The South Florida PGA Junior Tour began recognizing a junior boy and girl annually in 2006 for displaying extraordinary sportsmanship with the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award. The award was established as a gesture to Ficker, his commitment to the South Florida PGA, the South Florida community, and his 41 years as the PGA Head Professional at Tequesta Country Club. “He was simply an incredible guy,” recalled Don Law, PGA of Don Law Golf Academy and a 2013 SFPGA Hall of Fame inductee. “He was one of the nicest humans you will ever meet in your life.” In 1965, Ficker took over as the club’s second head golf professional, succeeding Dow Finsterwald, who enjoyed a very successful playing career, proudly displaying his 1958 PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy in the golf shop. Ficker stayed loyal to Tequesta, serving 41 years until his retirement in 2006. Following his retirement, the award was created and included in the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s Annual Award honors. Since then, several recipients have gone on to work in the golf industry, including Matt Cahill, PGA, a 2008 Ed Ficker Sportsmanship award recipient and current Head Golf Professional at Seminole Golf Club. As a young junior golfer, it is difficult to expect one to know or understand the impact a retired golf professional had, but that is what raised the curiosity for Cahill to learn more. “I wanted to really find out what he stood for and learn about his life,” explained Cahill. “I was blown away at how much he gave back to the game of golf and the community. Not just going to work each day as a club professional, but spending time to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” Samantha (Coleman) Lodigiani, PGA, a 2011 award recipient, went on to study Professional Golf Management at Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently an Assistant Professional at Babcock National Golf Club. And, Danny Green, a current University of Florida student, and 2021 award recipient. Green grew up as a member of Tequesta, and when he received the recognition, Ficker arranged a dinner to spend extra time with Green. “Dinner was wonderful, and he was kind, attentive, and very knowledgeable,” explained Green. “Mr. Ficker was a great man. I am honored to carry on his legacy.” The names featured above are just a few examples of individuals of whom Ficker had a positive impact on. The range of effects Ficker had is unmeasurable, and the Annual Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award is a small indication of our appreciation. "Ed Ficker was the consummate PGA Professional and one of the most respected PGA members not just in South Florida but the entire country. Honoring and carrying on his legacy with the Sportsmanship award is a small way we can ensure the impact of Ed Ficker will never be forgotten," said South Florida PGA Executive Director Geoff Lofstead. All Award Winners: 2024: Boy: Thomas Nevico Girl: Eva Lye 2023: Boy: Alex Greer Girl: Dounia Bezzari 2022: Boy: Danny Green Girl: Punchy Mahathep 2021: Boy: Michael Rivera Girl: Ariana Silva 2020: Boy: Chase Cohen Girl: Erin Marcelino 2019: Boy: Matthew Myers Girl: Madyson Gold 2018: Boy: Chase Scholze Girl: Kelli Kragh 2015 Boy: Joe Lewis Girl: Jillian Bourdage 2014 Boy: Timothy Simpson Girl: Emily Faulkner 2013 Boy: Matt Newman Girl: Mary Janiga 2012 Boy: Robert Butler Girl: Radi Sauro 2011 Boy: Jackson Schoenfelt Girl: Samantha Coleman 2010 Boy: Harley Abrams Girl: Annie Dulman 2009 Boy: Jaime Rodriguez Girl: Ashley Burke 2008 Boy: Matthew Cahill Girl: Julie Olmo 2007 Boy: Derek Wilcox Girl: Christina Amoriello 2006 Boy: Ben Vertz Girl: Kristen Hill

West Palm Beach, FL - Bob Usher, PGA Director of Instruction at Grey Oaks Country Club, has been named the 2024 South Florida PGA Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year Award honors outstanding teachers of golf among the ranks of the SFPGA membership. This award is based on the PGA Professional’s overall performance in teaching; unusual, innovative and special teaching programs that the Professional has initiated or played a key role in implementing; articles published in books and magazines; as well as outstanding golfers the Professional has instructed. “Winning the South Florida PGA Teacher of the Year is the biggest highlight of my career. I am so honored to be selected by my peers,” said Usher. Usher has displayed a strong passion for teaching and has shared the passion with the team and members of Grey Oaks Country Club since taking over as the Director of Instruction in 2011. “I was given a tremendous opportunity to do what I’m most passionate about. I’ve been teaching golf for over 34 years; But in 2011 I was given the opportunity to do it full time,” explained Usher. That passion has held true as Usher has pursued several teaching certifications to expand his knowledge and expertise. A few of those certifications include: TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Level 3 Certified in Golf Instruction and Junior Coach, The Golfing Machine Certified Master Instructor, U.S. Kids Certified Coach and many more. Along with his personal accomplishments, Usher serves as a leader for eight other instructors at Grey Oaks, generating over a half a million dollars in revenue throughout the 2023/24 fiscal year. In addition, Usher has instilled new player development programs, resulting in an increased overall number of members who take lessons, but specifically Juniors and Women. Compared to 2023, over 200 more female lessons and over 100 more junior lessons were given. Lastly, as personal marketing has continued to evolve for Teachers, specifically, Usher has not fallen behind, utilizing Instagram and Facebook as key tools to promote his business. Additionally, Usher is able to further connect with his students and members, sharing instructional videos and recognizing others for their accomplishments. Although Usher has seen great success personally as a Teacher and and leader at Grey Oaks, his desire to learn more and get better at his own craft has not diminished. “I am proud of the instructor I have become, and I will continue to pursue more knowledge and build more relationships with other teachers for a very long time,” explained Usher.

