Whaley, Gotterup Honored at 122nd Annual Meeting & Dinner
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (December 5, 2019) -- The MGA's 122nd Annual Meeting and Dinner served as a celebration of both the season and the MGA's rich history on Wednesday evening, as PGA of America President Suzy Whaley and Chris Gotterup of Rumson were honored as the year's Distinguished Service Award recipient and MGA Jerry Courville Senior Player of the Year, respectively, and the Association also unveiled the MGA Honors, a new online platform dedicated to celebrating the rich history of the MGA and golf in the Met Area.
Related: Photos | MGA Honors
Whaley, the first-ever female president of the PGA of America, accepted the MGA's highest honor as the evening's closing presentation. Whaley, introduced by former college teammate at University of North Carolina and Director of Instruction at GlenArbor Debbie Doniger, reflected on how much golf has given her throughout her life, from the joy of playing with her mom, her education, her husband (also a PGA of America member), and career among many other things.
While Whaley planned to go to law school, she instead went to Q-School and played on the LPGA Tour for several years before becoming a teacher and developing into one of the country's top instructors. As a PGA member, Whaley continued to play at a high level, winning the 2002 Connecticut PGA Championship to earn a spot in the PGA TOUR's Greater Hartford Open. Whaley served on committees at the section level before becoming involved nationally and in 2014 became Secretary of the PGA of America, leading to her presidency that began in 2018.
Whaley shared her track that helped carried her to where she is today, while also urging attendees to continue efforts to make golf's makeup look more like local communities and populations, welcoming women, minorities and players of all ages to the game.
Gotterup, who clinched his Player of the Year title with wins in the New Jersey State Open and Met Amateur this summer, was recognized early during dinner. Rutgers head golf coach Rob Shutte introduced Gotterup, sharing how he's seen Gotterup develop as a person and a player over the last several years.
The 20-year-old, who won his first collegiate title this fall, shared how his previous disappointments in champioships ultimately led him to where he is today, saying the successes he has experienced so far wouldn't be possible without such learning experiences. He also expressed his gratitude to be surrounded by family, friends and mentors that help him stay hungry and not get complacent with his success.
MGA President Tod D. Pike unveiled the MGA Honors just as guests were seated for dinner. The new platform provides a dedicated online space to celebrate and showcase the rich history of the MGA and golf in the Met Area. The MGA Honors consists of three elements, the Hall of Achievement, the Hall of Champions and the Hall of Merit. The inaugural class of inductees to the Hall of Merit included eight individuals--a group of five and three honored on their own.
The Met Golfer: Gotterup | Whaley | MGA Honors
More than 200 club representatives, committee members, champions, volunteers, members of the local media and representatives from both local and national golf organizations were in attendance at Westchester Country Club, which has hosted the event since 1981.
During the evening's opening meeting, department reports dealed another successful year for the MGA, Pike recounted highlights and achievements from the year ranging from a renovation at the MGA's home at Golf Central and the rebranding of the Ambassador Program to a new joint membership program with the New York State Golf Association and the successes of the MGA Foundation including the 25th anniversary of GOLFWORKS.
Related: 2019 Annual Report
Pike, of Apawamis, was re-elected to a second term as President and will continue to serve alongside Vice President Andrew G. Stock of Baltusrol, Tresurer Patrick L. Donnelly of Garden City Country Club and Secretary Ned Zachar of GlenArbor. The MGA's 22-member Executive Committee welcomed three newly elected members in Brooke Cooper of Meadow Brook, Renee Noto of Stanwich, and Ken Bakst of Friar's Head. The MGA Foundation Board of Directors also welcomed new members Sam Bernstein of Century, Trevor Randolph of Arcola, Joy Kaye of GlenArbor, and Jon Betlow of Baltusrol.
Jack Wall of Brielle, N.J., was recognized as the winner of the 2019 MGA Junior Player of the Year Award, Presented by Callaway, while Gene Donovan of Yonkers, N.Y., was honored with the Jerry Mahoney Award as the Rules & Competitions Committee's Volunteer of the Year. Donovan has been a volunteer since 1978 and remains as one of the Committee's most dedicated and reliable volunteers.
Attendees also heard from MGA friend John Bodenhamer, Senior Managing Director of Championships for the USGA. Bodenhamer shared on the USGA's successful 119th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and looked forward to the two USGA Championships set for 2020 in the Met Area: the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club and the U.S. Senior Women's Open at Brooklawn Country Club. Bodenhamer also shared on the USGA's annoucement to evolve its volunteer committee structure, the upcoming change to the World Amateur Golf Ranking with the new Power Ranking, and upcoming announcements regarding the USGA and Royal & Ancient's Distance Insights Project Report in February, and news regarding a championship for players with disabilities.