Pacific Northwest PGA hands out awards for its 2015 season

By
Updated: February 1, 2016

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA of America has named its 2015 Special Award Winners. The top Pacific Northwest PGA professionals in 15 categories were recognized by their peers for outstanding performance during 2015. The winners listed below represent the very best of the Pacific Northwest Section’s 1,100 PGA Professionals in Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho, Western Montana and Alaska.
Here is a look:
• Bryan Tunstill, PGA, Head Professional at Columbia Edgewater CC in Portland, OR received the Section’s highest honor as Golf Professional of the Year for 2015. Tunstill has developed very aspect of his profession to the fullest degree, including golf shop operations, teaching, playing, tournament administration, rules of golf, and merchandising.

• Greg Manley, PGA Head Professional at Meridian Valley CC in Kent, WA, was awarded the 2015 Bill Strausbaugh Award. He has proven to be a true mentor to his fellow PGA Professionals through 13 years of service to the Western Washington Chapter, 7 Years to the Section, and extensive community service.

• Jason Aichele, PGA, Teaching Professional at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, Washington, was named the 2015 Teacher of the Year. Aichele has brought to fruition a fantastic plan for a year-long coaching program and developed his own 3,200 square foot indoor practice facility.

• Andy Mackimmie, PGA, of the Coeur d’ Alene Resort was honored with the 2015 Horton Smith Award. Mackimmie, who has been the Section’s Chairman of Education for the past five years, has shown his commitment to furthering education in the Section by coordinating the popular Sweet Sixteen Education Seminars.

• Justin Roberts, PGA of Canyon River GC in Missoula, MT was named 2015 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. He stepped up in a big way with daily operations, as well as hosting major Section and Montana State amateur events at Canyon River GC. He also started up a junior golf program, and raised funds for it by holding a tournament.

• John Grothe, PGA Head Professional at the OGA Golf Club in Woodburn, OR received the 2015 Player Development Award. Grothe was recognized for making exemplary contributions in the area of player development. He has been a leader in programs to grow the game, at little or no cost to participants.

• Sara Griffin, PGA, of Tacoma C&GC received the 2015 Youth Player Development Award for her extensive and innovative junior golf programs at Tacoma C&GC, as well as developing her own Golf in Schools program.

• Chris Runyan, PGA, of Prairie Falls GC in Post Falls, ID received the 2015 Patriot Award. Runyan spearheads a charity golf tournament that raises over $50,000 for charities supporting our veterans and he works with injured local veterans to bring golf back into their life.

• Matt Brown, PGA, of Highlands GC in Gearhart, OR was named the 2015 Merchandiser of the Year for Public facilities. Brown was recognized for innovative merchandising including online sales, high-tech custom club fitting, and managing a custom club brand that he launched in 2014.

• Louis Bennett, PGA Head Professional at Tetherow GC in Bend, OR was named the 2015 Merchandiser of the Year for Resort facilities.

• Scott Leritz, PGA Head Professional at Royal Oaks CC in Vancouver, WA, received the 2015 Merchandiser of the Year award for Private facilities. Leritz is recognized for the great attention to detail that he puts into merchandising and creative interactions with his customers.

• Kathleen Brown, PGA of Esmeralda GC in Spokane, WA, was honored with the 2015 Perry Williams Award. In addition to serving the PNW PGA Rules Committee since 2013, she was the PGA Rules Official on both the Rosauers Open Invitational and the PNW PGA Professional Championship.

• Derek Barron of Tacoma Golf Center in Tacoma, WA, was recognized as both the 2015 Player of the Year and 2015 Assistant Player of the Year.

• Rob Gibbons, PGA of Arrowhead GC in Molalla, OR was named the 2015 Senior Player of the Year. Besides placing well in all of the Section’s senior events in 2015, he qualified for and played in the 2015 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.