Student and Alumni Honors

Dr. S. Roland Jones Student of the Year

Dr. S. Roland Jones was the first Director of the Mississippi State PGA Golf Management program. He served in this position until his untimely passing in 1997. Dr. Jones cared deeply for his students and challenged them to become better students and better people, knowing this would lead to successful PGA members. A mentor to so many, his legacy continues today on campus and throughout the golf industry.

The Dr. S. Roland Jones Student of the Year award bestows special recognition on a Mississippi State University PGA Golf Management student who has performed outstanding services as an overall PGA Golf Management student during their collegiate career. As the highest honor the Mississippi State PGA Golf Management program can bestow, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the program and the game of golf. Individuals honored with the Roland Jones Student of the Year award will be held as a model Mississippi State University PGA Golf Management student.

• 2023:   Drew Squires
• 2022:   Alison Schraer
• 2021:   Ean Dunton
• 2020:   Mattew Sallade
• 2019:   Ross Brown
• 2018:   Robert Fields

Joe Assell Leadership Award

Joe Assell, PGA, is a graduate of the Mississippi State PGA Golf Management program and has a successful career in the golf industry. He is the founder, President and CEO of GolfTEC, an innovative teaching and coaching company that has grown to over 200 instruction centers in the United States. GolfTEC is the second largest employer of PGA members and has taught 2.5 million golf lessons since its founding.

The Joe Assell Leadership Award is an annual award that bestows special recognition on a Mississippi State University PGA Golf Management student who personally displays outstanding integrity, character, and leadership. This individual is an unsung hero/heroine at their University, facility, and in their community, who serves to inspire, empower, and assist others, both in and out of the game of golf.

• 2023:   Cody Clark
• 2022:   Brooks Bryant
• 2021:   Savannah Hughes
• 2020:   Brock Dowdy
• 2019:   Brooks Bultemeier
• 2018:   Mitchell McMurtry

Ryan Coyle Academic Award

Ryan Coyle, PGA, is a graduate of the Mississippi State PGA Golf Management program, who graduated with the highest cumulative GPA in program history. To top off this great accomplishment, Ryan also double majored during his time on campus.

The Ryan Coyle Academic Award is a yearly award that recognizes Mississippi State University PGA Golf Management students for their outstanding achievements in the classroom. This honor is awarded based on the highest GPA by class. The award is not given to juniors because they are on internship during the fall semester. (Prior to 2021, this award was given each semester.)

*students in this class were on internship and not enrolled in on-campus classes

**not awarded Spring 2020 or Fall 2020 due to CoVID-19

Rod Perry Player of the Semester

Rod Perry, PGA, is a graduate of the Missisippi State PGA Golf Management program and has one of the most decorated playing careers of any PGA member. A two-time PGA of America Player of the Year, Rod has also won his Section Player of the Year award seven (7) times and has won the PGA of America Professional Championship. He has represented the United States in two (2) PGA Cup matches, competed in four (4) PGA Championships, and numerous PGA Tour events. Rod is also the first PGA Golf Management University graduate to win PGA Player of the Year honors!

The Rod Perry Player of the Semester award recognizes our most outstanding men and women players for their success on the golf course. This award is presented to the student who accumulates the most points throughout our semester tournament series, for both men and women. Points are earned based on finishes in each tournament.

PGA of America Awards

Each year the PGA of America presents awards to recognize outstanding performances and superior achievements of PGA members, both on and off the golf course. These indivuals are selected from more than 29,000 PGA members. The PGA of America has recognized Mississippi State alumni with the highest of honors in their respective areas of excellence and bestowed upon them the title: PGA National Award recipient.
 

Joe Assell, PGA
Chief Executive Officer
GolfTEC
2021 PGA Golf Executive of the Year

The PGA Golf Executive of the Year Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for a multiple facility/course management/ownership operation, Allied Association or golf industry executive management position. It is one of the highest honors the PGA can bestow.

Jeff Adkerson, PGA Master Professional
Director, PGA Golf Management and Golf Operations
Mississippi State University
2017 Horton Smith Award

The PGA Horton Smith Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional, who personally displays a strong desire for lifelong education to include outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.

