tee, the Evans Caddie Scholarship and the New Jersey Caddie Scholarship. There’s nothing more valuable than an education and I’m just so proud of the membership and the staff. They bought into that culture and continue to help.”

A mentor to many, Paris realized he didn’t receive the Association’s top honor on his own. “It’s led to a lot of reflection,” Paris said. “I reached out to so many who had been impactful in my career and my life, and it’s been so rewarding to thank them. Boy, I needed a lot of help, and I got it along the way, and it’s been very rewarding to give that back.”

PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year is awarded to a PGA Member who has performed outstanding services as a golf teacher, innovator and coach. Baile, the PGA Director of Instruction at Jupiter HIlls Club in Tequesta, Fla., has exemplified these categories throughout his quarter-century career with his ability to teach at every level of the game. Notable students include Lucas Glover, Peter Uihlein, Bud Cauley, Hayden Buckley and Ryan Gerard. However, his coaching also reaches his members and junior golfers.

“I think this is the best professional night I’ve ever had in my life,” Baile said from the Omni PGA Frisco Resort stage. “From the beginning, I just wanted to coach. I didn’t care who it was, it could be my little brothers, I just wanted to coach. I never set out to coach the best players in the world. I just felt like if you kept coaching, better players would find you.”

In a touching moment, Baile’s daughter, Blake, came to the stage and asked her father what his favorite thing about being a PGA Coach is.

“One of my favorite things about being a coach is building relationships,” he explained. “I don’t want our whole relationship to just be about golf. I want our relationship to be about being good people to one another.”

LaFrenere, the PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year, may not always be found on the golf course as the Executive Director of Schaumburg Park District in Illinois, but his expertise in the game and his inspiration to turn Schaumburg Golf Club into a community hub, are the epitome of what the honor stands for: recognizing outstanding service in an executive management position, as well as leadership, vision, courage, moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game.

A sense of community threads LaFrenere’s vision for the more than 60 parks, seven facilities, 90 full-time and 700 seasonal staff, a $50 million budget and a 27-hole golf club.

“The journey has been incredible, and it’s truly a full-circle moment,” said LaFrenere. “I grew up in Schaumburg, fell in love with the game in Schaumburg, we’ve raised our family in Schaumburg and lo and behold, I now have the honor and privilege of serving the community of Schaumburg.”

As Veterans Day draws near, Adam Relan, PGA, the 2025 Patriot Award recipient and PGA Director of Golf at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course in Portsmouth, Virginia, demonstrated his inspiring pride and honor towards our military Veterans and active-duty service members as he reflected on his journey with PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation.

“Everybody that’s been involved in PGA HOPE, all the professionals, everyone who’s stepped up, we all get more out of it than what we ever intended,” said Relan. “I can’t put it into words, it’s the best program the PGA of America has. You spend one hour at a HOPE program and it will change you. It’s my way to give back to our Veterans. When I couldn’t serve like my father, my grandfather and my nephew, PGA HOPE has become my way to give back.”

Jason Epstein, PGA Director of Golf & Athletics at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, has seemingly done it all in his nearly 30 years in the industry, including most recently running the New York City Marathon for the fifth time in support of PGA REACH. His devotion to fellow professionals earned him the 2025 Bill Strausbaugh Award, which recognizes a PGA of America Golf Professional who demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and leadership through teaching and mentoring other PGA of America Golf Professionals.

“Like so many in this room, golf has given me everything I have, from my childhood to going to college and playing golf, to meeting my wife and raising our kids to traveling around the world and landing at Congressional Country Club, which has the most amazing members and team,” Epstein said. “I’m the luckiest person in the world. I don’t really think of it as growing the game of golf, but as everyone says, it’s giving back to the game.”

A tribute video was played for Kammy Maxfeldt, PGA, detailing the incredible impact she made as the longtime Head Professional of Birchwood Country Club in Westport, Conn. Maxfeldt was posthumously honored with the Deacon Palmer Award. She passed away in April 2024 after a courageous seven-year battle with two cancers: Leukemia and cancer in her eye. Her sister Darcy Bomer accepted the award on her behalf.

