Brown and Gildersleeve Lead 2022 Southern Texas PGA Award Winners
SPRING, TX (October 25, 2022) –– The Southern Texas PGA is excited to announce this year’s STPGA Award Winners. PGA Professional James Brown has been named the 2022 STPGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor within the Section.
Brown, who was elected to PGA Membership in 2007, is best known for his strong leadership and ability to grow the game of golf as the Head PGA Golf Professional at Royal Oaks Country Club.
From early on in his career, Brown was curious about getting involved with the Section and leaned on his peers to learn more and explore how we could give back to the Association. In 2008, Brown was given just that opportunity as he was chosen to sit on the STPGA Membership and Tournament Committee and remained involved all the way up to today where he currently serves as the STPGA President.
During his time as President that commenced in February 2021, Brown has been very focused on enhancing the Section’s business to best serve our PGA Members. From growing tournament purses, to enhanced educational opportunities, to promoting our Professionals, Brown is constantly thinking about his fellow PGA Members and how to best serve them.
Along with his contributions at the Section level, Brown has prided himself on his ability to lead by example at his own club. Royal Oaks Country Club, like most clubs has seen a tremendous increase in member engagement and rounds of golf played. Brown consistently preaches to his team the need for quality service and an enjoyable atmosphere for his members to experience. Brown’s strong leadership and mentoring skills also earned him the 2018 STPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award.
Another notable Section Award winner is Ann Marie Gildersleeve, PGA Director of Instruction at Austin Country Club who won this year’s STPGA Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year Award. Named after the legendary PGA Professional and teacher Harvey Penick, this award is given to an individual for overall excellence in golf instruction. Early on in Gildersleeve’s career, she had the honor of being a Senior Instructor at the Harvey Penick Golf Academy and it was there that she was able to build the foundations of her teaching philosophy and follow in the footsteps of the great Harvey Penick.
Over her 23 years of teaching at Austin Country Club, Gildersleeve has worked to make her approach to teaching innovative and fun for the high level of students that she teaches. The programs she has initiated at the club level aims to develop golfers from the junior level up, and due to the longevity of these programs, Gildersleeve has developed golfers all the way from a junior age to college, amateur, and professional levels.
The STPGA is also excited to honor PGA Professionals Gordon Johnson and Ken McDonald with the Special Service Award in 2022. Both PGA Professionals are retiring after serving long tenures at Houston Country Club and BraeBurn Country Club, respectively. The Special Service Award honors individuals for their contribution to the game of golf, fundraising efforts, and overall friends of the golfing community.
As both turn the page to the next chapter in their historic life, the STPGA is honored to award this year’s Special Service Award to both of them!
In addition to these awards, the STPGA is also announcing 9 other Section Awards, our 3 Player of the Year Awards, and Chapter Awards.
Section Award winners will be formally presented with their honors during the STPGA’s 55th Annual President’s Dinner and Awards Banquet on Monday, February 13, 2023, at the Omni Hotel Houston while Chapter Awards will be presented at their respective Chapter Meetings later this Fall.
Congratulations to all award winners.
2022 Southern Texas PGA Section Awards
Golf Professional of the Year: James Brown (Royal Oaks Country Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Ann Marie Gildersleeve (Austin Country Club)
Special Service Award: Ken McDonald (BraeBurn Country Club) & Gordon Johnson (Houston Country Club)
Bill Strausbaugh Award: Corey Roberson (The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch)
Assistant Professional of the Year: Kyle Andis (Champions Golf Club)
Player Development Award: Katie Dillard (The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch)
Youth Player Development Award: Garrett Nobles (WindRose Golf Club)
Golf Sales Representative of the Year: Kelly Ellis (Sun Mountain/Pukka/NexBelt/PRG)
Junior Golfer of the Year (Boy): Cole Cantu (San Antonio, TX)
Junior Golfer of the Year (Girl): Isabella Saenz (San Antonio, TX)
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): Houston Country Club
Merchandiser of the Year (Public): The Quarry Golf Course
2022 Player of the Year Awards
Rolex Player of the Year: JJ Wood (Golf Performance Group)
Rolex Senior Player of the Year: Robert Thompson (Whispering Pines Golf Club)
Rolex Women’s Player of the Year: Autumn Bynum (Jimmy Clay Golf Course)
2022 STPGA Chapter Awards
Eastern Chapter
Golf Professional of the Year: Matt Scadden (Pearland Golf Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: EJ Kim (Axis Golf Academy)
Youth Player Development Award: James Larkin (Golf Performance Group)
Merchandiser of the Year: Pearland Golf Club
Western Chapter
Golf Professional of the Year: Steve Termeer (University of Texas Golf Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year:
Tim Flotte (PGA TOUR Superstore – San Antonio)
Merchandiser of the Year: The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
Southern Chapter
Youth Player Development Award: David Ramirez (Northshore Country Club)
