The Professional Volume VI, Issue III

the the

Professional VOLUME VI | ISSUE III | DECEMBER 2019

2020 AWARD RECIPEINTS

In this issue: PLAYERS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

Kandi Comer to be Inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame HUMBLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE USA WINS WOMEN'S PGA CUP, COE MAKES HISTORY

POWERED BY

ANNOUNCED DREAM TEAM SPEIGHT & THORNE APA: THAT MAKES TWO INDEPENDENCE CUPS VIVA LAS VEGAS MAPGA PRO-AM

Liz Cooper Awarded PGA Player Development Award YOUR NEWLY ELECTED MAPGA OFFICIALS

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JOSH TREMBLAY, PGA LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

LAYOUT DESIGN JEREMY BEALE

CONTRIBUTORS JON GUHL, KURT KNAPPER, JOSH TREMBLAY, JEREMY BEALE, VIRGINIA GOLF HALL OF FAME, PGA OF AMERICA, FAIRFAX COUNTY TIMES

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Dear Members & Associates, I am honored to have been elected as your President at last month’s Section Meeting. Along with my fellow officers, we will always keep the MAPGA Members at the forefront of our thinking on any decisions we make in the boardroom. We will strive to move the needle forward, create more engagement opportunities for you to interact with your fellow professionals and provide value for you. If you are thinking about getting involved, please reach out to me so we can try to find a committee for you to start your journey. Whether you are new to the Section or feel like now is the right time in your career to give back, we want your input.

The 2020 MAPGA Tournament Schedule is coming together nicely. Please make it a priority to play in one more event this year than you did last season.

As PGA Professionals, we should be making time to play more with members and/or students, as well as in competitive events. The Tournament Committee, led by Chair Kevin Haney and Tournament Director Bob Heintz, are planning a vast array of events all over the Section. This is one of the best ways we can get to know other professionals and I am challenging you to get out and play more golf!

The World Handicap System launches January 1st, 2020 and as PGA Professionals, we need to ensure that we are the experts when it comes to this initiative and how it will affect golfers at your facility. I believe this is going to be great for the game by making it more inclusive and providing golfers around the world with consistency and portability. If you have not attended a seminar yet, please educate yourself through the USGA’s website at usga.org/WHS. Our Spring Section Meeting will be held on Monday, March 9th at the Fredericksburg Expo Center and our MAPGA Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 21st at Army Navy Country Club – Arlington. We will recognize our 2020 MAPGA Award winners, headlined by Golf Professional of the Year, J.P. Lunn, at both of these events. Additionally, we will honor our 2019 OMEGA Players of the Year. Congratulations to Joanna Coe (Women’s), Dirk Schultz (Senior), Steve Delmar (Open), and Josh Apple (APA). Please mark these dates down on your calendar and make a point to attend not just one, but both.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year. As we prepare to turn the calendars to 2020, I encourage you to spend quality time with your family and friends. We are all extremely busy during the golf season and I hope you get the chance to recharge. For those of you heading to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando next month, I hope to see you there!

Warm Regards,

Joshua Tremblay, PGA MAPGA President joshtremblay@pga.com

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DECEMBER 2019

The Professional Experts in the Business and Game of Golf

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HUMBLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE

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The MAPGA is pleased to announce our 2020 Awards Class! They will be honored at the 2020 Special Awards Banquet on March 21, 2020 at Army Navy Country Club. Please join us in congratulating the following PGA professionals and amateurs:

Three MAPGA Professionals were given the U.S. Army’s Public Service Commendation Medal for their outstanding service to troops of all branches of The U.S. Armed Forces through the Links to Freedom Foundation.

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VIVA LAS VEGAS PRO-AM 2019

The MAPGA had six teams compete with the Tennessee PGA Section in their Vegas Pro-Am at Pauite Resort. Congrats to the team of Woody Fitzhugh, PGA, John Steele, Nat Sears, Sean Fritts, and Mike Naylor on finishing as the low MAPGA team at T9 in the Adidas Division.

