Volume 8, Issue 1
January 2015
I am excited to kick off the New Year and season with the Gateway PGA. Nearly 1/3 of the board of directors has turned over. The new faces will bring new ideas and energy to the board and will help the strategic plan that focuses on serving our members and growing the game. By way of this newsletter and recent communications, you see that Andy Crowe, Forest Hills Country Club, has been named the Presidential Appointment to the board. In addition, Mike Suhre introduces himself as our newest Officer as he will be serving as our Secretary. I would also like to welcome Brian Laur, Rend Lake, as our representative on the board for the Southern IL/Southern MO region.
From the Officers Desk
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4th Annual Gateway PGA Putt Putt Challenge
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Junior Golf Letter
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I was able to spend the greater part of two days with Section President, Nathan Charnes. Nathan is taking a very active approach to our committee system. He is excited to involve members who want to be part of bettering ourselves and growing the game. You will see some new faces serving our committees as chairs. You will also see that our committee chairs are looking for your help. Please consider getting involved on one or more committees. I promise you will make a difference and make new friends and business connections in the process. 46 players tee’d it up in the 4th Annual Putt-Putt Championship. Please see the results on page 3 as well as a few pictures from the fun night at Disney’s Fantasia Gardens. I look forward to seeing many of you soon. All the best,
Growth of the Game
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Assistants’ Corner
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Rules Corner
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Education Corner
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Updating PGALinks Profile
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Employment Chips
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PGA HQ News
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Fitness Tips
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Tournament News
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Shout Outs
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Upcoming Events
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Member Updates & Birthdays
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Section Officers Nathan Charnes, PGA President
Benjiman Kent, PGA Vice-President
Michael Suhre, PGA Secretary
Gateway PGA Staff Josh Riley, PGA Executive Director
Steve Finn, PGA Assistant Executive Director
Josh Riley, PGA
Michael Brown, PGA Director or Junior Golf
Ali Wells, PGA Director of Foundation Operations
Lindsay Riley Foundation Admin Assistant
Susan Bender Membership 1
FROM THE OFFICERS DESK I am excited to begin my official service to the Gateway Section. The game has been very good to me and hopefully, we can all work together to give our best back. My focus in my first year will be to work with the Gateway Staff to help them with junior golf ventures. We plan to have a preliminary Junior Golf Board in place by the time you are reading this article. The idea of the group will be to put together ideas on how to better utilize our skills to enhance the existing programs we offer as a section. It is my hope that when my 6 years of service are over, the Gateway Section will be known in the bi-state area as the center of junior golf. With a little hard work and a lot of promoting our existing professional's wonderful programs, this goal will be achieved. I am also excited to dive into the business of the PGA of America in hopes I will be able to better understand how to utilize our current resources to better our professionals situations. Great strides have been taken by our members and officers since I became a member of the Gateway Section, and I hope to continue the tradition. I hope to get to know you all a little better over the course of my service, also. If we haven't met yet, please feel free to contact me if I can assist you. I look forward to a wonderful 2015 and I hope to see you all in the near future.
Mike Suhre PGA Professional Oak Brook Golf Club www.oakbrookgc.com
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4th Annual Gateway PGA Putt-Putt Championship
RESULTS Front 9 26 10-under Jason Woods & Rob Wilson Dave Reinhart & Marc Welborn Back 9 22 14-under Brooke Pancake & Derek Rende JC Anderson & Ben Burns Total 50 22-under JC Anderson & Ben Burns
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Winter is here and my junior golfers are ready for spring already. I have been getting lots of calls and questions about next year’s schedule. The spring schedule is up on the web site, posted below and ready to go. Click on the image to view the spring schedule.
Click on the image to the left to watch Gavin Hagan, one of our dedicated Gateway Junior Members getting better over the winter.
