Greg Avant honored as Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year

Greg Avant, PGA Director of Golf and owner at Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona, has been named the 44th recipient of the Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, the highest annual honor bestowed by the Southwest PGA on a PGA Professional.

“To receive the honor of Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year is incredibly humbling and gratifying,” said Avant. “To be recognized by the Professionals in our great Section is an honor that I will always cherish. The relationships I have made in the 25 years in this Section are not only dear to my heart, but have also influenced me to be the best golf professional I can be.”

Growing up in Minnesota, Avant spent his childhood at the ice rink developing his slapshot, long before ever stepping foot on a golf course. His father, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, introduced his sons to golf by dropping them off at the local course on his way to work in the summer – hockey’s off-season. Avant, 51, was a member of the hockey and golf teams at Mayo High School.

A testament to Avant’s business acumen and dedication to his staff of more than 50, five employees have been with him since the facility opened in 2000 and 10 additional employees who have been with him for over 10 years. He takes great pride in mentoring and preparing them for advancement in their careers.

Throughout his outstanding playing career, Avant competed in three PGA Tour events – the Phoenix Open in 2000 (his first PGA Tour event), the 2000 Tucson Open and the 2002 Phoenix Open. Locally he was the runner-up in the 2009 Arizona Open and has countless top 10 finishes in Southwest PGA Section events including a tie for 10th in the 2017 Arizona Senior Open and a tie for fourth in the 2017 Southwest PGA Professional Championship.

Avant and his wife, Shawn, live in Chandler, Ariz., and are the parents of  daughter Alexia, and son, Thomas.

The Southwest PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year – Luke Hemelstrand, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ., has been named the Southwest PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. At Desert Mountain, Hemelstrand, 33, serves as a mentor to many of the aspiring professionals. He assumed the role as lead staff trainer coordinating and running training seminars for all new golf employees – over 100 since 2014. Hemelstrand resides in Scottsdale, AZ.  

The Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year – Mike Malaska, PGA Director of Instruction at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, AZ., and Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, AZ., has been named the Southwest Section PGA Teacher of the Year for his outstanding performance as a golf teacher, innovator and coach. Since 2000, Malaska, 63, has ranked among Golf Digest’s “America’s Top 50 Greatest Teachers,” and currently listed as #18 in the country. Malaska and his wife, Charlene, reside in Mesa and are the parents of daughters, Jennifer and Ashley.

The Southwest PGA Youth Player Development Award – Andrew Schaper, PGA Head Golf Professional at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, NV., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Youth Player Development Award. The award recognizes a PGA Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievement in the area of youth player development. Schaper, 41, focuses his efforts towards building a junior golf program within the community. Starting with only a handful of juniors six years ago, he has grown the program to more than 100 juniors a year through his various programs. Schaper and his wife, Meghan, reside in Boulder City, NV., and are the parents of son, Blake, and daughters, Camryn and Drew.

The Southwest PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award – Mark Black, PGA Director of Golf and PGA Master Professional at Encanterra Country Club in San Tan Valley, AZ., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA’s Bill Strausbaugh Award, presented to a PGA Member who demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and leadership by way of teaching and mentoring other PGA Professionals. Black, 61, focuses on improving careers through education, having events that promote networking, highlighting performance and giving back to the community while growing the game of golf. Black and his wife, Nancy, reside in Gilbert, AZ., and are the parents of daughter, Emily, and sons, Benjamin and Reed.

The Southwest PGA Horton Smith Award – Tim Eberlein, PGA Master Professional and Campus President at the Golf Academy of America in Chandler, AZ., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Horton Smith Award. The award is presented annually to a PGA Professional who exhibits commendable additions to the education of PGA Professionals. Eberlein, 56, has a passion for teaching, which is evident in his over 11,000 classroom hours to future golf professionals, graduating over 2,200 students and assisting over 140 golf courses in Arizona with educated staff. Eberlein and his wife, Alita, reside in Gilbert, AZ., and are the parents of sons, Nikolas and Mason.

The Southwest PGA Player Development Award – Marvol Barnard, LPGA and PGA Director of Instruction at Haven Golf Club in Green Valley, AZ., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Player Development Award, which recognizes a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. Barnard, 60, has created a player development pathway for beginners and women that stands out among her peers. She was invited by then president of the PGA of America Derek Sprague, to serve on the National PGA Player Development Committee. Barnard and her husband, Sam, reside in Green Valley, AZ.

The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities – Matt Bailey, PGA Director of Golf at Forest Highlands Country Club in Flagstaff, AZ., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Private Facilities. Bailey, 51, has a merchandising philosophy to provide outstanding customer service and make every member and guest of Forest Highlands feel like they are the most important person at the club. Building and maintaining a great member/employee rapport is the foundation of his merchandise program. Bailey and his wife, Shannon, reside in Flagstaff, AZ., and are the parents of daughters, Taylor, Katherine and Caroline.

The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities – Jon Waddington, PGA General Manager at Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, NV., is the recipient the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Public Facilities. Waddington, 33, maintains a clean, well-organized and innovative golf shop, which includes him implementing disc golf equipment and apparel to cater to the growing disc golf market. His philosophy is that every time a guest enters the golf shop, they should have a fresh look with appealing and eye-catching displays. Waddington and his wife, Ellie, reside in Las Vegas, NV.

The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Facilities – Min Park, PGA Head Golf Professional at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Resort Facilities. Park’s, 38, merchandising philosophy is to listen and focus on what is most important to the owners and the facility’s customers and guests. For the owners – the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community – he always looks for new ways to incorporate the Native American experience into merchandise and décor. Park and his wife, Sunjoo Lee, reside in Phoenix, AZ.

The Southwest PGA Player of the Year – Marty Jertson, PGA Professional and Senior Design Engineer at PING Golf, captured the 2017 Southwest PGA Player of the Year in the closest race in Southwest PGA history after he edged out Michael Hopper by just one point. The race came down to the final event of the season – the Shriners Hospital Children Open Section Qualifier – with Hopper holding an 11-point lead. Jertson, 37, finished tied for second earning 25 points and Hopper tied for 13th earning 13 points. Jertson and his wife, Kellyn, live in Phoenix, AZ., and are the parents of two boys, Grant and Davis.

The Southwest PGA Senior Player of the Year – In a race that was just as close and also came down to the final event, Randy Wittig, PGA Director of Instruction at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ., claimed the 2017 Senior Player of the Year award over Blayne Hobbs by five points. Behind by 20 points entering the final event – the national PGA Senior Professional Championship – Wittig, 57, finished tied for 55th, earning 100 points and Hobbs, tied for 73rd, earning 75 points. Wittig and his wife, Jeanne, live in Cave Creek, AZ., and are the parents of daughter, Taylor.

About The Southwest Section PGA:
The Southwest Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in Arizona and Southern Nevada who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Southwest PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, junior golf programs and events, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With over 1284 members and apprentices, the Southwest PGA is the fifth largest of the 41 regional entities or Sections that comprise the PGA of America. For more information about the Southwest PGA, visit www.southwestpga.com.

All photos are courtesy Nick Novelli/Southwest PGA.