2020 SECTION AWARD RECIPIENTS

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COMER ENTERS VA GOLF HALL OF FAME Kandi Comer (Kandi Comer Golf) will be inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame May 5, 2020 at Hermitage Country Club in Manakin-Sabot. For the second straight year, the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame will welcome five new Hall of Fame Inductees including Comer.

Editor's Note Letters Featured Stories ON THE COVER LIZ COOPER, PGA/LPGA RECEIVES 2020 PGA NATIONAL PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD.

Middle Atlantic PGA (540) 720-7420 MAPGA.com

If you would like to submit a story for or place an advertisement in a future issue of the "The Professional" ,

midatl@pgahq.com

please e-mail the Section Office at midatl@pgahq.com. If you would like to become a Corporate Sponsor, please contact Assistant Executive Director Kurt Knapper at kknapper@pgahq.com.

1 PGA Drive Stafford, VA 22554

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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A PRESIDENTIAL SEND-OFF J.P. Lunn, PGA was recognized as the outgoing MAPGA President by The PGA of America at the 103rd Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR 003 008 009 010 011 012 013 016 020 022 023 024 025 026 031 032 034 035

President's Letter Farewell Mr. President Newly Elected Serving those who Serve John Madden, D10 Director Tim Ritter NCR Low Finish 2020 Section Awards Players of the Year Best Golf Instructors by State Liz Cooper PGA Player Development Award Independence Cup Matt Miskelly Team Champions Tim Ritter NCR Low Finisher US Women's Team Wins PGA CUP MAPGA Goes to Vegas MAPGA Teaching Summit Comer Inducted into VA Golf HoF Nevins Kingsmill Champion Thank You Sponsors

NEW OFFICERS The MAPGA elected new officers at the Fall Membership Meeting. Josh Tremblay, PGA, of Springfield Golf & Country Club (Springfield, Va.) became the 49th President of the Middle Atlantic Section.

D-10 DIRECTOR

November 8, 2019, MAPGA member John F. Madden was sworn in as a new member of the PGA Board of Directors! He will serve a three-year term leading our Association.

015

The MAPGA tracks four OMEGA Player of the Year (POY) races, and continually updates them throughout the season. The POY competitions for all categories ended with the Players Cup.

INDEPENDENCE CUP Last year marked the first time the

022

MAPGA Assistant Professional Association (APA) won the Independence Cup against the Philadelphia Section in four years.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

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Josh Speight, PGA (Indian Creek) and Troy Thorne, PGA (Hobbs Hole) won the Matt Miskelly Team Championship at Salisbury Country Club in an aggregate three-hole playoff against [...]

WOMEN'S PGA CUP

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The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup had its share of compelling vignettes Saturday as a five-member United States team dug deep to hold off Canada and capture a sparkling silver trophy by four strokes, 671-675 [...]

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GOLDEN HORSESHOE GOLF CLUB

HOME OF THE 2020 MAPGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AA UG - 1 91, 72 -0129 0, 2 0 2 0 UUGS TU 1S7 T 06 | MAPGA | EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS AND GAME OF GOLF

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2020

SCHEDULE CLICK HERE

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Thank you for your service

J.P. LUNN

J.P. Lunn, PGA was recognized as the outgoing MAPGA President by The PGA of America at the 103rd Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida.

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SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS The MAPGA elected new officers at the Fall Membership Meeting. Josh Tremblay, PGA, of Springfield Golf & Country Club (Springfield, Va.) became the 49th President of the Middle Atlantic PGA. Andy Weissinger, PGA, of Eaglewood Golf Club - Langley AFB, was elected as Vice President.

History was also made as Lynne Hunter, PGA/LPGA of Kenwood Golf & Country Club (Bethesda, Md.) was the first female MAPGA Member elected to an officer position. She was elected Secretary of the MAPGA by a vote of the attending members. Her election puts her on track to become MAPGA President in four years.