West Palm Beach, FL - Bridget Ackley, PGA Junior Golf Leader at the Park has been presented the 2024 South Florida PGA Player Development Award. The "PGA Player Development Award" bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional, who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in the area of player development. The award considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in the player development arena, and the meaningful impact made at the facility. “Winning the Player Development Award is an incredible honor that reflects my unwavering commitment to growing the game,” said Ackley. “As a PGA Professional, my goal has always been to create opportunities for everyone in a fun and welcoming environment, where every player—no matter their background or skill level—can learn, grow, and enjoy the game that has given me so much.” As a the Junior Golf Leader at the Park, Ackley plays an integral role in all player development and programming and while the Park has only been open for a little over a year, Ackley has managed to attract players of all ages and skills levels through fun and creative approaches. Since opening in April of 2023 Ackley has already administered seven, six-week adult programs for new golfers and women, working with over 50 golfers. Additionally, Ackley has hosted over 195 clinics for juniors 3-13, working with over 1,000 participants. At the same time, Ackley utilizes key PGA resources, such as PGA Coach and the ADM framework, to expand her personal lesson business. As a result of Ackley’s commitment to expanding programming at her own facility, the Park has hosted two six-week PGA HOPE clinics for over 30 Veterans and two PGA Jr. League teams for the 2024 season for 58 juniors, all with Ackley as the lead instructor. “This recognition motivates me to continue finding new ways to make golf accessible and enjoyable for all,” emphasized Ackley. The Player Development Award is one of the South Florida PGA’s annual awards. Ackley was presented with her award yesterday at The Park.

As a college student pursuing a bachelor's degree in education, Donald Shea, PGA, had his future all mapped out. With an affinity for teaching, Shea planned to use his education degree to teach school during the year in Florida and return to his hometown in Massachusetts to teach golf for the summer. Growing up in Billerica, Massachusetts, Shea, PGA General Manager at Foxfire Country Club, was always looking for work. At 16 years of age, his father worked at a private club outside of Boston as the caddie master. One night, Shea's father asked him if he would pick the range, and although Shea had little interest in golf at the time, he agreed. "That's where my golf journey began, at the Weston Golf Club, and I just fell in love with the game," explained Shea. "I tell people all the time, I went to pick the range one night and ended up picking it for the next five years." At Weston, Shea was introduced to and worked for Tony Morosco, PGA, a 2001 PGA of America Hall of Fame inductee and highly celebrated New England PGA Professional. Morosco mentored the young Shea and brought him on the bag for several National Senior events. "I could see what drove Tony as far as his playing and teaching abilities. He was just someone I looked up to because he was such a good player and teacher," said Shea. As his golf bug grew, Shea met Barrie Bruce, PGA, who operated the Golf School at The Country Club of Billerica. While in college, Shea began working in the golf shop at Weston during the day, and gave lessons and ran junior clinics at Billerica in the evenings. At this point, Shea was hooked and entered the PGA Associate Program, or what was then called the GPTP program, in 1997. "I was 25 years old, and I knew I was going to pursue being a PGA Professional," said Shea. "It kind of clicked that this was my desire to get my Class-A and move through the programs." In 1998, Shea joined the team at Foxfire as an associate, working under another highly celebrated PGA Professional, Jim Kurtzeborn, Past President of the Section and a 2023 South Florida PGA Hall of Fame inductee. "Jim was definitely my greatest mentor of all," emphasized Shea. "He taught me all the little things and inspired me to be the very best I could be in many different ways." Shea served as Kurtzeborn's first assistant for three years before Kurtzeborn eventually accepted another role, leaving a vacancy in the head professional position. Unbeknownst to Shea, Kurtzeborn, who had been with Foxfire for 13 years, recommended him to the board to become the next head professional, a move that springboarded his professional career. "Jim had notified the board one Friday afternoon that he was going to resign as the director of golf at Foxfire," explained Shea. "Three days later, the board met and voted me unanimously as the next head golf professional." While the move was great for Shea's career, it did come with uncertainty. Shea was still an associate with no head professional experience, but Kurtzeborn's unwavering confidence was all Shea needed. "He (Jim) said to the board, I'm not worried about whether or not all