The Deacon Palmer Award honors a PGA of America Golf Professional who displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life.

At the heart of every PGA of America Golf Professional is the love of teaching and coaching the game. That was evident as PGA of America Player Development Award winner Pam Elders, PGA, Director of Instruction at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla., and Mike Suhre, PGA of America Youth Player Development Award recipient and Owner & Head Professional at Oak Brook Golf Club in Edwardsville, Illinois, were honored on stage.

“None of us got up here without help,” Elders said. “We had mentors in our life that gave us inspiration to be here. It’s been amazing to have this opportunity.”

The Association annually gives three PGA Merchandiser of the Year Awards, recognizing efforts in the Resort, Private and Public facility categories. Honored together were Danny Rainbow, PGA, Director of Golf at SentryWorld in Steves Point, Wis. (Resort); James Ondo, PGA, Head Professional at The Apawamis Club in Rye, New York (Private); and Matt Adamski, PGA, General Manager at Sweetens Cove Golf Club in South Pittsburg, Tenn., (Public).

The Herb Graffis Award will be presented to the Northern Texas PGA Section today during the PGA Annual Meeting. The award is given annually to one of the 41 PGA of America Sections that has shown tireless dedication to grow the game of golf and furthering player-development programming in the community.

The 109th PGA Annual Meeting will commence November 5-6 at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort at PGA Frisco.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Justin Hicks is Crowned Champion at the 2026 Senior Section Championship

By Chance Bressler & Lilah Demmy • August 19, 2026

Jupiter, FL - Justin Hicks fires off a 13-under performance in two days to win the South Florida PGA Senior PGA Professional Championship, held August 18-19, 2026 at The Loxahatchee Club. Out of the gate in round one, Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, started steady by making only pars on the first five holes and finishing the nine at 2-under. Making the turn, Hicks turned it up a notch, making four birdies and an eagle, finishing the round at 8-under. At the conclusion of the first round, Hicks led by six shots over John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump National Golf Club (Jupiter), and Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club. 2012 Champion, John Lee, PGA General Manager at Imperial Golf Club, trailed the leader by eight shots at even-par in fourth place. “I've tried a few championship qualifiers this year, and they slapped me around pretty good out there. So, I'm trying to kind of treat each round almost like, a qualifier” Hicks explained. Hicks carried that mindset into round two putting together a strong and steady performance, recording five birdies while consistently making par throughout his round finishing the day at 5-under. “Oh, this is kind of fun. Maybe I'll run this up and see how much, how many under I can get it, "Hicks said. Over 36 holes Hicks finished the championship with a bogey-free 13-under performance. Runner Up Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club trailed Hicks finishing the tournament 2-under with 8 total birdies. Escalera had a steady second round, shooting even par and securing a spot in the National Senior PGA Professional Championship set to take place this October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain in Golden Canyon, Arizona. Joining Hicks and Escalera at the National Senior PGA Professional Championship in third place is John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump International Golf Club (-1), tied for fourth is Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Instructor at PGA National Golf Club (E) and Roger Kennedy Jr, PGA Assistant Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge (E), and in fifth place is Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club (+1). “I do think we have one of the strongest sections, if not the strongest section in the U.S. ” Hicks said. Leaderboard | Event Photos

