Morgan and Gonzalez Lead 2021 Southern Texas PGA Award Winners
SPRING, TX (November 4, 2021) ––The Southern Texas PGA is excited to announce this year’s Section Award Winners. Dale Morgan has been named the 2021 STPGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor within the section. This award is based on the recipient’s overall performance as a PGA Professional, level of service to the Southern Texas PGA, leadership, image, ability to inspire fellow Professionals, and service to the region’s golf community.
Morgan, who was elected to PGA Membership in 1990, is best known for his strong leadership and ability to grow the game of golf as the Head Golf Professional at Austin Country Club for the last 26 years. In 2021, Morgan received a promotion to Director of Golf as the club continues to expand and grow. Following the great Harvey and Tinsley Penick, Morgan has aimed to continue the foundation of success at Austin Country Club through an eight year waiting list for membership and a growing junior golf program that has seen 35 junior golfers move on to play collegiate golf in all division levels.
Along with his contributions at Austin Country Club, Morgan works to give back to the Austin community through his involvement with the Hannon Society and STPGA Governance. Through these partnerships, Morgan works to provide juniors with scholarships and mentor fellow PGA Professionals within the STPGA.
Rudy Gonzalez, PGA Director of Instruction at Laredo Country Club won this year’s 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. Since founding the Laredo Junior Golf Association in 2008 along with his work through his golf instruction business, RG Golf Instruction, LLC and serving as Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams at Texas A&M International University, Gonzalez has continuously worked to teach and coach junior, collegiate, and professional golfers.
Gonzalez uses a holistic approach to teaching golfers at Laredo Country Club. The better junior golfers help the developmental juniors, the college golfers help the better juniors, the professional golfers help the college golfers as well as the club golfer. Along with his great success in teaching golfers at multiple levels, Gonzalez earned a spot on the US Kids Golf Top 50 Master Kids Teacher List three times in a row, as well as being named Heartland Conference Men’s Coach of the Year (NCAA Division II) in 2017.
Morgan, Gonzalez, and the other Section Award winners will be formally presented with their honors during the STPGA’s 54th Annual President’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Monday, February 7, 2022 at the Omni Hotel Houston.
2021 Southern Texas PGA Section Awards
Golf Professional of the Year: Dale Morgan (Austin Country Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Rudy Gonzalez (Laredo Country Club)
Bill Strausbaugh Award: Joe Mitchell (Victoria Country Club)
Professional Development Award: Mark Steinbauer (Spirit Golf Association)
Dick Forester Quarter Century Award: Layne Ricks (Meadowbrook Farms GC)
Assistant Professional of the Year: Colton Escamilla (Whispering Pines Golf Club)
Player Development Award: Brian McMyler (The Dominion Country Club)
Youth Player Development Award: Chris Westerdahl (Sterling Country Club)
Patriot Award: Jeff Ulrich (Mac Wylie Golf Center)
Golf Sales Representative of the Year: Edwin Fuh (PXG)
Junior Golfer of the Year (Boy): Aaron Pounds (The Woodlands, TX)
Junior Golfer of the Year (Girl): Mallory Matthews (Hondo, TX)
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): Bluejack National
Merchandiser of the Year (Public): Golf Club of Houston
Merchandiser of the Year (Resort): Hyatt Hill Country Resort