of you can do my job; I'm worried about who's going to do his job," recalled Shea. "To have that sense of someone's confidence unsolicited and to have someone you admire so much behind you meant the world." After only two years as head professional, Shea, who had become a full Class-A Member, was promoted to director of golf, assuming full golf responsibilities, just as his mentor Kurtzeborn did. "It was a member who recommended to the board that they change my title and role to director of golf," explained Shea. "That, of course, inspired me to stay." In only eight years, Shea had moved from a first assistant role as an associate to a Class-A PGA director of golf, all at the same facility. With nearly 15 years of experience working at Foxfire, Shea was approached by the board in 2011, asking about his interest in becoming the next general manager. Content with his position as director of golf, Shea was not interested. Less than a year later, the board again approached Shea, and they were very keen on him becoming the general manager. "It wasn't something that I was looking to do again as a career move," explained Shea. "I felt like, hey, you can sit on the sidelines and not take it, or you can step in there and take on the challenge, and that's what I ended up doing." Similar to his time taking over as head professional, the new general manager position did come with some uncertainty, but Shea was prepared for the challenge. "It's an incredible learning curve, and I think it is something that most head pros, directors of golf, or other department heads will underestimate," said Shea. "The way you have to look at things and change your perspective and understand there's so many different perspectives and points of view." In 2013, Shea took over as general manager and still serves in this role, bringing his time with Foxfire to over 27 years, an accomplishment Shea and Foxfire are very proud of. "I was given an opportunity to put my fingerprint on something, and something big, which has certainly been a motivator for me," emphasized Shea. "I've always wanted this club to be the best it could be for the members and the entire staff. That's how I approach my work every single day. When I come to work at Foxfire, I come to work for every single member and their families, and every single employee and their families."

Five years ago Ryan French wrote a feature for PGATour.com, labeling the Honda Classic Monday Qualifier as the Super Bowl of Monday Qualifiers. The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches Monday Qualifier or the “Honda Monday” as most people still call it, came to a close Monday as the South Florida PGA hosted its 52nd and final “Honda Monday.” The Honda Classic was first played in 1972 and the South Florida PGA was established in 1979. Meaning that since the very beginning, the “Honda Monday” has always been, just like for aspiring Playing Professionals, circled on the calendars of SFPGA staff as a premiere event. A lot has changed over the years, including event name changes, but whether it is the Honda Classic or the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, the “Honda Monday” in South Florida has always featured standout fields. Monday's event at The Tesoro Club was no different. It featured 109 participants with well over 500 career combined TOUR starts, all competing for four spots in this week's PGA TOUR event at PGA National. Before Monday’s qualifier, four pre-qualifying events took place, hosting 480 participants. Over its 52-year history, and as a result of the Cognizant Classic or Honda Classic being the start of the Florida swing, the qualifier has attracted serious fields, with the likes of Open Champion Shane Lowry, 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker, and recently AJGA Rolex Player of the Year Miles Russell, to name a few. “It is sad to see the qualifier eliminated. Monday qualifying has been part of the PGA Tour since the beginning, and so many have quite literally changed their lives by getting the opportunity to qualify for a PGA Tour event,” said South Florida PGA Executive Director Geoff Lofstead. “480 players started last week with the dream of qualifying, and unfortunately, they will not have that opportunity going forward.” The depth of talent only deepens as you look year-over-year at multi-time PGA TOUR Winners and Major Champions Jason Dufner, Billy Mayfair, and Rich Beem, amongst others, to add to the list. In 2019 alone, the field included 47 total TOUR wins, with 24 players having at least one win. Outside the immense talent in each qualifier, the event can act as a jump start to one's career. Take this year as an example, with Patrick Sheehan leading the way as a recent Penn State graduate who will make his first PGA TOUR start this week. With the changes being made to the PGA TOUR schedule structure, the South Florida PGA will no longer administer the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches Monday Qualifier beginning in 2026. It is because of the host facilities and PGA of America Golf Professionals over the years that allowed this event to be referred to as the “Super Bowl of Monday Qualifiers.” 2025 Leaderboard

