Lamar Mills
Rob Riddle
Matt Adamski
Mark Fermanian
After Council Fire Club general manager Chris DeBusk was named Golf Professional of the Year earlier this week by the Tennessee PGA Section, a quartet of Chattanooga area professionals were also recognized as the remainer of the annual state awards were announced on Friday.
Lamar Mills, who is completing his term as Tennessee Section PGA president and serves as the Chattanooga regional director for the Tennessee Golf Foundation, was awarded the PGA Professional Development Award. The long-time former professional at Cleveland Country Club was also a finalist for Golf Professional of the Year, the Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Richard Eller Growth of the Game Award.
Rob Riddle, the director of golf of the McCallie Golf Learning Center, was named the winner of the Youth Development Award.
Sweetens Cove Golf Club head professional Matt Adamski was named Merchandiser of the Year for Public/Resort facilities.
Mark Fermanian, assistant professional at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, was awarded Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.
Members of the Chattanooga chapter captured five of the nine statewide accolades, while four other local professionals were finalists in the other categories presented.
Bruce Etter, the head professional at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, was a finalist for the Bill Strausbaugh Award won by Westhaven Golf Club’s Chris Cauthen.
Windstone Golf Club head professional Jeff Craig was a finalist in three categories. Craig was nominated for the PGA Professional Development Award, the Richard Eller Growth of the Game Award (won by Taylor Watts of Holston Hills Country Club) and the Youth Player Development Award.
Henrik Simonsen, The Honor Course director of golf, was a finalist in the Merchandiser of the Year for Private Clubs won by Drew Cain of Memphis Country Club, while McLemore Club’s Doug Amor earned consideration for Merchandiser of the Year for Public/Resort.
The Teacher and Coach of the Year was awarded to Ben Pellicani of Westhaven Golf Club.
Mills has been instrumental in his role with TGF in numerous capacities. He has advocated for junior golf through promoting initiatives such as First Tee, the Jack McKenna youth clinic, Scott Stallings Kids Play Free, the Sneds Tour and Drive, Chip and Putt.
He has also spearheaded the PGA HOPE program which offers instruction and playing opportunities for military veterans, highlighted by “The Rally in the Valley” at Sweetens Cove hosted by PGA Tour veteran Scott Stallings and a PGA HOPE 24-hour golf marathon. Additionally, Mills was instrumental in introducing “The Gibby”, a local high school coed event at the Ooltewah Club honoring local PGA Tour legend Gibby Gilbert while establishing an endowed fund to award college scholarships for deserving high school seniors.
Mills also spearheaded the “First Tee and Friends” event at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club that featured PGA Tour professional Stephan Jaeger and LPGA veteran Brooke Pancake.
Riddle was the former longstanding director of golf and general manager at Black Creek Club before returning to his passion for instruction. For the past decade, he has served as the director of golf at McCallie Golf Learning Center while coaching both the McCallie and GPS varsity teams.
Adamski has been the driving force behind Sweetens Cove’s meteoric rise to national acclaim. Operating from a quaint 300-square foot portable shed that serves as the pro shop, Adamski has driven a passionate demand for the club’s logo apparel through the “Shop The Shed” online offerings as well as his creative offerings for tournaments such as the recent Ugly Sweater Invitational.
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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
