Southwest Section PGA announces 2014 Award Winners

Dick Hyland wins Professional of the Year, Craig Hocknull Teacher of the Year

The Southwest Section PGA unveiled its list of winners for 2014 at its annual Awards Dinner held on January 16th, 2015 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.

The 2014 Southwest Section PGA Award Winners:
• Professional of the Year – Dick Hyland, The Country Club at DC Ranch
• Teacher of the Year – Craig Hocknull, Desert Forest Golf Club
• Player of the Year – Michael Hopper, Lookout Mountain Golf Club 
• Junior Golf Leader – Nolan Halterman, Anthem Country Club
• Senior Player of the Year – Ralph West, Reid/West Golf Academies
• Horton Smith Award –Tim Eberlein, The Golf Academy of America
• Bill Strausbagh Award –Gary Pearce, Sedona Golf Resort
• Player Development Award – Craig Hocknull, Desert Forest Golf Club
• Merchandiser of the Year (Private) – Kallie Micklos, Pinnacle Peak Country Club
• Merchandiser of the Year (Public) –Tom Fischer, Las Vegas Paiute Resort
• Merchandiser of the Year (Resort) – Rob Bartley, Camelback Golf Club
• Assistant Professional of the Year –Andrew Higgins, Saddlebrooke Golf Club
• Sales Representative of the Year – Rob Stofflet, Scottsdale.

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.