People

PGA of America / Northern California Section: Names Mike Dowd, PGA head golf professional at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Oakdale, as recipient of its 2013 NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award. Dowd is being recognized with this award for his mentoring of PGA professionals.

Golf Academy of America: Reports on alums Tyler Beasley and Brennen Truax, both of whom participated in the Re/Max World Long Drive Championship in Mesquite, NV.

EWGA: Elects Sheryl Wilkerson as the new president of its board of directors. Wilkerson will be introduced on Nov. 1.

PGA of America / Middle Atlantic Section: Announces it will have five professionals representing the Section at the National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Port St. Lucie, FL. The five are Geoff Montross (PGA of International Country Club, Fairfax, VA), Ashley Grier (Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD), Yong Joo (Broad Run Golf Practice Facility in Bristow, VA), Pleasant Hughes (PGA of Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, MD) and Todd Larson (Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, VA).

Troon: Announces that nine golf instructors teaching at Troon-affiliated golf facilities were recently named among Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Your State list. The instructors were Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott and Tim Mahoney (Talking Stick Golf Club, Scottsdale, AZ); Mike LaBauve and Sandy LaBauve (Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, Scottsdale, AZ); Derek Hooper (Troon Golf Academy at Lake of Isles, North Stonington, CT); Ben Hongo (Kapalua Golf Academy, Maui, HI); Skip Maiwald (Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood, KS); and Jon Paupore (Jim McLean Golf School at Red Ledges, Park City, UT).

Ping: Re-signs Billy Horschel to a multi-year agreement to continue playing Ping golf equipment.

Breeders’ Cup: Horse racing organization selects Hall of Famer golfer Gary Player as one of its Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors. The ambassadors will serve as spokespersons for the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Nov. 1-2 in Los Angeles, CA.

Breeders’ Cup: Horse racing organization selects Hall of Famer golfer Gary Player as one of its Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors. The ambassadors will serve as spokespersons for the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Nov. 1-2 in Los Angeles, CA.

Eagle Golf: Promotes Ed Easley to senior vice president of agronomy and construction.

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America: Selects its second Melrose Leadership Academy class, which will be conducted at the 2014 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, FL, Feb. 1-6. The class includes Kelly D. Bowen, of Sunnyside, WA; Brian Brown, of Lindstrom, MN; Joel A. Collura, of NJ; Thomas F. Dale, of Brigantine, NJ; Ronald C. Garrison, of Exeter, PA; Hampton Kicklighter Jr., of Dublin, GA; Patrick S. Knelly, of Sugarloaf, PA; David L. Littrell, of Louisville, KY; Stephen E. Malloy, of Somersworth, NH; Shane A. Miller, of Allentown, PA; Peter C. Powell, of Boca Raton, FL; David C. Van Auken, of Deerbrook, WI; Michael F. Walton, of Shanghai, China; Michael White, of Vonore, TN; David R. Williams, of Boalsburg, PA; and John M. Wynn, of Xenia, OH.

PGA of America / Northern California Section: Announces Greg Raleigh, PGA head golf professional at Somersett Golf and Country Club in Reno, NV, as recipient of its 2013 NCPGA Horton Smith Award. Raleigh is being recognized for his contributions to professional education for PGA Professionals.

PGA of America / North California Section: Announces Pat Jones, PGA head golf professional of Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside, as recipient of its 2013 NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year Award.

PGA of America / Northern California Section: Announces Jerry Stewart, of the Monterey County Herald in Monterey, as its 2013 NCPGA Sports Media Person of the Year.

PHIT America: Announces LPGA player Ryann O’Toole as one of three celebrity ambassadors. PHIT America is a nonprofit education and advocacy organization designed to address inactivity and obesity in the United States,

Robert Trent Jones Jr.: Honored by the University of Washington Tacoma with a scholarship fund in his name. The event took place at the Jones-designed Chambers Bay Golf Course, which will host the 2015 U.S. Open.

GolfTEC: Placed nine of its certified personal coaches on the Golf Digest list of Best Teachers In America, with James Kinney ranked No. 1 in Nebraska.

K-Motion Interactive: Announces that 45 K-Vest certified golf professionals were named to Golf Digest’s 2013-2014 Best Teachers in America list. The list is published in the November issue.

Billy Casper Golf: Reports that golf course architect Lester George has been honored by the American Society of Golf Course Architects for his renovation of Rock Manor Golf Course as part of its Design Excellence Recognition Program. Rock Manor is managed by Billy Casper Golf.

GolfTEC: Placed nine of its certified personal coaches on the Golf Digest list of Best Teachers In America, with James Kinney ranked No. 1 in Nebraska.

PGA of America / Northern California Section: Announces Phil Green, PGA professional and owner/manager of Home on the Range in Newcastle, CA, as recipient of its 2013 Player Development Award.