GCSAA awards Watson Fellowship Program winnersThe Environmental Institute for Golf
Aaron Johnsen, Brian Schwartz and Bradley Sladek each have been awarded $5,000 postgraduate grants by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) as winners in the 2007 Watson Fellowship Program.
The Toro CompanyThe Watson Fellowship is funded by a partnership between The Toro Co. and The Environmental Institute for Golf. It is named after James R. Watson, Ph.D., a retired vice president for Toro and pioneer in turfgrass research. The winners, students working toward master’s degrees and doctoral degrees, have been identified as promising future teachers and researchers in the field of golf course management. They also receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2008 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show (Jan. 28-Feb. 2) in Orlando.
Johnsen is working on a master’s degree in applied plant science with a turfgrass science emphasis at the University of Minnesota. The topic for his thesis is "Use of remote sensing technology to predict drought stress in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stonlonifera L.) fairways."
Schwartz is working toward a doctorate degree in turfgrass breeding at University of Florida. His thesis work involved an evaluation of the genetic gain of upland cotton that can be attributed to plant breeding over the past century. He noted that although his thesis did not directly apply to golf course management, the basic foundation he obtained over the course of his master’s program has and will continue to supplement his current zoysiagrass breeding projects. Schwartz’s dissertation work is related to the different aspects of a zoysiagrass breeding program. The main focus of his project is to develop a rapid and repeatable screen for resistance or tolerance to sting nematodes.
Sladek is working on a master’s degree in turfgrass germplasm evaluation at Texas Tech University. He is looking at the evaluation of zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) germplasm for shade tolerance and rate of spread for his master’s thesis. Sladek’s future plans include pursuing and obtaining a doctorate degree.
Watson, now retired, is a leading authority on turfgrasses and was vice president for customer relations and chief agronomist for Toro. The winner of the USGA Green Section Award in 1976 and the 1977 Agronomic Service Award by the American Society of Agronomy, Watson was named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America in 1979. He also won the 1991 Harry Gill Memorial Award of the Sports Turf Managers Association and GCSAA’s highest honor in 1995, the Old Tom Morris Award. Over the course of five decades at Toro, Watson conducted research on adaptability of species and strains of turfgrasses, fertilization practices, snow mold prevention techniques for the winter protection of turfgrasses, etc. He has authored over 400 popular articles on turfgrass cultural practices and water conservation.
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 21,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.
The Toro Co. (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of outdoor beautification products, support services and integrated solutions. With sales of $1.8 billion in 2006, Toro is committed to providing environmentally responsible products of customer-valued quality and innovation. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands that serve a customer base that includes golf course superintendents, groundskeepers, sports field managers, landscape and irrigation contractors, fruit and vegetable growers, and homeowners. The Toro Co. is headquartered at 8111 Lyndale Avenue in Bloomington, Minn. Visit the company Web site at www.thetorocompany.com.
Contact:
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA director of communications
800-472-7878, ext. 4430 or jbollig@gcsaa.org