Paul Scaletta and Tim Turpen Win the 2026 Senior Pro-Pro Championship

By Chance Bressler • August 7, 2026

North Palm Beach, FL - Paul Scaletta and Tim Turpen fired a 9-under 62 to win the Senior Pro-Pro Championship held at North Palm Beach Country Club on August 7, 2026. This year’s event welcomed 43 two-person teams of senior PGA Professionals playing in a four-ball format. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at the Bear’s Club, and Tim Turpen, PGA General Manager at The Preserve at Ironhorse, teamed up for the first time in the 2025 Senior Pro-Pro Championship and finished tied for third. This year, the two managed to break the streak of three-time champions Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Mark Mielke, PGA Teaching Professional at High Ridge Country Club. Starting on hole number 17, the Scaletta and Turpen team had a steady start, finishing the first three holes at 1-under. With two birdies and an eagle, they advanced to 5-under through nine holes played. With seven holes to play, the duo made five additional birdies to finish the event at 9-under, which led to the tournament win. Finishing in the runner-up spot was the team of Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, and Matt Ball, PGA Director of Instruction at Delray Indoor Golf Center. Tied in third were reigning champions Mielke and Brown, along with Jeff Raimer, PGA Director of Golf at The Gate Golf Club, and Daniel Heaslip, PGA Director of Golf at Windstar on Naples Bay. Rounding out the top five were teams of Colin Amaral, PGA Director of Instruction at Country Club at Mirasol, and Roger Kennedy Jr., PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge, who were tied with Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club, and Alan Morin, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Ibis Golf & Country Club. Leaderboard | Event Photos

Michael Kartrude Claims the 2026 Stroke Play Championship with Joe Kern Capturing Senior Division Title

By Chance Bressler • August 5, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Michael Kartrude wins at the third of four South Florida PGA Major Championships, the Bushnell I Foresight Stroke Play Championship, shooting 9-under, played August 4-5 at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter and BallenIsles Country Club - East Course. In addition to Kartrude, Joe Kern claimed the Senior Division title with a 6-under performance. After the first round, Taylor Collins, PGA Teaching Professional at Coral Ridge Country Club, Andrew Filbert, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at West Bay Golf Club, and Nicholas Tenuta, Teaching Professional at Hobe Sound Golf Club, were tied in first place at 5-under. Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, followed closely behind at 4-under along with Michael Kartrude, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Bear’s Club. After nine holes were completed in the second round, Cantwell held a narrow one-stroke lead over Collins. While Collins remained steady on the back nine, Lost Tree Club Assistant Professional Brant Peaper caught fire, carding back-to-back birdies to tie Collins for the lead. Peaper eventually pulled away, finishing his final round at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter at 8-under. However, over at BallenIsles, Kartrude mounted a late charge after an hour-long weather delay. With Peaper in at 8-under, Kartrude holed out the short par-4 15th and made eagle, then followed up with a birdie on the par-5 17th, which catapulted him into the lead by one shot with one hole remaining. By making par on the final hole, Kartrude finished his round at 5-under and claimed the two-day championship with a final score of 9-under par. “I knew exactly where we were on the leaderboard,” Kartrude said, reflecting on the final stretch. “After the hour-long weather delay, I knew exactly what we needed to do.” After stringing together multiple top-5 finishes over the year, this marks Kartrude’s first individual victory on the Section Schedule for the 2026 season, with his last win being the 2025 South Florida PGA Section Championship. Kartrude states, “I just think that this section is getting better and better. The guys here are getting better and better. South Florida is such a hotbed, so to win one of the majors on this schedule makes me proud.” With the 5-under second-round performance, Peaper managed the runner-up spot, and Filbert, Tenuta, and Zachary Wood, PGA Caddie at The Seagate Country Club, rounded out the top five at 6-under. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Joe Kern, PGA Director of Golf at Mangrove Sands Golf Club, managed a two-day total of 6-under to win the Senior title by one over Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club. With this win, Kern managed his first victory of the 2026 South Florida PGA season, with his last win coming from the 2023 Pro-Junior Championship. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at The Bears Club, Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Cantwell rounded out the top five at 4-under. Additionally, Brown carded an ace on the fourth hole at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course during the first round. Leaderboard | Event Photos

