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2022 Iowa PGA Awards Professional Development Award
from 2022 Year In Review
by Iowa PGA
2022 Iowa PGA Professional Development Award
JR Millar, PGA
JR Millar of Lake Bracken Country Club has been named the 2022 Professional Development Award winner. The Professional Development Award is based on a Professional’s entire record and achievements over their career. The guidelines for this award include various types of educational seminars brought to the section, contributions made to building the PGA image, leadership and networking ability, promotion of the game of golf within the community, techniques used to encourage membership support of the various seminars, articles written for publication in books or magazines and any sectional or nationally recognized coursed attended by the nominee which enhance the PGA Professional.
When asked on what this means to win this award Millar responded with, “If you stand still, someone will always pass you. This has been my motivation as the Education Chair. I have striven to provide a variety of educational opportunities that we, as PGA members, can use to better ourselves professionally. We have to remain the leaders and innovators at our facilities to ensure our true value is seen by our employers. It is truly an honor and a privilege to be selected as the 2022 Iowa PGA Professional Development Award winner.”
Millar successfully brought the Swing With Kids program to the Galesburg school district a few years ago. Lake Bracken C.C. has served as a host site for the National Drive, Chip, and Putt competition for the last two years. He’s also partnered with the Iowa Junior Tour the past several years to host a tournament. We upgraded our relationship this year to include Bunker Links Golf Course and become a 2-day “Major” event for the Iowa PGA Junior Tour. His junior golf program runs weekly for the months of June and July and has quadrupled in participants over the last 6-8 years. We recently reached out to some local schools and offered our private course for practices and to host their meets. We now have Carl Sandburg College Men’s and Women’s golf teams. Additionally, we serve as the home course for the Galesburg Girls golf team, the Knoxville Boys and Girls golf team, and the A-Town Boys and Girls golf team.
He hosted several women’s clinics in the early part of the year, geared towards new and beginning golfers. This has helped increase our league and tournament participation. He also conducts an All-Women Pro-Am annually that is well supported by ladies from all over the area. Lastly, as a Board member, he believes it is important to support our Section events. He tries to play in 4-6 events per year as my schedule allows. It is a great way to network with our fellow PGA Professionals and share ideas on how to better promote the game and ourselves.
Gail Hannam, Illinois Women’s Golf Association Board of Director, “JR supports and encourages golf for all ages. He runs a thriving weekly Junior Program giving these young people the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game in a fun and exciting way. He hosts the Drive, Chip and Putts event, along with an Iowa PGA Junior Tournament. Not only does he inspire young golfers at our club, but he created and facilitated a golf unit in the PE classes at our local school district. By doing this during school, he was able to introduce the game to many young people who may have never been given that opportunity.”
Ben Olson, Vice President of the Lake Bracken Country Club Board of Directors, “J.R. is always inclusive to all skill levels, whether it is providing instruction for an aspiring professional or members who are just starting to play. His teaching approach brings a relaxed feel to any skill set receiving instruction. This helps keep the student comfortable and focused on the task at hand.”
The Iowa PGA Staff would like to congratulate all the award winners for your hard work during the 2022 Golf Season! We look forward to seeing what the future holds and we can't wait to see you in the 2023 season.
The Iowa PGA would like to Jay Horton and Darin Justice for all their hard work for helping us put on another successful Awards Luncheon Presented by All Star Pro Golf.
32Iowa PGA Season Long Match Play Champions Iowa – Curt Schnell of Okoboji View Golf Course in Okoboji, Iowa won the Iowa PGA Senior Match Play by defeating Bryan Haas of Lake House Sports in the final match, 4 &2. Here is Schnell’s path through the Senior Match Play Brackets. Schnell faced Jim Webb of Tournament Club of Iowa in the first round, 5 & 4. He faced Chad Proehl of Sugar Creek Golf Course in the second round defeating him, 5 & 4. He then went on to knock off Jeff Smith of Harvest Point Golf Course, 1 up in round 3. In the fourth round of the West Bracket, Schnell took on Chris Black of Hickory Grove Golf Course and defeated him, 5 & 4 in the match. The final Championship match had Schnell defeating Haas, 4 & 2 to win the 2022 season long Iowa PGA Senior Match Play Championship. This was Schnell’s first Senior Match Play Championship Title.
Iowa PGA Season Long Match Play Champion
Sean McCarty, PGA Head Professional at Brown Deer Golf Club
Iowa – Sean McCarty of Brown Deer Golf Club in Coralville, Iowa won the season long Iowa PGA Match Play by defeating Zach Steffen of Terrace Hills Golf Course in the final match, 4 & 3.
Here is McCarty’s path through the Match Play Brackets.
