100th PGA Annual Meeting to feature Jack Nicklaus at Grand Hyatt New York, Nov. 8-11

NEW YORK — The PGA of America’s historic 100th Annual Meeting, Nov. 8-11, will commemorate the PGA of America’s Centennial in the same city at the Association's founding in 1916. Delegates will gather at the Grand Hyatt New York to elect the 40th PGA President, Vice President and Secretary, and pave a path for the Association’s future.

The 2016 PGA of America National Awards celebration will honor 11 deserving PGA members on Wednesday, Nov. 9, while all-time major Champion Jack Nicklaus will sit down with NBC Sports Commentator Jimmy Roberts for a morning fireside chat on Thursday, Nov. 10. Nicklaus, who was recognized at the Ryder Cup for celebrating 50 years of PGA membership, will discuss his outlook on the game and his storied history. Among his record 18 total major Championship victories, Nicklaus shares the record for most PGA Championships won with founding PGA Member Walter Hagen at five apiece.

The Annual Meeting’s final day is highlighted by the election of the PGA Officers for 2016-2018, who all serve as volunteers. Paul Levy, of Indian Wells, California and Suzy Whaley of Cromwell, Connecticut will be voted in as PGA President and Vice President, respectively, by delegates at the PGA Annual Meeting on Friday, Nov. 11. Levy has served the past two years as PGA Vice President. Whaley, the first woman ever to be elected as a PGA Officer, has served as PGA Secretary. After completing his term as the current PGA President, Derek Sprague, of Jersey City, New Jersey will assume the role of Honorary PGA President.

Three prominent PGA members are vying to be elected as the new PGA Secretary:
• Russ Libby—A North Florida PGA Section Member and PGA Owner/General Manager/Director of Golf at Hidden Hills Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida
• Rick Murphy—A Carolinas PGA Section Member and PGA Owner/Director of Instruction of Rick Murphy Golf Academy & Practice Centers in Greensboro, North Carolina
• Jim Richerson—A Wisconsin PGA Section Member and General Manager & Group Director of Golf at Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run in Kohler Wisconsin.

The PGA of America Board of Directors is comprised of the president, vice president, secretary, honorary president and 17 directors who establish Association policy. The directors include representatives from each of the PGA’s 14 districts, two Independent Directors and a member of the PGA Tour.

The six new incoming District Directors and one Independent Director are:
• District 1: Noel Gebauer, PGA, Colonie Town Golf Course, in Schenectady, New York (Connecticut, New England, Northeastern New York)
• District 2: Tom Henderson, PGA, Round Hill Club, in Greenwich, Connecticut
(Metropolitan, New Jersey, Philadelphia)
• District 5: John Lindert, PGA, Country Club of Lansing, in Lansing, Michigan
(Michigan, Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio)
• District 10: Kelly Williams, PGA, Greenbrier Golf & Country Club, in Lexington, Kentucky (Carolinas, Kentucky, Middle Atlantic)
• District 13: Patrick Richardson, PGA, Wilmington Island Club, in Savannah, Georgia (Georgia, North Florida, South Florida)
• District 14: Don Rea, Jr., PGA, Augusta Ranch Golf Club, in Mesa, Arizona
(Pacific Northwest, Southwest)
• Independent Director: Christopher Liedel, President, Smithsonian Enterprises,
in Washington, D.C.

2016 PGA of America National Award Honorees

PGA Golf Professional of the Year Cary Cozby and PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Adams headline the 2016 PGA of America National Award recipients to be honored on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m., in the Grand Hyatt’s Empire Ballroom. Cozby, the PGA Director of Golf at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, joins his father, Jerry Cozby (1985), as the only father-son combination to win the PGA’s highest annual honor. Adams, of Hamilton Farm Golf Club, in Gladstone, New Jersey, has taught four U.S. Presidents, as well as Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery, Michael Douglas, Glen Frey and Tom Lehman.

• PGA Golf Professional of the Year: Cary Cozby, Southern Hills C.C.—Tulsa, Oklahoma
• PGA Teacher of the Year: Mike Adams, Hamilton Farm G.C.—Gladstone, New Jersey
• PGA Youth Player Development Award: Dennis Johnsen, Pine Meadow G.C.—Mundelein, Illinois
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: Joe Tesori, The Pompey Club—Pompey, New York
• Horton Smith Award: Bryan Jones, Black Oak G.C.—Long Valley, New Jersey
• PGA Player Development Award: Mary Hafeman, Deercreek C.C.—Jacksonville, Florida and Missing Links G.C. – Mequon, Wisconsin
• Patriot Award: Stephen Greiner, Links to Freedom —Springfield, Virginia
• Deacon Palmer Award: William “Bill” Flynn*, Windham C.C.—Windham, New Hampshire
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Facilities: Mark Thush, Desert Mountain Club– Scottsdale, Arizona
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public Facilities: Matt Brown, Highlands G.C. –
Gearhart, Oregon
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Facilities: Kelly O’Donnell, Wolfdancer G.C.–
Lost Pines, Texas
• Herb Graffis Award – Northern Texas PGA Section**

*Deceased
**Herb Graffis Award to be presented on Thursday, Nov. 10

Media Contact:
Jamie Carbone, PGA of America 561/624-8446 jcarbone@pgahq.com