Please let your juniors and Junior Parents know that they can become members of the 2015 Gateway PGA Junior Tour and find out more about the GPGAJT at http://gatewaypga.org/jrgolf/. Fellow PGA Professionals, I am truly excited about the upcoming 2015 Junior season. The number of different opportunities for Junior golfers in the Gateway section is awesome. I just would like to remind everyone that you can reach me at mbrown@pgahq.com with any questions about the junior programs that we offer. I can also be available to come to your facility and talk to your juniors and junior parents about the different opportunities for all levels of junior golfers with the Gateway Junior Tour. Hope to see you all soon,
Michael Brown PGA Director of Junior Golf Gateway PGA
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GROWTH OF THE GAME START THE YEAR RIGHT – START YOUR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PLANS NOW! PGA REACH Player Development Partner Program Have you heard about it? Are you signed up? Every Gateway PGA facility has the opportunity to partner with the PGA REACH Foundation to receive Player Development and Equipment Rental benefits like guaranteed equipment rentals, access for Professionals to multiple education events throughout the year, membership discounts for YOUR junior golfers to the Gateway Junior PGA Program, help-for-hire, and other Player Development resources. The quantity of benefits varies based on the level of partnership: $1,000, $500, or $150. Find the printable form on the website under the “Equipment Rental Program” tab. Take advantage of this great asset that will help grow your Player Development offerings and ensure you are registered for GPGA Meetings and Summits. Contact Ali Wells at Awells@pgahq.com for more information. Get Golf Ready, PGA Sports Academy, Active.com Are you aware of the benefits and potential additional revenue of utilizing these tools and services? Yes! – Well then don’t forget to register on PGALinks.com now and start planning and posting your event online. If we know about it, we can help promote you. No? – No worries, we can get you set up. Call us, we can help! Gateway PGA Office – 636-532-3355
New Announcements! PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) clinics for 2015 start in January. PGA Professionals and Apprentices are needed to help teach weekly clinics throughout the year. Indoor clinics are held at the Jefferson Barracks Gym Thursdays from 1:00-3:30 pm starting January 15th. Contact Kevin Schaeffer @ kevin@annbriar.com for more information or to help. Thank you in advance! PGA HOPE provides veterans the opportunity to learn the game of golf in a safe environment which helps to enhance their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being. PGA Jr League Golf registration is now open. All new and returning captains can go to www.pgajrleaguegolf.com to sign up to host one or multiple teams. Also, we are excited to announce a new league for those players graduating out of the traditional 13 & under with our new U-16 League! More information will be coming soon, but here are a few important notes:
Must be a returning 2014 PGA JLG Captain or Coach
Teams are made up of 4-6 participants with two matches per team competition (instead of four matches) 5
Host your own league (you only need 16 players)...or join with existing teams in your PGA-JLG League to create this new Division
Postseason will be comprised solely of Sectional Invitational Tournaments
IMPORTANT DATES Give STL Day Give STL Day is a 24-hour, online giving event organized by the Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The goal is to inspire the community to come together for 24 hours to contribute as many charitable dollars as possible to support the work of local nonprofit organizations, like the Gateway PGA REACH Foundation. We will be a participating charity this year on May 6th. More information will be coming soon about all the ways we can spread awareness throughout the golfing community to support the Gateway PGA REACH Foundation and the lives PGA Professionals work so hard to impact. Drive, Chip and Putt Registration Opens January 22nd for Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers across the country. The Gateway PGA will host 5 Qualifiers and 1 Sub-Regional Qualifier. Each of these Qualifiers are FREE to juniors age 7-15, but limited to the first 200 to sign up. In big demand this year, make sure junior families don’t miss out on the opportunity for a chance to qualify to compete in the Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Women’s Golf Day 2015 Join us at the Quarry at Crystal Springs on Sunday, June 7th for the biggest ladies golf event in St. Louis! Women’s Golf Day is free and open to ladies of any age or ability. In addition to instruction offered by PGA & LPGA Professionals, ladies have the opportunity to shop at supporting vendor’s booths and enjoy free beverages during happy hour. Featuring a new format this year, we look to welcome about 200 ladies! Professionals and Apprentices are Needed – Please contact Barbara Blanchar @ bablanchar@gmail.com or Ali Wells @ awells@pgahq.com for more information.
