Edwardsville's Sunset Hills Country Club golf ops director receives national PGA's 2024 Patriot Award
13 PGA of America National Award winners recognized today at 71st PGA Show; recipients to be formally honored at 2024 PGA Annual Meeting in November
PGA of America Golf Professionals Tony Pancake, Joe Hallett and Kelly Williams headline the Class of 2024 PGA of America National Awards honorees. In all, 13 Award recipients will be recognized at the 71st PGA Show today at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., at 4 p.m. ET on the PGA of America Industry Stage, presented by CapTech. All 13 recipients are scheduled to attend the ceremony.
Among the 13 is local golf professional Jon DePriest, PGA, a Gateway PGA Section Member and director of golf operations at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. DePriest is the recipient of the 2024 Patriot Award, an honor that goes to a PGA of America Golf Professional who “personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America,” as an official announcement noted.
The announcement further shared details about DePriest, noting:
“The son of a Korean-war Veteran, and a well respected PGA of America Member for 39 years, DePriest is passionate about supporting Veterans. He recognizes the immeasurable impact of golf programming as a form of therapy to help Veterans reacclimate to their communities, and has been a lead PGA HOPE instructor since inception of the program. A well rounded leader and an inspiration to his peers, colleagues and the Veteran community, DePriest started a women's-only PGA HOPE program in 2022, and nearly 40 female Veterans have already graduated.
“Passionate in his efforts to support Veterans, DePriest has raised more than $895,000 through fundraising, and hosts free-play days for Veterans as well as Adaptive Golf Training Seminars for fellow PGA of America Members. A multi-award winner at the Section level, he was the recipient of the Patriot Award (2017, 2021 and 2023); Youth Player Development (2019); PGA Golf Professional of the Year (2015) Merchandiser of the Year-Public (1994) and was awarded the President's Plaque for Growth of the Game (2013) and Junior Golf Leader (1994).
“DePriest's commitment to service includes PGA REACH Gateway Board of Directors (2020-2023), Folds of Honor St. Louis Chapter Board of Directors (2018-2020) and First Tee of Riverbend Board of Directors (2005-2006). He helped create the Section's PGA HOPE Committee in 2019 and still serves as a committee member.”
Full List of 2024 PGA of America National Award Recipients:
PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year: Tony Pancake, PGA – Crooked Stick Golf Club – Carmel, Ind.
PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year: Joe Hallett, PGA – Vanderbilt Legends Club – Franklin, Tenn.
PGA of America Golf Executive of the Year: Kelly Williams, PGA – Greenbrier Golf & Country Club – Lexington, Ky.
Bill Strausbaugh Award: Jim Smith Jr., PGA – Philadelphia Cricket Club – Flourtown, Pa.
PGA of America Professional Development Award: Dean Kandle, PGA – St. Davids Golf Club – Wayne, Pa.
Deacon Palmer Award: Mark Egly, PGA – Des Moines Driving Range – Des Moines, Iowa
Patriot Award: Jon DePriest, PGA – Sunset Hills Country Club – Edwardsville, Ill.
PGA of America Player Development Award: Crystal Morse, PGA – The Legends Golf Club – Franklin, Ind.
PGA of America Youth Player Development Award: Connie DeMattia, PGA – Cantigny Golf – Wheaton, Ill.
Herb Graffis Award: Iowa PGA Section
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Category: Robert Koontz, PGA – French Lick – French Lick, Ind.
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category: Morgan Jewell – Floridian National Golf Club – Palm City, Fla.
PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category: Jason Loomis, PGA – Great River Golf Club – Milford, Conn.
In addition, the recently announced 2023 PGA of America Professional Players of the Year presented by Rolex award recipients will be celebrated on the Industry Stage, including Men's PGA Professional Player of the Year Michael Block of Mission Viejo, Calif..; Women's PGA Professional Player of the Year Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio.
“Our 2024 PGA of America Award recipients have dedicated their lives to helping countless individuals enjoy this game we all love, and they do it exceptionally well,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Mich. “I have had the opportunity to get to know several of our winners over the years and they truly are a great representation of what our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals do on a daily basis. To stand out among their peers is an incredible achievement.”