Geoff Montross, PGA (TPC – Potomac) was elected MAPGA Director-at-Large and Eli Mireles, PGA (Burning Tree Club) became A-8 (Assistants) Director.

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HUMBLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE Three MAPGA Professionals were given the U.S. Army’s Public Service Commendation Medal for their outstanding service to troops of all branches of The U.S. Armed Forces through the Links to Freedom Foundation.

Life Members Tom Dougherty (Chester, Va.), Peter Hodson (North Chesterfield, Va.), and Mahrty Lehr (Chesterfield, Va.) were honored at the MAPGA Fall Meeting with the official presentation of their medals.

For the past eight years, these three PGA Members have driven from Richmond to Ft. Belvoir for 16 Saturdays each year to support the Links to Freedom adaptive golf program, spending more than 1000 hours of their time. They have now found it necessary to retire. Thank you for your dedicated service to the men and women who served our Nation.

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November 8, 2019, MAPGA member John F. Madden was sworn in as a new member of the PGA

D - 1 0 D I R E C T O R

JOHN MADDEN, PGA

Board of Directors! He will serve a three-year term leading our Association.

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2020 Section Awards

The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA) is pleased to announce our 2020 Awards Class! They will be honored at the 2020 Special Awards Banquet on March 21, 2020 at Army Navy Country Club. Please join us in congratulating the following PGA professionals and amateurs:

PGA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR J.P. Lunn, PGA Fountain Head Country Club

TEACHER OF THE YEAR John Scott Rattan, PGA Congressional Country Club

DAVID WORTMAN AWARD Michael Millen VSGA President

BILL STRAUSBAUGH AWARD Jay Dufty, PGA Washington Golf & Country Club

HORTON SMITH AWARD Mark Russo, PGA Night Hawk Golf Center

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD Jim Estes, PGA Olney Golf Park

YOUTH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Billy Hoffman, PGA Westwood Country Club

MERCHANDISER (PUBLIC) Andy Weissinger, PGA Eaglewood Golf Course

MERCHANDISER (RESORT) Brian L. Alley, PGA The Highland Course At Primland

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BETTER CONDITION BETTER BOTTOM LINE MERCHANDISER (PRIVATE) Mike Adkins, PGA Green Spring Valley Hunt Club

ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR Roger K. Welch, PGA Washington Golf & Country Club

EARLE HELLEN SPORTS MEDIA Steve Czaban (Capital Golf Gang) The Team 980

EARLE HELLEN SPORTS MEDIA Ron Thomas (Capital Golf Gang) The Team 980

EARLE HELLEN SPORTS MEDIA John Ronis, PGA (Capital Golf Gang) The Team 980

SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR Bob Fikac Capitol Golf Cars (Club Car)

Ron Stepanek, PGA BrightView Golf Maintenance Business Development (267) 804-5473 Ron.Stepanek@brightview.com

CLICK HERE SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR Tim Girard Capitol Golf Cars (Club Car)

PRESIDENT'S AWARD To Be Announced

Course Conditions Maintain True Control Peace of Mind

Extraordinary Value

VIEW CATALOG

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2019 PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

The MAPGA tracks four OMEGA Player of the Year (POY) races, and continually updates them throughout the season. The OMEGA Player of the Year (POY) competitions for all categories ended with the Players Cup. Players earned points by competing in specific tournaments that are considered OMEGA POY events.

OPEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

STEVE DELMAR, PGA (7 EVENTS, 1,385)

SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DIRK SCHULTZ, PGA (10 EVENTS, 1,288)

WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JOANNA COE, PGA (4 EVENTS, 401)

APA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JOSH APPLE (8 EVENTS, 1,154)

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THE BEST OF THE BEST

Golf Digest let's us know the best golf instructors in every state. The Middle Atlantic Section had almost 40 professionals listed with two that were ranked nationally.

