Southwest Section PGA announces 2013 Award Winners

John Gunby wins Professional of the Year, Dale Abraham Teacher of the Year

The Southwest Section PGA unveiled its list of winners for 2013 at its annual Awards Dinner held on January 17th at Grayhawk Golf Club. These awards are handed out yearly to honor those SWSPGA members who exemplify professionalism and excellence in the golf industry and proudly serve as ambassadors for the SWSPGA.

“We are proud to recognize and honor our award winners for 2013,” said Curt Hudek, Executive Director of the Southwest Section PGA. “We feel that our organization gets better and better each and every year, and it’s due in part to the efforts of this year’s list of winners, as well as the rest of the membership.”

The 2013 Southwest Section PGA Award Winners:
•  Professional of the Year – John Gunby, The Club at Prescott Lakes 
•  Teacher of the Year – Dale Abraham, Desert Mountain 
•  Player of the Year – Craig Hocknull, Outback Golf Academy at Western Skies 
•  Junior Golf Leader – Craig Hocknull, Outback Golf Academy at Western Skies 
•  Senior Player of the Year – Ralph West, PGA Reid West Golf Academy 
•  Horton Smith Award – Brad Gregory, PGA of America Rules Official 
•  Bill Strausbagh Award – Mike Hayes, City of Tucson Golf
•  Player Development Award – Marvol Barnard, LPGA Haven Golf Club Green Valley 
•  Merchandiser of the Year (Private) – Nolan Halterman, Anthem CC Las Vegas 
•  Merchandiser of the Year (Public) – Thom Blinkinsop, Siena Golf Club 
•  Merchandiser of the Year (Resort) – Brian Hawthorne, Wynn Golf Club 
•  Assistant Professional of the Year – Brett Meiners, Superstition Mountain 
•  Sales Representative of the Year – Kirk Schultze, Oakley.

The Southwest Section PGA is the local delivery system for the PGA of America programs and activities to promote the game of golf in this region and to enhance the skills of its members. There are 41 PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Sections throughout the United States that provide a grass roots network necessary to accomplish direct communications with the nation’s 25 million amateur golfers and with the PGA’s 27,000 members. Ranked the fifth largest of the 41 PGA Sections, the Southwest Section PGA is a not-for-profit organization comprised of a membership of approximately 1,300 golf professionals and apprentices involved in the operations of almost 400 golf facilities in Arizona and Nevada.