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has teamed up with Srixon, agreeing on a three-year partnership as the presenting partner of the SFPGA Junior Tour. The partnership will enhance the ability of the SFPGA Junior Tour, now the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour, to deliver first-class, competitive, and fun tournaments hosted at prestigious South Florida facilities for juniors. “We are excited to join forces with the Srixon team,” said South Florida PGA Assistant Executive Director Meredith Schuler. “Between the commitment given at the Section Level to our South Florida PGA Professionals and now the relationship with our Junior Tour, we are confident this partnership will raise the standard and professionalism of all Junior events while further promoting our mission.” The announcement is shared as the Junior Tour is coming off celebrating its 25th year anniversary in 2024, where a record number of members was set at over 1,300. In this partnership, the SFPGA will look to set another record high as each event administered this year has included a sellout field. “Srixon is proud to partner with the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and support the next generation of talented golfers,” said Srixon’s Marketing Communications Director, Noelle Zavaleta. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to growing the game by providing young players with premier competitive opportunities and access to top-tier equipment. We look forward to seeing these juniors develop their skills and passion for golf through the SFPGA Junior Tour.” Along with being the presenting partner, the Medalist and Prep Tour Player of the Year Points race, which annually recognizes the top male and female juniors in their respective age divisions, will be renamed the Srixon Player of the Year Points Race. The South Florida PGA Junior Tour falls under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA and its 501-c-3 not-for-profit, the South Florida PGA Foundation. The Junior Tour is composed of three separate Tours, each offering a different experience based on the level of play. ABOUT the South Florida PGA: The South Florida PGA Section is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation, and enjoyment in golf, establish and maintain professional standards of practice, and enhance the well-being of golf professionals. Over 2,000 PGA members and associates are employed at over 375 facilities in the South Florida Section, ranking as the second largest Section amongst all 41 PGA Sections in the United States. Giving back, changing lives, and growing the game – that is the mission of the South Florida PGA Foundation, the charitable arm of the South Florida PGA. This mission has been carried out by enhancing the lives of youth, families, and military, on and off the golf course. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour has a membership of more than 1,300 junior golfers ages 6-18 and conducts nearly 100 events annually. We strive to provide opportunities to those juniors who possess the potential skill and aspirations to compete at the high school and/or collegiate level, in addition to those who are new to the game. ABOUT Dunlop Sports Americas: Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products. For more information, please contact Noelle Zavaleta at noellezavaleta@srixon.com .

West Palm Beach, FL - Justin Rountree, PGA Head Professional at Eagle Lakes Golf Club, was presented the 2024 South Florida PGA Merchandiser of the Year Recognition in the public category. The Public Merchandiser of the Year recognizes the professional who has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf, focusing on the individual’s inventory, shop display, staff and merchandising techniques at a public facility. “Our team at Eagle Lakes works hard every day to continuously improve and provide the PGA Experience to our patrons,” explained Rountree. Rountree credited his colleagues' support and collaboration with their shared success and offered special thanks to Josh Brunet, the PGA General Manager at Eagle Lakes Golf Club. "Josh's trust and support allowed us to be aggressive and creative in expanding our merchandising and marketing strategies, which has added both breadth and depth to the pro shop," he said. The Public Merchandiser of the Year award is presented to PGA Professionals who demonstrate superior skills in merchandising golf products, managing inventory, and enhancing the retail experience for golfers. Award recipients are recognized for their expertise in shop displays, staff management, and innovative merchandising techniques that enrich the golfing experience for patrons of public facilities. Rountree’s dedication to elevating the pro shop’s offerings and ensuring a top-tier customer experience has set a new standard at Eagle Lakes Golf Club. The Merchandiser of the Year (Public Category) is one of the South Florida PGA’s annual awards. The SFPGA will honor each recipient at their individual facilities amongst members, friends and family. Click here for a full list of award winners.

