The Victorian Golf Industry came together on Wednesday evening to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and clubs to the sport in 2014. Representatives from Golf Victoria, the PGA of Australia and Golf Management Victoria gathered at Huntingdale Golf Club to witness the announcement of three inductees into the Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame and numerous other industry awards.
In attendance on the night was the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, the Hon. Damian Drum MP and guest speaker Adrian Anderson, former AFL General Manager of Football Operations and current Chairman of the MyGolf project committee.
With volunteers being an integral part of the sport, recognition was given for their exceptional contributions through the Volunteer of the Year awards. Winners of the Volunteer of the Year Awards were:
Melbourne Metropolitan Area (Male) – Bob Chamberlain (Melton Valley GC)
Melbourne Metropolitan Area (Female) – Glenyse Addicoat (Devilbend GC / Long Island Country Club)
Country Victoria/Victorian Golf League (Male) – Vaughan Cowan (Benalla GC)
Country Victoria/Victorian Golf League (Female) – Margaret McDonald (Lang Lang GC)
Highlighting the bright future of the game in Victoria was Su Oh who was the Leading Female Amateur for the third consecutive year. Su turned professional at the end of 2014 and just months into her pro career, placed equal second at the 2015 Oates Vic Open and a week later won the 2015 RACV Ladies Masters. As an amateur in 2014, Oh was part of the winning Espirito Santo Trophy team (with Minjee Lee & Shelly Shin), a quarter finalist at the US Women’s Amateur and runner-up in the 2014 Australian Women’s Rankings.
Todd Sinnott was announced as the Leading Male Amateur of the Year for the second consecutive year. Like Oh, Sinnott turned professional at the end of 2014. In his first event as a pro, Sinnott finished tied for 20th at the 2015 Oates Vic Open. As an amateur in 2014, Sinnott was the winner of the 2014 Australian Men’s Rankings, runner-up in four national ranking events (Riversdale Cup, Mandurah Open, Master of the Amateurs, Victorian Amateur) and also tied for 17th at the BetEasy Masters and 31st at the Emirates Australian Open.
Simon Brookhouse, Chief Executive Officer of Golf Victoria congratulated all the award winners and commended the Victorian golf bodies for their continued support and enthusiasm for the awards.
“The industry awards night is a fantastic opportunity for the major bodies of golf in our state to come together to both celebrate and highlight the achievements of some of the great people and clubs we have in Victorian golf. It’s a real collaborative effort to put on such a night between GV, the PGA of Australia and GMV.
“My congratulations go out to all the award winners including Mike Clayton, Bruce Green and Jane Lock for their induction into the Hall of Fame. I’d also like to pay special mention to our volunteer winners who have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to the sport we love,” said Brookhouse.
The evening also celebrated PGA Professional Richard Caiolfa who was honoured to be awarded the Bruce Green Victorian Club Professional of the Year for his work at the Rich River Golf Club. The Victorian Teaching Professional of the Year was awarded to PGA Professional Stuart Leong.
The evening also saw the induction of 17 Trainee graduates as full Members of the PGA of Australia; however it was Mitchell Sheather from Victoria Golf Club who took the top honours as the Victorian Trainee of the Year.
The full list of Victorian Golf Industry Award winners on the night included:
· Hall of Fame – Michael Clayton, Bruce Green and Jane Lock
· Volunteer of the Year: Melbourne Metropolitan Area – Individual Male – Bob Chamberlain
· Volunteer of the Year: Melbourne Metropolitan Area – Individual Female – Glenyse Addicoat
· Volunteer of the Year: Country Victoria/Victorian Golf League – Individual Male – Vaughan Cowan
· Volunteer of the Year: Country Victoria/Victorian Golf League – Individual Female – Margaret McDonald
· Victorian Leading Amateur – Su Oh
· Victorian Leading Amateur – Todd Sinnott
· Victorian Teaching Professional of the Year – Stuart Leong
· Bruce Green Victorian Club Professional of the Year – Richard Caiolfa
· PGA Trainee Pro-Am of the Year – Mitchell Sheather
· Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series: 2014 Victorian Pro-Am of the Year – Flinders Partners Group Long Island Pro-Am
· Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series: 2013/2014 Victorian Pro-Am Order of Merit Winner – David Bransdon