Ali Wells, PGA Foundation Operations Director
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ASSISTANTS CORNER Spring will be here before we know it and it’s time to look ahead to the 2015 season. The committee would like to welcome its newest member from Bellerive Country Club, Brandon Veld. Our first committee meeting was recently held and we plan to have some avenues to help apprentices excel through the PGA PGM 2.0 program. In the near future, we’ll communicate information on forum meetings to guide assistants through the program in addition to study materials and other information to be available on the section website. What else does the committee do? The main focus each season is developing structure for the Assistant’s Pro-Am and Assistants Championship to insure a 2015 Committee Members great time for everyone and an increased purse for the Championship. The committee Brandon Coffey, PGA Chairman Forest Hills Country Club George Schrage, PGA Vice-Chairman Quincy Country Club is finalizing the venues for these events Michael Leotta, PGA Past Chairman Illini Country Club which will be posted soon. We look forAndrew Jury, PGA Secretary Winghaven Country Club ward to the 2015 season and please feel free Richard Niedergerke, PGA The Club at Old Hawthorne to contact myself or any of the committee Austin Waibel The Club at Old Hawthorne members with questions or concerns. Adam Betz Meadowbrook Country Club RJ Villafuerte, PGA Nic Bunning, PGA Brandon Veld, PGA
Meadowbrook Country Club Greenbriar Hills Country Club Bellerive Country Club
RULES CORNER I want to remind all Gateway PGA members that there will be a PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop in St. Louis this year. This is a three and a half day workshop that covers all 34 rules. The rules exam is taken on the final half day. You can take the 100 question exam or an 80 question intermediate exam. The workshop is February 20 to 23. It will be at the St. Louis Marriot West on Maryville Centre Drive. I have been assigned to teach this workshop. I will be teaching with Bernie Loehr, a Senior Director of Rules at the USGA. PGA Rules Committee member Jon Drago is the coordinator. Jon spent several years in the PGA Tournament Department before moving to his current position as Director of The Byron Nelson Classic. You can go to www.usga.org to register for this education opportunity. You earn 24 Member Service Requirement hours. These hours also are in the PGA Required portion of recertification. It is my firm belief that knowledge of the rules can certainly add to your value as an employee. After all, most of us are responsible for the administration of club tournaments. You have often heard me say the PGA professional should be the rules expert at their club. If you do plan on attending please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like some advice on how to prepare for the workshop and exam. You can call me at The Links at Kokopelli 618-997-5656 or my cell is 618-889-3940. I hope to see many of you at the workshop. 7
EDUCATION CORNER Happy New Year to my fellow Gateway PGA members and apprentices! My name is Ty Zimmerman, PGA and I am your new Gateway PGA Education Chairman. I am the PGA Head Golf Professional / Membership Director at The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club in St. Charles, MO. Over the last several weeks your education committee has been working very hard in making sure that we have quality educational opportunities for you this year. With the MSR cycle ending this year on Monday, June 15th there will be plenty of ways that you can earn your required credits by then. In the coming days you will receive an e-mail with the educational schedule for the months of February and March. Until then, for those of you going to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando there are plenty of chances for you to gain credits there (to look at the educational seminars being offered you can find those in your latest PGAMagazine or on PGALinks). If you are not going you can go to PGALinks and fill out surveys that can help you earn those much needed credits. Again, this schedule will have meeting credits and educational credits to make you a better asset to your facility. Please look forward to the coming e-mail and until then if I can do anything at all for you please do not hesitate in contacting me at the club at 636-939-6494 ext. 250. Ty Zimmerman, PGAGPGA Education Chairman
UPDATING YOUR PGALINKS PROFILE
The Gateway PGA Calendar and Tournament Directory will be available to pick up at our Spring Business Meeting on March 30, 2015. We plan to publish the facility and professional’s information exactly as it is stated in the PGA database. In order to have your contact and employment information correct you will need to log on to www.pgalinks.com and be sure what is listed there is current. We have set a deadline if February 15, 2015 to get all your corrections and additions entered in PGALinks. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office. Hoping to see you at the Spring Meeting and that you are having a good winter.