ERIKA LARKIN, PGA Creighton Farms, Aldie, Virginia LEIGHANN ALBAUGH, PGA Magnolia Green Golf Club Moseley, Virginia CHRIS GEORGE, PGA

Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, Virginia STEVE SLOTTERBACK, PGA

Kinloch Golf Club Manakin-Sabot, Virginia MARK GUTTENBERG, PGA

Bull Run Golf Club Haymarket, Virginia

ADAM HARRELL, PGA

1757 Golf Club Game Improvement Center Dulles, Virginia ADAM SMITH, PGA The Country Club of Virginia Richmond, Virginia

ROBERT MCNAMARA, PGA

Farmington Country Club Charlottesville, Virginia ANDREW BREWER, PGA

Bayville Golf Club Virginia Beach, Virginia BILLY HOFFMAN, PGA Westwood Country Club Vienna, Virginia MIKE HOTT, PGA Salisbury Country Club Midlothian, Virginia PETER WEISEL Hunting Hills Golf Academy Roanoke, Virginia ERIC LAYTON, PGA The Country Club of Virginia Richmond, Virginia BRIAN ROGISH, PGA Golf Club at Landsdowne Lansdowne, Virginia

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BERNIE NAJAR, PGA Caves Valley Golf Club Owings Mills, Maryland Nationally Ranked No. 42

MARK RUSSO, PGA MR Golf Instruction at Night Hawk Golf Center, Gambrills, Maryland

TRILLIUM ROSE, PGA Woodmont Country Club Rockville, Maryland Nationally Ranked No. 50

JOE PLECKER, PGA Swing Index Baltimore, Maryland

JOHN SCOTT RATTAN, PGA Congressional Country Club Bethesda, Maryland STEVE BOSDOSH, PGA Steve Bosdosh Golf Academy at The Club at P.B. Dye, Ijamsville, Maryland WAYNE DEFRANCESCO, PGA Woodholme Country Club, Pikesville, Maryland MAPGA Hall of Fame - 2019 JIM ESTES, PGA Olney Golf Park Olney, Maryland PATRICK BEDINGFIELD, PGA Bethesda Country Club Bethesda, Maryland PATRICK COYNER, PGA Baltimore Country Club Timonium, Maryland

JIM FITZGERALD, PGA Chevy Chase Club Chevy Chase, Maryland FRAN RHOADS, PGA TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm Potomac, Maryland JOY BONHURST, PGA/LPGA Blue Mash Golf Course Kensington, Maryland MIKE DICKSON, PGA Congressional Country Club Bethesda, Maryland BOB DOLAN, PGA Columbia Country Club Chevy Chase, Maryland MARK EVENSON, PGA The Suburban Club Pikesville, Maryland KEVIN TANNER, PGA GolfTEC North Bethesda Bethesda, Maryland

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FEATURED STORY

LIZ COOPER

PGA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD 20 | MAPGA | EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS AND GAME OF GOLF

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LIZ COOPER TALKS ABOUT HER AWARD Liz Cooper, PGA/LPGA was awarded the PGA Player Development Award in Palm Beach, FL., during the 103rd PGA Annual Meeting held at the Palm Beach Convention Center.

Cooper told Fairfax County Times her philosophy has always been to create a positive learning environment where all Golfers feel at home. “It’s crazy to me to be recognized for creating golfers, which is something I love to do,” Cooper said.

She enables golfers to improve their abilities by guiding them in ways that fit the individual student. Cooper attributes her success to her community, “Everyone’s so supportive of all our programs that help the game grow.”

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VIDEO

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ROSTER: Bryce Abrams, Jeremy Pell, Jacob Mast, Tim Ritter, Ryan Fellows, Eli Mireles.

Shannon McKew, Joe Lussier, Brian Dix, Jim Bennett, Jeff Mann, Ryan Marks, Josh Apple, Ian McConnell, John Oberly.

INDEPENDEN CE CUP CHAMPIONS

2018 marked the first time in four years that the MAPGA Assistant

Professional

Association

(APA)

won

the

Independence Cup from the Philadelphia Section (PAO). Last year, the APA had home field advantage. But this year, the APA traveled to Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club in Delaware to face-off against the PAO and won on the PAO's turf, 24-16.