Ryan Crowley and Noah Firestone Claim the 2026 Pro-Scratch Championship

By Chance Bressler • July 31, 2026

Boca Raton, FL - Ryan Crowley and Noah Firestone (a) of Turtle Creek Club claim the Pro-Scratch Championship, presented by Foresight | Bushnell, played July 30-31 at The Old Course at Broken Sound and Bocaire Country Club. Upon the conclusion of round one, the Seminole Golf Club team comprised of Dakun Chang and Jeff Wells (a) were neck and neck with Fairwinds Golf Club's Mike Melton and Jackson Hiller (a), leading the field at 10-under par. Chang and Wells (a) got off to a quick start, making four straight birdies out of the gate. Meanwhile, the team of Ryan Crowley and Noah Firestone (a) did not go quietly into the night. Matching the leader’s 4 birdies, they sat tied in second with Melton and Hiller (a), along with the Turtle Creek Club team of Ryan Isaacson and Jordan Elson (a). Shooting an 8-under front nine in round two, Crowley and Firestone (a) advanced into first position heading into the back nine. The two finished the second round with a tournament low round of 12-under, where they sealed the victory with a 20-under performance, edging out Melton and Hiller (a) by one stroke. Chang and Wells (a) finished the tournament at 17-under, placing in third. Rounding out the top five was the teams of Michael Kartrude of The Bear’s Club and Ricky Casko (a) of Ocean Reef Club, and Kyle Rybicki and Chloe Guschewski (a) of Cape Royal Golf Club finishing tied in fourth at 16-under. The three-time defending champions, Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club and Robbie Wight (a) of Bear Lakes Country Club, finished tied sixth alongside Isaacson and Elson (a). Leaderboard | Event Photos

2026 Travel Pro-Am Takes on Scotland

By Chance Bressler • July 25, 2026

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA hosts one Travel Pro-Am each year, and this year, the Section crossed the Atlantic to take on Scotland. After five rounds of golf across five spectacular Scottish courses, two teams walked away with the hardware. The field featured 17 teams, each consisting of one PGA Professional and three amateurs. The week-long event was split into two distinct challenges, with every round being a different format. The team from Fort Lauderdale Country Club captured the first challenge from rounds 2 and 3. Led by Tommy Lucko, PGA, the Fort Lauderdale Country Club team included amateurs Ben Hill, Jay Dick, and Colin Loiacono. The Fisher Island Club team earned top honors in the second challenge after a win via a scorecard playoff. Captained by Mike Hulbert, PGA, the Fisher Island Club team included Jim Dow, Bob Nydick, and Daniel Wright. Results | Photo Album

Mike Berger and Chris Stanko Crowned Champions at the 2026 Yamaha Pro-Pro Championship

July 8, 2026

Naples, FL - Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Chris Stanko of Banyan Golf Club of Palm Beach claimed the championship title with an 18-under performance at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club and the Rookery at Marco on July 7-8, 2026. This year’s Championship returned to The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay, serving as the host facilities for the fifth time in the last six years. A full field of 240 South Florida PGA Professionals and Associates competed in a team four-ball format over the 36-hole event. After an 8-under opening round, Berger and Stanko were tied for sixth, only one shot behind the five teams tied for first. During the second round, Berger and Stanko fired off four birdies and an eagle on just the back nine, leading them to a 10-under score for the day. With an 18-under total for the championship, the two professionals took home the title by one stroke, finishing ahead of the teams of Andrew Filbert from West Bay Golf Club & Justin Smith of Bonita Bay, and defending champions Matt Cahill and Dakun Chang of Seminole Golf Club, who were tied for second at 17-under. In fourth place came Nick Latimer of Medalist Golf Club and Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, who wrapped the event at 16-under. The five teams, Michael Kartrude and Paul Scaletta, Zachary Wood and Patrick Ross, Maximilian Coulls and Jason Martin, Ryan Fountain and John Somers, and Daniel Lee and John Lento, finished tied at fifth place with a score of 15-under for the two days. Leaderboard

Eric Veilleux and Michael Kartrude Win the 2026 Yamaha Junior-Senior Championship

By Chance Bressler • July 1, 2026

Atlantis, FL - Michael Kartrude and Eric Veilleux of the Bear’s Club did not shy away from the weather at the Yamaha Junior-Senior Championship. The two claimed the championship title with an 11-under performance today at Lost City Golf Club (East/North Courses). The 2026 Yamaha Junior-Senior welcomed 50 two-person teams of a junior SFPGA Member under the age of 50 and a senior SFPGA Member over the age of 50. Holes 1-6 were played in a best-ball format, while holes 7-12 were played in a modified alternate shot format, and holes 13-18 were played in a scramble format. Veilleux, a PGA Director of Golf and Kartude, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional had a bogey-free round, carding 11 birdies on the day, defeating the team of Mark Brown of The Yacht and Country Club and Matthew Sita of Boca Rio Golf Club by two shots. Finishing tied for third at 8-under were James Hamner of Windsor Club and Mike San Filippo of The Club at Lost Lake, along with Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Joe Kern of Mangrove Sands Golf Club. Leaderboard