Susan Bender sbender@pgahq.com 636-532-3355 x 101
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Employment “Chips” Please enjoy this “Gateway Employment Chips” section of your email newsletter. Every month I will be adding to the subjects of these “brief” articles and hoping to inspire your thought process regarding your employment and/or your facility. Please use and expand on the information to make your employment more successful!
Strategy – PGA Member Research
How to be a Better Boss and Mentor – PGA Employment Consultants
Road to College Golf Recruiting – PGA Education
CPP2.0 – MPP 2.0 – Legacy – New Opportunities for PGA Members – PGA Employment Consultants
China – Opportunities for PGA Members – PGA Education
Career Fitness for the 21st Century – PGA Employment Consultants
Town Hall – Derek Sprague, PGA, President and Peter Bevacqua, CEO PGA of America Thursday 1:45 PM to 3:15 PM
Heading to Orlando? I am hoping many of you will be attending the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show and Conference in Orlando, FL. The show runs from January 21-23, 2015, with the demo day held on Tuesday January 20th. Show hours are:
Demo Day - 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Merchandise Show and Conference (Wednesday and For a complete list of PGA Member Business Center Thursday) - 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM Education please click HERE.
Merchandise Show and Conference (Friday) - 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM
New for 2015 – PGA Employment Consultants will also have a staffed booth on the show floor every day for your convenience!
Make sure to stop into the PGA Member Business Center I will be in the Member Business Center or in the show where you can access a wide array of PGA programs and floor booth during the entire show so please stop by and resources including: say hello! If you would like to make an appointment to Chat with Employment Consultants to gain insights meet with me, please email me at the address below and I on the many PGA tools and resources available will contact you to set up a time. including CareerLinks, PGAjobfinder, Compensation Have a great show! Tool, Employer Communication and Executive Summary, Career Fitness Manual, PGA Job Hunter’s Tool Kit, The PGA Employer Guide and many more.
Attend free educational programs (PGA Professionals will be awarded 1 MSR Credit per each hour of participation with no maximum limitations). Sample course offerings are:
PGA Junior League Golf – PGA Player Development
Tim
Tim Marks, PGA Employment Consultant Marketing Tips to Create Player Development 269-221-6009 – office tmarks@pgahq.com Customers – PGA Player Development
How to Find Job Opportunities – PGA Employment Consultants
Putting Your Best Foot Forward in the Job Search – PGA Employment Consultants
Building Your Facility’s Player Development 9
PGA HQ NEWS
What your employer expects you to know PGA PerformanceTrak: Monthly Rounds and Revenue Reporting
The PGA Financial Assistance Scholarship application will be live on the homepage of PGALinks.com beginning Monday, November 17th, with a submission deadline of Monday, March 16, 2015. Graduating high school seniors and college students who are the children or grandchildren of PGA members are encouraged to apply. Click here to view more information.
Employers expect you to know where you stand in relations to the market. In only minutes each month, you Scholarship Resources: can report and compare your facility’s performance Click here to view Scholarship Search Tips through PGA PerformanceTrak and provide sound Click here to view Additional Scholarship Suggestions business information to help drive your facility’s bottom line.