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Matt Miskelly

TEAM CHAMPIONS JOSH SPEIGHT | TROY THORNE

The Foursomes format turned out to be a nail-bitter after Fitzhugh sank a clutch birdie putt on the 53rd hole to pull into a tie for the

Josh Speight, PGA (Indian

Through the first five

Creek) and Troy Thorne, PGA

rounds (45 holes),

(Hobbs Hole) won the Matt

Speight/Thorne carded a

Speight/Thorne ultimately won in

Miskelly Team Championship

bogey free 24-under par.Â

a playoff, had their names

at Salisbury Country Club in a

Fitzhugh/Lussier kept

inscribed on this years trophy and

aggregate three-hole playoff

things interesting as they

earned nearly $1500 in purse

against MAPGA Hall of Famer

matched Speight/Thorne's

money.

Woody Fitzhugh, PGA and Joe

Scramble score of 9-under

Lussier, PGA (1757). The event

par (27) to go into the last

Thanks to event sponsor Matt

consisted of six 9-hole rounds

format (Foursomes) three

Miskelly and the amazing staff at

with different formats.

shots behind.

Salisbury.

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lead.

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TIM

RITTER Tim Ritter, PGA (Army Navy Country Club) was the low finisher from the Middle Atlantic PGA at the National Car Rental (NCR) PGA Assistant Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club.

After a second place finish in the Middle Atlantic NCR Assistant Professional Championship, Ritter finished T6 at the national event winning a little more than $4200.

Four of six MAPGA competitors made the final cut. Middle Atlantic NCR Assistant Professional Champion Steve Delmar, PGA (Columbia Country Club) finished T15. Ian McConnell from Springfield Golf & Country Club finished T37, and Mason Stutler, PGA of Kinloch Golf Club finished T77.

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! s t a r g n o C TEAM USA

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Joanna History at at Joanna Coe Coe Makes Make History INAUGURAL WOMEN'S PGA CUP TEAM USA TAKES HOME THE TITLE

The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup had its share of compelling vignettes as a five-member United States team dug deep to hold off Canada and capture a sparkling silver trophy by four strokes, 671-675, at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. The 54-hole competition, the first international event for women PGA Professionals, opened Day Three with the U.S. owning a 10-stroke advantage only to see that cushion trimmed twice to four.

The day closed on a sun-splashed tableau of rolling terrain with Canada and the U.S. dueling on the Foothills’ renowned final four holes. The Canadians had played the demanding stretch well all week, with just a pair of bogeys. So, any celebration for the Americans was on hold until the final group finished. The Women’s PGA Cup will be renewed in 2021, with the site to be announced.

FULL STORY 27 | MAPGA | EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS AND GAME OF GOLF

s a L Viva ! s a g Ve

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The Middle Atlantic PGA had six teams compete with the Tennessee PGA Section in their Vegas Pro-Am at Pauite Resort. Congrats to the team of Woody Fitzhugh, PGA, John Steele, Nat Sears, Sean Fritts, and Mike Naylor on finishing as the low MAPGA team at T9 in the Adidas Division.

Kevin Taylor, PGA and his team from Argyle Country Club finished sixth in the E-Z-GO Division. It was a great time and the weather couldn't have been better. Many thanks to the golf staff at Pauite and the Tennessee PGA Section for all their hard work.

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A G P A M t i m m u S g n i 9 h c 1 0 a 2 Te

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Last month, the MAPGA hosted another successful Teaching Summit. During Day One, John Plaziak from PING GOLF spoke about the technology behind their new equipment being released in 2020. Martin Chuck provided a presentation on patenting teaching aids.

