National award-winners headline 2014 PGA of America Year in Review show

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- “The 2014 PGA of America Year in Review: PGA Professionals Driving the Game Forward,” debuts Monday, Dec. 15 from 10 to 11 p.m. ET (7-8 p.m. PT). The show captures the personalities and provides insight on the careers of PGA Professionals who were celebrated Nov. 20, in conjunction with the 98th PGA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

Ray Cutright of Macon, Georgia, the PGA Golf Professional of the Year, and PGA Teacher of the Year Kathy Gildersleeve-Jensen of Colbert, Washington, head a 12-member class of 2014 PGA national award recipients who will be featured on Golf Channel, Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The PGA’s Year in Review will also feature an emotional ceremony held at the PGA Annual Meeting, where Arnold Palmer accepted the inaugural Deacon Palmer Award, inspired by his late father and PGA Member.

Golf Channel will re-air the show on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 1:30 a.m. ET (Monday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 p.m. PT), and Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).

Featured recipients of the 2014 PGA of America National Awards:

• Ray Cutright of Macon, Georgia, is the PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Cutright, a PGA Master Professional, is in his 21st season at Idle Hour Club in Macon, Georgia.
• Kathy Gildersleeve-Jensen of Colbert, Washington, is the PGA Director of Instruction and owner of KGJgolf at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, Washington, and the first woman PGA Professional to be named PGA Teacher of the Year.
• The inaugural Deacon Palmer Award was accepted by Arnold Palmer, whose late father overcame personal obstacles to succeed as a PGA Professional.
• Tom Morton of Sacramento, California - Youth Player Development Award. Morton, a PGA Certified Professional, has made extraordinary contributions to youth player development. He is president of the Morton Golf Foundation, which has donated more than $500,000 to youth-oriented golf programs.
• Roger Wallace of Polson, Montana – Bill Strausbaugh Award. The PGA Director of Golf at Polson Bay Golf Course in Polson, Montana, Wallace is a seven-time Pacific Northwest PGA Section award recipient and former member of the PGA Board of Directors.

• Pat Gavin of Las Cruces, New Mexico – Horton Smith Award. Gavin is the Department Head of Marketing and Director of the PGA Golf University Program at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces. For two decades, Gavin has served as program director, helping develop the careers of nearly 700 PGA Professionals.
• Ralph Landrum of Crestview Hills, Kentucky – PGA Player Development Award. PGA Master Professional Ralph Landrum is the PGA General Manager at the World of Golf in Florence, Kentucky. He earned the national award for extraordinary and exemplary contributions in growing the game.
• SGM James C. Dickerson III, Iowa City, Iowa – Patriot Award. SGM Dickerson is a PGA Teaching Professional at the University of Iowa Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, a Vietnam veteran and the Director of Instruction for the GIVE (Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere) Foundation at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course at the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, Iowa.
• Southern California PGA Section - Herb Graffis Award. For a record 12th time, the Southern California PGA Section (SCPGA) is the recipient of the Herb Graffis Award for extraordinary and exemplary contributions by a Section to grow the game of golf.
• Scott Nye - PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Facilities. In his 14th season as PGA Head Professional at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Nye is the fifth Philadelphia PGA Section member to earn a PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award.
• George Ancuta - PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public Facilities. The PGA Head Professional at Knoll Country Club West in Parsippany, New Jersey, Ancuta is the fourth New Jersey PGA member to named recipient of the PGA Merchandiser of the Year award and first honored nationally in the Public Facilities category.
• Ron Leporati – PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Facilities. The PGA Director of Golf at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa in Bedford, Pennsylvania, is a four-time Tri-State PGA Section award winner and second Section member honored nationally in the category.