Demonstrate your expertise to increase your credibility and industry knowledge
Benchmark your facility’s performance and identify areas that may be under performing
The Conrad Rehling Award, first presented in 2005, honors the late PGA Master Professional who followed a successful collegiate coaching career at Florida and Generate reports that showcase your business and Alabama by transforming his retirement into inspiring support future budgeting efforts PGA Professionals to give back to those with intellectual PGA Professionals can earn MSR credit by participating and physical disabilities. Rehling died in April 2007 at online. Don’t miss out on this valuable service. age 87. The founding father of the Special Olympics Golf movement in 1988, Rehling spearheaded The PGA of America’s efforts to introduce golf to Special OlymIf you are the highest ranked PGA Professional at your pics. The Association and its more than 28,000 men and facility, click here to submit your data. If you wish to women professionals have dedicated countless hours, participate in this service on behalf of your highest services and funding to the growth of Special Olympics ranked PGA Professional, ask them to click here to Golf. Nominations for the Conrad Rehling Award, assign access to you. which recognizes PGA members for their outstanding The next deadline to submit monthly rounds is February contributions to the Special Olympics can be submitted 24, 2015. Whether you are open or closed in a given until January 15, 2015. Click here for the nomination month, it is important that you continue to enter this data form which includes eligibility and criteria. online. HOW CAN WE HELP? Contact us by phone at: (800) 477-6465 Ext. 8574 or by email at: PerformanceTrak@pgahq.com. ARE YOU ON TRACK? MSR Cycle Ends 06/15/2015
See Where You Stand: Log into PGALinks.com to see your current MSR status
Online registration for a 2015 PGA/ USGA Rules of Golf Workshop begins Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. You can register via phone beginning Monday, Oct. 27. More information 10
Brought To You by Optimal Lifestyles, Inc.
In two short months, the early golf season begins. Are you in shape, mentally and physically? If not, or if you never quite accomplished what you meant to accomplish last season, now is the time to move in a new direction. You might want to eat less and lose weight, de-stress and sleep better, or develop more strength and energy. By dedicating just 20 to 30 minutes most days to exercise, you can achieve your fitness goals and at the same time transform your golf game. If you don’t have a routine or want to shake up the one you’ve been following, here is a three-pronged approach to improved fitness during the next two months: EXERCISE—It’s been said, but I’ll say it again: find a vigorous sport you like to do or are willing to do more often than not. Have you tried swimming? Rowing? Biking? Getting your body moving and your heart rate up does wonders for energy levels, improving your mood, losing weight and sleeping better. If nothing else suits you, make walking your failsafe exercise. Walk three to five times a week for 30 minutes to start – then move to 45 or 60 minutes for endurance. WEIGHT LOSS—If you’re feeling a little flabby, reduce your intake. A simple calculation is to cut your food portions by one third. Sticking to a good nutrition plan will help you lose one to two pounds a week. You have approximately nine weeks before golf season begins—wouldn’t it feel great to hit the greens 10 or more pounds lighter? The weight loss will also give you greater flexibility and energy. Remember to hydrate with water (64 ounces per day is recommended) as part of your plan. LOWER YOUR STRESS—During the off-season, focus on being more relaxed and centered. This habit will then continue into golf season. Take time everyday, both morning and afternoon, to stop, pause and breathe. Get centered in your thoughts. Then move through your day with a refreshed mind. If you need assistance to putting together a program for the winter or at any time, contact Optimal Lifestyles at 314-984-0592 and Barb or Catherine will get you started.
Barb Michael is a health and fitness consultant and fitness education sponsor for the Gateway PGA. Her company, Optimal Lifestyles, Inc. provides general fitness, golf-fitness and yoga for golfers. The information provided by Barb is for education purposes and should not replace care or advice of your physician. Please check with your physician if you are beginning an exercise program or suspect you are ill.
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2015 Gateway PGA Tournament Schedule As the weeks pass leading up to the 2015 golf season, the Gateway PGA Tournament Schedule is coming together and almost complete. The dates without venues have all be proposed to different facilities and are in the approval process. We hope to have the final few sites announced soon. All of the Major sites are now secured and set so that you all may plan accordingly. We will also be announcing our Tournament Partners next month after we return from PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Here is the tentative schedule to date.