McCarty earned a first-round bye in the East Bracket of the 2022 Match Play due to his Player of the Year Points in 2021 as the #1 seed in the East Bracket. He faced Dave Edwards of Dubuque Golf & Country Club in the second round defeating him, 1 up. He then went on to knock off Matt Erger of Airport National Golf Complex, 2 & 1 in round 3. In the Fourth round of the East Bracket, McCarty took on Jeff Schmid of Brown Deer Golf Club and defeated him, 2 & 1 in the match. In the Fifth round, McCarty took on Ben Montgomery of Airport National Golf Complex and defeated him, 2 & 1. The final Championship match had McCarty defeating Steffen, 4 & 3 to win the 2022 season long Iowa PGA Match Play Championship.
This was McCarty’s eighth Match Play Championship Title.
Iowa PGA Season Long Senior Match Play Champion
Curt Schnell, PGA Head Professional at Okoboji View Golf Course
Ben Montgomery, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Airport National Golf Complex
Iowa – Ben Montgomery of Airport National Golf Complex won the Iowa PGA Assistant Match Play by defeating Tyler Christians of Wakonda Club in the final match, 19 Holes.
Here is Montgomery’s path through the Assistant Match Play Brackets.
Montgomery faced Zachary Hoffman of Guttenberg Golf Club in the first round, 6 & 5. He faced Brian Wernimont of Brown Deer Golf Club in the second round defeating him, 6 & 5. He then went on to knock off David Lawrence of Davenport Country Club, conceded in round 3. The final Championship match had Montgomery defeating Christians, 19 Holes to win the 2022 season long Iowa PGA Assistant Match Play Championship.
Port St. Lucie, Florida– Chad Proehl, Sugar Creek Municipal Golf Course finished in the Top 35 and qualified for the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Harbor Shores, Michigan on May 24-29, 2022. The Iowa PGA had seven contestants in the 2021 Senior PGA Professional Championship held on October 21-24, 2021 at PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker & Ryder Courses) in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Proehl led after the first round with a 7-under-par round of 64. He finished the tournament in a Tie for 29th place at 2-under-par 285 with rounds of 64-71-78-72.
John Bermel, Pheasant Ridge Golf Course made the 36-hole cut but did not qualify for the 2022 Senior PGA Championship. The following missed the 36-Hole Cut... Chris Black, Hickory Grove Golf Course, Judd Gibb, Hanson's Custom Golf, Bryan Luedtke, Bunker Links Golf Course, Jeff Schmid, Brown Deer Golf Club and John Shawver, Fore Seasons Golf/Grinnell Golf & Country Club.
Frisco, Texas– Chad Proehl, Sugar Creek Municipal Golf Course and Jeff Schmid of Brown Deer Golf Club finished in the Top 35 and qualified for the 2022 Senior PGA Championship in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico on October 13-16, 2022. The Iowa PGA had six contestants in the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship that competed in New Mexico. Proehl finished T10th place with a 72-hole total rounds of 70-68-76-72=286. Schmid finished T15th place with total rounds of 70-73-69-76=288. These two will be competing next year in the 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship held at PGA Frisco in May of 2023. Good luck to Proehl and Schmid as they compete next May. We will have more coverage closer to the event. 83rd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Des Moines, Iowa - The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame had their annual dinner to regongnize the Class of 2022 which was held on Friday, May 13 at Wakonda Club. The Class of 2022 was Mark Egly, Barb (Bubany) Berkmeyer and the late Charles Pribbles.
Julie presented for Barb (Bubany) Berkmeyer. Greg Mason, Doug Snook and Jeff Wendel presented with Ranella Pribble accepting the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame award for her husband the late Charlie “Pribbs” Pribble. Tess Goudy presented for Mark Egly.
Congraulations to each of the Classes of 2022. This is such a great honor to accomplish and each of you have done a great job in your career for the Iowa Golf in the state of Iowa.
Learn More About the Famers
Pictured Above
Class of 2022 Charles Pribble Barb (Bubany) Berkmeyer Mark Egly
Class of 2022
Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2022 - (from left) Mark Egly, Ranella Pribble (on behalf of her late husband Charlie) and Barbara (Bubany) Berkmeyer.
Jennings first round he carded a birdie on hole 13; bogeys on holes 4, 7 and 8 including double bogeys on hole 15 which placed him tied for 63rd going into the second round of play with 5-over-par round of 77.
Jennings second round he carded birdies on holes 7, 13 and 16 including bogeys on holes 3 and 18 which places him tied for 25th going into the third round of play with 1-under-par round of 71.
Jennings third round he carded birdies on holes 8 and 13 including bogeys on holes 4 and 12 which places him tied for 18th going into the final round of play. Jennings three-day total rounds of 77-71-72=220, 4-over-par.
Jennings final round he carded birdies on holes 5, 7, 13 and 16; bogeys on holes 3, 11 and 17 including a double bogey on hole 18 which places him tied for 18th. Jennings 72-hole total rounds of 77-71-72-73=293, 5-over-par.
The Iowa PGA is pleased to have the following corporate partners involved with the 2022 Section, Junior Tour and Foundation events and activities. For more information on becoming involved as a corporate partner, please contact Exective Director Greg Mason, PGA at gmason@pgahq.com or call the office 319648-0026.
Section & Junior Tour/Foundation | Corporate Partners
