VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California PGA today announced the three winners of its Player of the Year awards. PGA Director of Instruction Dave Carr of Teal Bend Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif., earns top honors as Player of the Year (Regular Division) proudly presented by Yamaha Golf Cars. PGA Teaching Professional Shawn McEntee of Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa, Calif., garnered the Senior Player of the Year (50-64 years) honors and PGA Life Member Larry Babica of Redding, Calif., earned the Super Senior (65+ years) Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. These awards are both presented by ILT Golf Vacations. PGA Assistant Golf Professional David Solomon of Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, Calif., wins the Assistant Apprentice Player of the Year award presented by Global Tour Golf. All Players of the Year were awarded this distinction based upon their 2013 tournament year point standings.
Carr, Solomon, McEntee, and Babica are among 19 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2013 Annual Section Awards. Section awards are given to PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf. The NCPGA will recognize its 2013 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, December 8 at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill, Calif. This event, a highlight for the year, will be held the evening prior to the NCPGA Annual Meeting. There are more than 200 golf professionals and industry leaders expected to attend. E-Z-Go Textron is a presenting partner and PGA Resort and Spa and the Northern California Golf Representatives Association is a supporting partner of the Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting.
“We are fortunate to have such talented professionals such Dave, Shawn, David and Larry in our Section because the golfing community gets to benefit from their skills and teaching abilities,” said NCPGA Executive Director and COO Chris Thomas.
Dave Carr – Player of the Year
After 10 events, PGA Director of Instruction Dave Carr ended his tournament season with a total of 1,037.79 points to earn the Player of the Year Award. His exceptional performance began early in the season as he became the Pro-Series 1 Champion as well as his impressive showing at the 2013 PGA Professional National Championship held at Sunriver Resort this last June.
“I have always loved the challenge of competing in golf tournaments. My favorite part has always been the challenge of working on my game and trying to improve, then playing in tournaments to see if I am progressing and what areas may need more work,” said Carr.
Carr has come a long way since he started playing golf at age 8 on a family trip to Tulsa Oklahoma where he shot in the 150s on his first day at a local golf course.
Having played golf for more than 35 years, Carr has a reputation for being an accomplished player. He was an amateur standout in Sacramento in the 1980’s and competed in various professional mini-tours for more than 20 years. He was a member of the 2002 Canadian Tour, and played in the 2004 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills. Carr gives more than 500 lessons annually and uses a very simple cause-and-effect approach to teaching. He has a strong understanding of the golf swing, short-game techniques and especially playing the game, which make him one of the most sought after teachers in Sacramento.
Shawn McEntee – Senior Player of the Year
PGA Teaching Professional Shawn McEntee competed in 12 events to finish the Senior Division Tournament Season with a total of 224 points. He won the 2013 Sr. Match Play Championship, Senior Pro-Pro 7 and Super Senior Match Play Qualifier and tied for first place in the Senior Pro-Pro 6 and Senior North/South Challenge Cup Match.
He says that competition motivates him to put forth greater effort that can result in high levels of performance.
His professional accomplishments are many including the 1999 NCPGA Player of the Year, 1995 NCPGA Merchandiser of the Year, 1988 SCPGA Player of the Year, and a current member of the Titleist Advisory Board.
During his golf career, he has competed in major championships including the 2013 Senior PGA Championship, the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and both the 1991 and 1989 PGA Championship.
Larry Babica – Super Senior Player of the Year
PGA Life Member Larry Babica finished the Super Senior Division Tournament Season after 15 events with a total of 143.50 points. He either won or tied for first place in one third of the events. He won the Super Senior Stroke Play and Senior Pro-Pro 8. He also tied for first in the Senior Pro-Pro 5. Larry concluded the season as the Super Senior Northern California Open Champ.
This award complements his 1984 NCPGA Player of the Year Award.
Babica began playing golf at age five in Arcada, California where his father was a golf pro. Babica thrives off the excitement of the competition. A PGA Professional since 1975, Babica served as the PGA Head Professional at Sequoia Woods Country Club from 1991 to his retirement in 2012.
David Solomon – Assistant Apprentice Player of the Year
PGA Assistant Golf Professional David Solomon finished the Assistant Apprentice Tournament Season with a total of 959.25 points.
“I enjoy networking with other PGA Professionals and the excitement of competing in Section events,” said Solomon.
Solomon started playing golf at age 14. To date, he has won the 2010 Assistant Championship and qualified for the 2007, 2009, and 2010 National Assistant Championship. He was a President Scholar and four-year member of the Long Beach State University Golf Team.
About the Northern California Section of the PGA of America (NCPGA)
Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the birth of this association was heralded as an important step to the advancement of the game in this district. The Northern California Section is one of the forty-one designated Sections of the PGA of America, the world’s largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 dedicated PGA Professionals and apprentices at over 500 golf facilities in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada, the association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally. For more information, please visit www.ncpga.com.
Contact:
Jennifer Noel – jnoel@pgahq.com
Nancy Maul – nmaul@pgahq.com
