Perry said the comfort of a support staff during his absence from Crane Lakes Golf and Country Club enabled him to concentrate on the PGA Tournament Series as well as other national events throughout the season.
"Last year, it was all new to me being in position to win this award,” said Perry. “This year, I was a little more knowledgeable about the system. When Bob Sowards came out of the gate this year and won the PGA Stroke and Match Play titles, I knew that it was going to be difficult to repeat. Thankfully, after winning my Section Championship, I had momentum. Bob Sowards is an excellent player, and it is never easy to keep him at bay in any event.
“It is a great situation to be in to have the support of your club’s owners - the Becks Corporation - and that of Director of Business Development Craig Wells along with our members and staff. Their support allowed me the chance to go out and contend for this award. The members take a very wholehearted interest in not only my playing but my whole life.”
The final Player of the Year standings were determined based on a point system involving national and PGA Section competitions from Jan. 1 through Dec. 20, 2013.
Perry garnered 500 points for winning the PGA
Professional National Championship, 300 for
the North Florida PGA Section Player of the Year, 100 additional points for winning the Section Championship; 149 for making the cut in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 50 more for competing in the Tampa Bay Championship. He rounded out his season by earning 70 points for finishing fourth on the PGA Tournament Series money list and 22.5 for making the cut in the PGA Stroke Play Championship.
“Finishing runner-up for three straight years is not the way you want to end up, but give Rod the credit for a fantastic year,” said Sowards, the 2004 PGA Professional National Champion and the 2003-05 PGA Professional Player of the Year. “He’s a great guy and we have played a lot together, and were each members of the PGA Cup Team this year. It’s always my goal to win this award.”
2013 PGA Professional Player of the Year Final Standings
PLAYER POINTS
1. Rod Perry
2. Bob Sowards
3. Jeff Sorenson
4. David Muttit
5. Kelly Mitchum
6. Mike Small
7. Chip Sullivan
8. Rob Moss
9. Rob Labritz
10. Brian Cairns
1191.50
1107.50
771.25
771.00
757.50
673.75
666.75
657.50
645.00
641.75
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