John Somers and Justin Hicks win the 2026 E-Z-GO South Florida Open

By Chance Bressler • June 25, 2026

NAPLES, FL - John Somers wins the Championship Division while Justin Hicks wins the Senior Division at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, played June 23-25 at Bonita Bay Club - Sabal & Cypress Courses. The second South Florida PGA Major of the year and first three-day Major featured 167 total players competing at Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Following round 2, a Senior Champion was crowned, and the field was cut to 55 players for the final round. Championship Division Hobe Sound Golf Club Assistant Professional, John Somers, opened the three-day event with a 1-under 71 to trail the round 1 leader, Justin Bertsch, by seven shots. Somers fired away in the second round with a 6-under 66, jumping up the leaderboard after round two. Continuing the momentum, Somers finished with the low round of the day, shooting an 8-under 64. Both Somers and Derron Peyton of BallenIsles Country Club finished round three tied at 15-under, leading to a playoff. After the first hole, Somers won the playoff with a birdie, earning the 2026 E-Z-GO South Florida Open Champion title. “You just gotta stay in the moment and not think too far ahead,” Somers said about heading into the playoff. “It was an amazing feeling, especially when that final putt dropped.” This marks Somers’ first win with the South Florida PGA Section since his move to Hobe Sound Golf Club last December, coming from the North Florida Section. Finishing in third with a 13-under total was Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, while Nathan Kraynyk of Wyndemere Country Club took fourth place honors at 10-under par for the three rounds. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Justin Hicks, Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club, secured the title with a 10-under performance after shooting 69 and 65 for the two rounds. At the end of the first round, five players shared the top spot including Hicks, Jared Blocker of The Club at Olde Cypress, Alan Morin of The Club at Ibis, Steven Vecellio of Frenchmans Reserve Country Club, and David Startzel of Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Hick’s bogey-free second round edged out Vecellio, shooting a 67 to take his total to 8-under as the Runner-Up. Finishing at 7-under was Morin who took third place, while Colin Amaral of Country Club at Mirasol, finished in fourth at 4-under.

Tom Cooper and Taylor Morgan Capture Pro-Assistant Championship

By Chance Bressler • June 2, 2026

Port St. Lucie/Stuart, FL - June 2, 2026 - Pine Tree Golf Club Club Professionals, Tom Cooper and Taylor Morgan captured the Srixon Cleveland Pro-Assistant Championship, presented by Club Car, with a 20-under performance over the last two days at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart. This year’s Championship welcomed 82 two-person teams playing at PGA Golf Club and Mariner Sands Country Club. PGA Golf Club played a scramble format, while Mariner Sands Country Club played a Chapman format. The duo of Cooper, Pine Tree Golf Club’s Head Golf Professional, and Morgan, Assistant Golf Professional, posted a 12-under 60 during the first round in the scramble format, putting them one stroke ahead of Cameron Fady and Kyle Horvath of Quail Creek Country Club, Morgan Jewell and Nick Hocker of Floridian National Golf Club, and Mike Schuette and Walker Singleton of Loblolly following the first day. With the more difficult Chapman format left for the final round, Cooper and Morgan managed a bogey-free 8-under showing, holding off Fady and Horvath by three, who fired 6-under in the final round. Jewell and Hocker managed a third-place finish with a 5-under final round score. Defending champions Austin Davenport and Nick Beddow of APOGEE finished tied for fourth at 15-under with Mitch Gray and Daniel Escalera of La Gorce Country Club. Beddow also recorded a hole-in-one at Mariner Sands Country Club on hole 6 in the final round. Srixon Cleveland served as the title partner of the 2026 Pro-Assistant Championship, while the event was presented by Club Car, and supported by Ghost Golf, Perry Weather, Oakley, Range Servant, Signs by the Sea, and Firemaker. PGA Golf Club and Mariner Sands Country Club served as this year’s host facilities, led by Jeremy Wiernasz, PGA, Holly Taylor, PGA, and Garry Nelson, PGA of PGA Golf Club, and Tim McKenna, PGA, and Logan Knebels, PGA of Mariner Sands Country Club. Leaderboard