Dr. Mark Bull spoke about the importance of physical abilities in relation to the golf swing. Rich Brazeau gave information about his company, Second Nine, and what they can do for junior golfers as they transition into college. Finally, Erika Larkin, PGA and Joanna Coe, PGA served on a panel discussion speaking about female professionals in the business. Day Two started with a presentation from Sal Syed, CEO of Arccos Golf, about their technology and what it provides to players and teachers. Mark Blackburn, PGA followed by speaking in depth about his teaching philosophy. Marty Jertson, PGA presented on the engineering behind PING golf clubs. John Scott Rattan, PGA spoke about a few of his students and their progress over time working with him. Chris George, PGA ended the day with a talk about different technologies available to professionals. Thank you to our 2019 presenting sponsors PING Golf and Arccos Golf. Please make sure to attend next year!

K A N D I T O

C O M E R

V I R G I N I A H A L L

O F

N A M E D G O L F

F A M E

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Kandi Comer (Kandi Comer Golf) will be inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame May 5, 2020 at Hermitage Country Club in Manakin-Sabot. For the second straight year, the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame will welcome five new Hall of Fame Inductees including Comer.

The members of the Class of 2020 are Comer, Wayne Jackson, David Partridge, Richard Smith and Wynsol Spencer. These individuals will join 19 past inductees since the start of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame three years ago.

Comer transitioned from a spectacular playing career to become one of Virginia’s great golf teachers. Comer operates Kandi Comer Golf in Crozet, where she teaches players of all ages and skill levels. She’s been nationally recognized for her work, having earned distinction as a top teacher from Golf Digest, Golf For Women, US Kids Golf and the PGA of America, among others. In 2016, she joined Golf Channel Academy as a Lead Instructor.

However, one of her more notable claims to fame was coaching LPGA Tour Professional Dottie Pepper. Pepper is a two-time major champion, a 17-time winner on the LPGA Tour and a six-time member of the United States’ Solheim Cup team. She will emcee the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame and induct Comer into the 2020 Class.

Comer was also the recipient of the VSGA’s Grow the Game Award in 2019. Comer’s playing career was equally as impressive as her teaching credentials. The winner of five VSGA championships—including two VSGA Women’s Amateurs. She played college golf at the University of North Carolina and winning several events. She also represented the United States in the 1986 Curtis Cup matches, advanced to the quarterfinals at the 1985 U.S. Women’s Amateur and competed in five U.S. Women’s Open Championships, finishing as high at 14th. Congratulations Kandi on your achievement.

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e s a h C ins Nev

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p m a h C s y o B l l i m s King Chase Nevins (Great Falls, Va.) won the Kingsmill Boys Junior Invitational with a two-day total of 7-over-par. First day leader Eddie Coffren V (Owings Mills, Md.) finished second two strokes off the lead and Andrew Wilkinson (Ashland, Va.) took third, three strokes off the lead. Thank you to Loren White, PGA and all of the staff at Kingsmill Resort for helping put together a great event.

1 0th Ann uael mina r Coll ege Golf S 20 2020 t,20 1s t, y 1s ar y ru ar eb ru F eb | F b | lu b C lu C ry nt ry ou nt C ou al C on al si gresession ongr CCon REGISTER

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS As 2019 draws to a close, the MAPGA wishes to thank all of its sponsors. Without your support, the Section would not be able to provide and continue to improve upon numerous events and programs (e.g., Professional Championships/Tournaments, Junior Golf, and Section/Chapter Meetings). The following pages provide both returning and new (*) 2019 sponsors and their contact information.

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AFFINITY CREDIT CARD WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please consider signing-up for a MAPGA credit card. For doing nothing other than your normal business or personal purchases, you can support programs like PGA HOPE and Junior Golf. Yet the card has other great benefits: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in the first three (3) months, two (2) points per dollar on net purchases, no cap on points earned and points don’t expire, no annual fee and a low rate (1.99% APR until October 31) on purchases made March-May (for business cards) - perfect for buying for your shop. Please consider signing up for this card and offering it to your members. The more people on the card, the better for the Foundation!

REGISTER

SHOP NOW 38 | MAPGA | EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS AND GAME OF GOLF

2019 CORPORATE SPONSORS

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