Rod Perry, PGA
PGA Head Professional
Crane Lakes Country Club
2013 Player of the Year

The PGA Player of the Year award is based on points earned in the following events: PGA Championship, PGA Professional Championship, U.S. Open, PGA Stroke Play Championship, PGA Match Play Championship, regular PGA Tour events, Web.com Tour events, PGA Tournament Series, Section PGA Professional Championship and final Section Player of the Year standings.

PGA Section Awards

Each Section of the PGA of America (41) presents annual awards recognizing outstanding performances and superior achievements of PGA members, both on and off the golf course. Mississippi State alumni have been recognized for the following PGA Section Awards within their respective Sections.

PGA Golf Professional of the Year

• Jeff Adkerson
• Joe Assell
• Tim Basel
• Greg Hynes
• Robert A. Jacks
• Chris Jester
• Casey Smith
• Matthew Williamson

Teacher of the Year

• Joe Assell
• Steve Atherton (2 times)
• Virgil Herring (2 times)
• Andy Hilts
• Eric Johnson (4 times)
• Kevin Kihslinger
• Tony Luczak
• Patrick Nuber
• Jeff Parks
• Stephen Puryear
• Rob Stoke

Bill Strausbaugh Award

• Jeff Adkerson
• Joe Assell
• Andrew Campbell
• Matt Fraser
• Brad Morrow
• Adam Scott
• Casey Smith
• Matthew Williamson

Professional Development Award

• Jeff Adkerson (4 times)
• Andrew Campbell
• Andy Hilts (2 times)
• Eric Johnson (2 times)
• Blane Merritt (2 times)
• Patrick Nuber
• Chad Parker
• Billy Pomeroy
• Adam Scott (2 times)
• Doug Wert
• Paul Whitman
• Matthew Williamson

Player of the Year

• Sean Farren (2 times)
• Rod Perry (7 times)

Assistant of the Year

• Tim Basel
• Bruce Bell
• Brooks Bultemeier
• Daniel Byrd
• Jackson Koenig
• Daniel Lemoine
• Jordan McKelvy
• Duncan Millar
• Ryan Mundine
• Taylor Ross
• Andrew Sterritt
• David Stinson

Merchandiser of the Year

• Chris Altese (3 times)
• Tim Basel
• Andrew Campbell
• Jon Crane (2 times)
• Amanda Davis (2 times)
• Matt Fraser
• Evan Godfrey
• Blake Hatfield
• Greg Hynes
• Chris Jester (2 times)
• Joe Kruse
• Chris Mays
• Blane Merritt
• Duncan Millar (3 times)
• Bela Nagy
• Chad O'Dell
• Elliott Oscar (2 times)
• Chad Parker
• Keith Penke
• Jason Prendergast (4 times)
• Brent Ratliff (3 times)
• Jesse D. Schechtman
• Adam Scott
• Casey Smith
• Robert Smith
• David Stinson (2 times)
• Doug Wert (3 times)

Player Development Award

• Chris Altese
• Max Doster (2 times)
• Will Heirtzler
• Bela Nagy (2 times)
• Lance Olson
• Adam Scott
• Doug Strawbridge (3 times)
• Matt Williamson
• Paul Whitman (2 times)

President's Award

• Andrew Campbell
• Tony Luczak
• Chad Parker

PGA Master Professionals

The revised PGA Master Professional Program (MPP 2.0) showcases a PGA Certified Professional's continued expertise and experience in his or her specific career path through a proven track record of success and industry involvement. This program is designed to quantify and promote more value to employers and elevate the image of the PGA Certified Professional through a progressive approach to lifelong learning guided by enhanced mentoring and coaching.

The program offers four career paths for demonstrating one's career Body of Work:

    General Management
    Golf Operations
    Teaching & Coaching
    Player Development

Since inception in 1969, there have only been some 375 PGA Master Professionals recognized with this designation. Mississippi State has six (6) alumni who have earned this tremendous honor.

• Jeff Adkerson, PGA Master Professional
• Steve Atherton, PGA Master Professional
• Andy Hilts, PGA Master Professional
• James Nemeti, PGA Master Professional
• James Swarthout, PGA Master Professional
• Mark Tschetschot, PGA Master Professional