Virginia Golfer January/February 2024 VG_JanFeb24_Digital | Page 9

News & Notes

Compiled by CHRIS LANG
VSGA Announces Award Winners The VSGA will honor six volunteer award winners at its 2024 Annual Meeting in January at Hermitage Country Club .
• President ’ s Award : Gib Palmer , past VSGA President and 2018 Joe Dey Award Winner , president of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame .
• Volunteer of the Year : Doug Stover , who is the longest serving course rater still active with the VSGA . He participated in nine course ratings in 2023 and previously served as a captain of the Northern Virginia course-rating team .
• Service to Golf : Michael Cumberpatch , longtime USGA volunteer and retired Executive Director of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association and Washington Metropolitan Golf Association ; currently serves as historian for both associations .
• Grow the Game : Jennifer Blackwood , Executive Director of the First Tee , Roanoke Valley .
Around The Commonwealth
Additionally , two one-time awards will be presented to two who have had tremendous impact on the VSGA Women ’ s Division : Barbara Hughes ( Women ’ s Division Legacy-Leadership ) and Joan Darden ( Women ’ s Division Legacy-Mentorship ).
PGA OF AMERICA
MAPGA Elects First Female President The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America announced in December that it had elected Lynne Hunter as its 51st President , marking the first time in the organization ’ s nearly 100-year history that it has elected a female to its top board position .
“ I look forward to working with our officers , board and staff to make an impact in our communities through our foundation , PGA REACH Middle Atlantic ,” Hunter said . “ Many PGA members have helped me along the way in my career and I am excited to give back to the game and my fellow professionals that work to grow the game at their facilities every day .”
Hunter , who lives in Herndon , is the Director of Golf at Kenwood Golf & Country Club in Bethesda , Md . Joining Hunter for two-year terms as MAGPA officers are Mark Russo , PGA ( Vice President ) and Scott Graber , PGA ( Secretary ). Andy Weissinger , PGA , becomes the MAPGA ’ s
Lynne Hunter
Honorary President after serving a twoyear term as MAPGA President .
“ Lynne ’ s dedication to the game and her fellow PGA professionals , as well as her business acumen and a distinguished , award-winning career , make her ideally suited to lead our Association for the next two years ,” MAPGA Executive Director Jon Guhl said .
DECC Racks Up Another Honor The Dominion Energy Charity Classic , a PGA Tour Champions event hosted annually at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond , has earned the PGA Tour Champions ’ Players Award for the fourth time . The award is voted by PGA Tour Champions players as their favorite event . Players cited amenities like massages and chiropractors available on site , courtesy cars , a barber in the player
locker room and a luncheon for players ’ wives as reasons for the honor . The DECC also won the Players Award in 2016 , 2017 , and 2019 .
Global Golf Post Teams Six VSGA members earned recognition on the Global Golf Post 10th All-Amateur teams , announced in November .
• Michael Brennan ( River Creek Club ): All Amateur , second team
• Evan Beck ( Princess Anne CC ): All Mid-Amateur , first team
• Lauren Greenlief ( International CC ): All Mid-Amateur women , first team
• Jessica Spicer ( Cypress Point CC ): All Mid-Amateur women , second team
• Roger Newsom ( Elizabeth Manor G & CC ): All Senior , first team
• Matt Sughrue ( Trump National GC , Washington DC ): All Senior , first team
vsga . org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 7