2012 NEPGA Award Winners and Hall of Fame Inductees

With 200 PGA Professionals in attendance, the 2012 NEPGA Award Winners and Hall of Fame Inductee were announced at Spring Meeting at Andover Country Club on Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Brendan Walsh, PGA Head Professional at The Country Club has been named the 2012 Golf Professional of the Year.  Paul Parajeckas, PGA Head Professional at Pleasant Valley Country Club is the 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee. 

Upon hearing the news from Jimmy Noris, PGA and the President of the New England PGA, Walsh said: “I am honored to be the NEPGA 2012 Golf Professional of the Year. It is a great thrill to be recognized by your peers. I am grateful for the support of The Country Club and the men and women whom I am so fortunate to work with. This is a team honor.”  When Parajeckas heard the news, he said: "It’s a wonderful honor to be recognized in the same class, with so many great professionals from our New England P.G.A. Section."

The 2012 Junior Golf Leader Award was given to Donnie Lyons, PGA General Manager at Reedy Meadow Golf Course. Shawn Hester, PGA Teaching Professional from Charles River Country Club was named the 2012 NEPGA Teacher of the Year. The Bill Strausbaugh Award for 2012 was given to Susan Bond, PGA Head Professional from Weekapaug Golf Club. Bond is also currently the Secretary of the NEPGA. Bob Beach, PGA Head Professional from Braintree Municipal Golf Course was named for the second year in a row as the recipient of the Horton Smith Award. The 2012 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year is Tony Decker, PGA Assistant Professional from The Woodlands Club. The 2012 Merchandiser of the Year at a public facility is Chris Sleeper, PGA Director of Golf at Granite Links Golf Club. Todd Cook, PGA Head Professional at The Milton Hoosic Club is the 2012 Merchandiser of the Year Award Winner for a private facility. Ron Philo, Jr., PGA General Manager at Stowe Mountain Club is the recipient of the 2012 Merchandiser of the Year Award for a resort facility.

The recipient of the 2012 George S. Wemyss Award is Terry Frechette. This award is given annually to honor someone in the golf industry who has made an exemplary contribution through leadership and innovation to the growth of the game. Through R. J. Shepherd Company and as a representative of Ahead, Frechette has been a dedicated and long time supporter of the New England Section PGA of America.

The recipient of the 2012 Player Development Award (formerly known as the President's Plaque) is Matt Griffith, PGA Head Professional at Blissful Meadows Golf Club.

Bob Beach, PGA Head Professional at Braintree Municipal Golf Course is the first recipient of the NEPGA Patriot Award in recognition of the dedication that Bob has shown towards bringing the game of golf not only to veterans but also to their families through the numerous clinics he runs throughout the year.

All of the award winners will be formally honored at the NEPGA Special Awards Dinner being held on Friday, October 26th at Kernwood Country Club, Salem MA.