CONTINUED from PAGE 3 Year. He has displayed exemplary leadership as he wins his first GSPGA award.The Merchandisers of the Year are selected based on their skills in the promotion of golf including merchandising ability and technique, inventory levels and turn rate, shop display and attention to detail.Adam Scott (Head Professional at Mississippi State University Golf Course in Starkville, Miss.) has been named Merchandiser of the Year in the Public category.This marks Scott's first Section award. In the Private category (Director of Golf Jason Prendergast at The Country Club of Jackson) has earned the distinction of Merchandiser of the Year, an award he has previously received in 2009, 2014 and 2018. Head Professional Sean Racki (Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia, Miss.) has earned his sixth award from the Gulf States PGA. He was Merchandiser of the Year in the Resort category in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2015. Scott also was named this year’s GSPGA Player Development Award winner. This award honors his extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. In the Louisiana Chapter Awards, Jim Justus (Head Professional at Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe) was named Professional of the Year. “I am honored and humbled to be selected as Gulf States Louisiana Chapter Golf Professional of the Year," said Justus, who will be retiring at the end of this year. "My thanks to the PGA of America and the Gulf States Section PGA for the education and to the dedication of each PGA member." Louisiana Assistant Professional of the Year has been awarded to Greg Sonnier of Lake Charles Country Club. Olly Thomson (Head Professional at Deerfield Golf Club in Canton, Miss.) has been awarded the Mississippi Chapter's Golf Professional of the Year for the second year in a row. "Since moving my family here to Mississippi nearly 15 years ago, the golf professionals and good people of Mississippi have welcomed us with open arms," said Thomson. "It's been my pleasure to serve as the Mississippi Chapter President for the last couple of years and to be recognized as the 2019 Mississippi Chapter Golf Professional of the Year is very special." Carpenter also picked up the Mississippi Chapter Assistant of the Year Award. Two special Chapter awards are set aside to honor individuals that tirelessly and unselfishly work to support the game of golf. The Louisiana Chapter has chosen Grant Larson (Sales Representative for Callaway Golf) as the recipient of the Barbato-Thomas Award, which is named after Mike Barbato and Henry Thomas. Both played a major role in the birth and development of the Gulf States Section.The award is presented to individuals in recognition of those who have unselfishly served and supported the game of golf and the PGA Professionals. "It's an honor to be awarded the Barbato-Thomas Award and I'd like to thank Robert Brown,Andrew Lewis, Morgan Williamson and the entire PGA Gulf States Section committee for their leadership and support,” Larson said. "In my second year as the Callaway Sales Representative for the Gulf States Section, it's been a privilege to work alongside such great and UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS DEC. 15: Holiday at Gray Plantation Golf Club (Lake Charles, La.) JAN. 12: Hub City Classic at The Wetlands (Lafayette, La.) FEB. 9: Mardi Gras Mambo at Links on the Bayou (Alexandria, La.) Area Director: Robert Boudreaux Email: robert.boudreaux@usssa.com Phone: 337.278.8431 Website: www.usssagolf.com Tee To Green Golf Newsletter Vol. 77 (11/7/19) Page 17 talented professionals who share the same commitment to excellence and growing the game. I would also like to thank my wife (Michelle Larson with E-Z-GO) and we both look forward to our continued partnership with the Gulf States PGA Section and all the PGA Professionals who represent it as well." The Mississippi Chapter's Carpenter-Lindsay Award — named for James Ray Carpenter and Ken Lindsay — went to Margo Coleman, who is the Executive Director of The First Tee of Central Mississippi. Lindsay hired Coleman for her first job in the golf industry. Carpenter and Lindsay both served as PGA of America Presidents and gave so much to the GSPGA. "Joining the long list of recipients is an honor, because these ladies and gentleman have done so much for the game of golf and their support of our PGA Professionals," Coleman said. "I have made many wonderful friends through the game of golf and it is because of all of the PGA Professionals, who have influenced my life and career. I am thankful for the opportunities to serve the game we all love. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Lindsay have been mentors of mine and winning the Carpenter-Lindsay Award means the world to me." This year's honorees will be celebrated at the Gulf States PGA Special Awards Ceremony on Dec. 8 at The Country Club of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.The Gulf States PGA Awards Committee consists of past award winners. The Gulf States Section, a Professional Golfers' Association of America, is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation and enjoyment in the game of golf.The GSPGA also establishes and maintains professional standards of practice and enhances the well being of golf professionals.
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