South Florida PGA Foundation Awards $30,000 Scholarships to Natalia Conte and Maria Serrano

By Chance Bressler • May 22, 2026

West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida PGA Foundation has awarded two $30,000 scholarships to Natalia Conte of Coral Springs and Maria Serrano of Miami as the 2026 SFPGA Foundation Scholarship recipients. Now in its tenth year, a combined $60,000 are given out annually to support South Florida youth with their higher education. The South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship is a merit-based award created to assist individuals with ties to the South Florida PGA Foundation and to recognize leaders in the local community. Natalia Conte Conte recently graduated from Coral Springs Charter School in Broward County. During her high school career, she was President of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, while competing on the varsity golf and flag football teams. Conte shares a passion for journalism and photography which has given her the opportunity to capture the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and the ANNIKA Pro-Am at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. She also involved herself with the school’s broadcast program, serving as associate producer and co-anchor for CTV2. In this role, she worked on broadcasts such as “Spotlight,” collaborating with the City of Coral Springs Marketing team to cover local events. This fall, Conte will attend Ave Maria University studying Communications & Theology, with plans to work as a photographer on mission trips. “This will help me share the love I have for helping others, as well as the love I have for journalism,” said Conte. “There is so much power in pictures, and knowing that I have the ability to bring awareness to things going on around the world is such a blessing.” Conte comes from a family with deep roots in the game of golf and the PGA Professional community. She is the daughter of Stephen Conte, PGA, Director of Instruction at Conte’s Golf Academy in Pompano Beach, Florida, and a dedicated South Florida PGA Member since 1995. Her mother, Michele Conte, is also a golf professional and proud LPGA Member, further reflecting the family’s lifelong commitment to the sport. Natalia’s passion for golf and service is also inspired by her late grandfather, John Conte, who was also a PGA Professional. “We are all so happy for Natalia, as she is the glue that holds our family together with her loving and generous heart,” Stephen Conte stated. “She helps us to keep things in proper perspective and makes the simplest things in life great joy.” Regarding her academic future, Conte added, “This scholarship will help me achieve my career goals by providing me with a balanced environment of the highest education, service opportunities, and the training and experience needed to pursue my life and career aspirations.” Maria Serrano Serrano graduated from Pinecrest Glades Academy in Miami, is an active competitor on the SFPGA Junior Tour, and works under John Moscoso, PGA, at the Trump Golf Academy of Miami. At the academy, Serrano coaches youth players in group and individual settings. She also serves as the Social Media Manager for the academy, creating content and managing event promotions and marketing campaigns. “Maria is a natural leader and someone who leads by example and with integrity,” Moscoso said. As Serrano coached and interacted with families, she discovered how meaningful it is to work in an environment that is inspiring. “Golf has become much more than a sport to me; it is the place where I found confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging,” Serrano said. Serrano will attend St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, where she will be a member of the women’s golf team and study Sports Administration. Upon obtaining her undergraduate degree, she has aspirations of working for the LPGA Tour in hopes to inspire and support future generations of girls golf by creating opportunities for young players to grow both on and off the golf course. “I want to continue giving back to the sport that changed my life and helped shape me into the person I am today,” Serrano explained. The South Florida PGA Foundation will follow both recipients' academic and professional progress in the years ahead. About the South Florida PGA Foundation The South Florida PGA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded to support the South Florida community, focusing on youth, military, and families. The South Florida PGA Foundation operates under the direction of the South Florida PGA, a not-for-profit organization of over 1,900 PGA of America Professionals serving as experts in the business and game of golf.