DATE MARCH Monday, March 30 APRIL Mon-Wed April 6-8th Sun-Mon April 12-13 Monday, April 20 Monday April 27th MAY Mon-Wed May 4-6th Monday, May 11th Monday, May 19th Tuesday, May 26th JUNE Monday, June 1st Tues-Wed, June 2-3rd Monday, June 8th Monday, June 15th Monday, June 22nd Sun-Wed, June 28-July 1 Monday, June 29th JULY Monday, July 6th Monday, July 13th Mon-Tues, July 20-21st Monday, July 27th Thursday, July 30th AUGUST Monday, August 3rd Sunday August 9th Monday, August 10th Thurs-Sun, August 13-16th Friday, August 21st Mon-Tues August 17-18 Monday, August 24th Monday, August 31st SEPTEMBER Tuesday, September 8th Monday, September 14th Monday, September 21st Monday, September 28-29th OCTOBER Monday, October 5th Monday, October 12th Monday, October 19-21st
EVENT
SITE
Spring Meeting/Quad Pro
TBD
Prairie Cup Gateway Cup Matches Pro-Open #1 Pro-Senior Pro-Am
Firekeeper GC Topeka, KS TBD Norwood Hills CC (West) Lake Forest CC
Match Play Championship Pro-Open #2 Pro Assistant Championship Pro-Open #3
Annbriar GC Meramec Lakes CC Meadowbrook CC Tapawingo National GC
Tower Tee Invitational Senior Match Play Championship Pro Ladies Pro AM Southern Illinois Open Open Date National PNC REACH Pro Am
Tower Tee GC Sunset Hills CC WingHaven CC Rend Lake GC
Team Championship Ping Pro Am Gateway Section Championship Scratch Pro Am Pro-Junior Pro-Am
St. Ablans CC OakBrook GC The Legends CC Persimmon Woods GC TBA
Gateway Section Pro-Am Beautification Pro Am Assistants Pro Am PGA Championship Slice of Life Pro-Am Sr PNC/Sect Championship Pro Open #4 ACG Pro-Am
TBA Lake Forest CC TBA Whistling Straits Crab Orchard GC Glen Echo CC TBA Meadowbrook CC
Philadelphia Cricket Club Bellerive CC
National Car Rental Asst Championship Lake Forest CC Pro Open #5 TBA TBA TBA PNC Fox Run GC NCR Pro AM Championship Players Championship Lake Team Event
TBA TBA Porto Cima, Osage Natl, Kinderhook
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Nic Bunning & Gateway PGA Recognized by Junior League Golf Congratulations Nic Bunning, PGA! Nic was the recipient of the Junior League Golf Coach of the Year. Bunning, Greenbriar Hills Country Club, was presented the award at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando Florida. The Gateway PGA was selected as the District 7 Section of the Year. A big shout out to all of the Gateway PGA facilities who took part in this great program!
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January 15th - February 15th
Andrew Joung-Su Kim, PGA Jeffrey P. Escott, PGA Garry E. Lee, PGA Dale Schofield, PGA Donald R. Winker, PGA Brian T. Boles, PGA Andrew M. Jury, PGA Gideon H. Smith, PGA Mark Lewis, PGA David J Auer David J Cantrell, PGA Lukas M. Guthrie, PGA
1/16 1/17 1/18 1/21 1/21 1/22 1/22 1/24 1/26 1/27 1/28 1/31
Timothy J. Davenport, PGA Miles Horton, PGA Joseph Mannuci III Michael J. Weirich, PGA Mark C Faulkner Cary D. White, PGA Kevin N. Corn, PGA Ali J. Wells, PGA Samuel K. Gilliland, PGA Donald Haxel, PGA David Kilpatrick, PGA Michael L Tucker, PGA Michael A. Cummings, PGA Brian N. Laur, PGA Robert C. Maruska Jr.
2/1 2/1 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/5 2/6 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/11 2/14 2/15 2/15
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