By Craig Dolch Special to the PGA of America PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2025) – When Domenico Geminiani, PGA of Italy gets hot, it seems like the rest of the field is playing for second place. Even when he makes a major putting change. Geminiani of Old Corkscrew Golf Club took control of the PGA Stroke Play Championship with a first-round 63 Sunday and never let go. He closed with a 4-under 67 Tuesday on the Ryder Course to win by three shots at PGA Golf Club. Geminiani went wire-to-wire to finish at 14-under 200, three ahead of Jared Jones of Houston, to earn the $6,000 first prize “I played phenomenal the first day, one of the better rounds I’ve had in a while,” said Geminiani, a PGA Assistant Professional at Old Corkscrew Golf Club near Naples. “And I had a lot of putts lip out. It was crazy.” Geminiani maintained his two-shot lead Monday with a 70 on the tougher Wanamaker Course. He bogeyed his first hole Tuesday, before he started dealing with more lip outs. “I had four lip outs for birdies on the next five holes,” Geminiani said. “Jared asked me, ‘What did you do last night’ (to deserve that bad luck)? It would have been easy to get frustrated, but I started making some putts on the back nine.” Geminiani had been putting with great success the last year with the flag in, but decided to take the flag out two weeks ago after he struggled on the greens. Wise move. “I wasn’t holing much, and I was feeling tentative, so I pulled the flag back out,” he said. “Who knows, in a couple months, maybe I’ll put it back in.” Jones (68) twice got within a shot of Geminiani on Tuesday. The last time, Geminiani then matched Jones’ birdie on the 14th hole to keep a multiple-shot lead the rest of the day. “He played great and made some great putts at the end,” said Jones, the PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club. “It was fun to keep him on his toes.” Also at stake Tuesday were the final two spots in the PGA Professional Championship, the PGA Professional’s premier event, held at PGA Golf Club on April 27-30. They went to Andre Chi of Flushing, N.Y., with a sparkling, bogey-free 64, capped with a 60-foot birdie on the 18th; and Jon Mayer of Greenville, S.C., to finish tied for third at 10-under 204. “I wasn’t eligible to qualify in my Section because I didn’t have my Class A (until after the Section Championship), so I knew this was my last chance,” said Chi, a 24-year-old Assistant PGA Professional at Deepdale Golf Club. “I’m glad I was able to get it done. I wanted to get to 10 (-under). Making that long putt at the end was a bonus.” Mayer shot 68 to achieve his goal for the week – qualifying for the PPC. “That was my only goal after missing it at Section,” Mayer said. “I just wanted to grind, get better and be one of those guys who gets those PPC spots.” Andy Svoboda (70-206) was fifth and defending champion Dylan Newman (69-207) tied for sixth with Greg Koch (67-207) of Orlando and Evan Bowser (69-207) of Naples. In addition to Geminiani finishing in first and Bowser in a tie for sixth, the following SFPGA Members all made the cut: John Lento (T12), Andrew Filbert (T16), Christian De Greiff (T16), Zach Shriver (T16), Matthew Sita (T23), Kenny Leech (T23), Dakun Chang (T37), Ron Philo (T49), David Marano (T58), Mark Brown (T58), Justin Smith (T63), Nick Latimer (T67) and Taylor Collins (T71) The PGA Winter Championships, presented by GolfPass and On Location, will conclude with the Women’s Stroke Play Championship Sunday-Tuesday.

West Palm Beach, Fl - Guy Mancini, PGA District Sales Manager for Yamaha Golf-Car Company, has been presented the 2024 South Florida PGA Salesperson of the Year award. The Salesperson of the Year award honors a sales representative (hard or soft good) serving the Section who has made significant contributions to the game of golf at the Section level and within his/her company and whose overall performance as a sales representative, including service to accounts, overall integrity, courtesy, and professionalism is second to none. “I am truly honored to have been chosen as the 2024 South Florida PGA Section Salesperson of the Year,” said Mancini, who obtained his full Class-A PGA Membership in 2020. “This award holds a significant meaning, especially as a proud PGA Member.” Before his time with Yamaha, Mancini served on the green grass side of the golf industry, working as a golf professional at Lost Tree Club and Mariner Sands Country Club, among others. Now, because of this experience, Mancini is able to obtain more accounts due to his already-established relationships. “I know what they [PGA Members] go through on a daily basis. Therefore, this allows me to assist them better,” explained Mancini. “I know the operation side of the business, and hearing and seeing what they need/want comes easy to me.” Similar to his time as club professional, Mancini’s number one focus is always the customer and their experience. “Whether it is in the golf shop assisting a member or selling golf carts, the customer has to always be first and foremost,” Mancini emphasized. “I believe one of the best attributes for a salesperson in the golf industry is to be a good listener.” While Mancini leads his team at Yamaha, he is incredibly thankful to all those who have played a role and recognizes others’ efforts in getting him to this point. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who bestowed this tremendous honor upon me,” said Mancini. “Your support and recognition inspire me to continue striving for excellence in our community and the sport we all cherish.”  Mancini’s dedication to building strong relationships and supporting the PGA Professionals in the South Florida Section has earned him this distinguished honor. Reflecting on his journey, Mancini added, “I am grateful for the camaraderie, mentorship, and opportunities our association provides, and I look forward to contributing even more in the future. Thank you once again for this incredible honor.” The Salesperson of the Year award is one of the South Florida PGA’s annual awards. Mancini was presented with his award yesterday during day two of the 2025 PGA SHOW in Orlando. Click here for the full list of award winners.