Colorado PGA Announces 2024 Special Award Winners

Matthews-Kane, Sayers Highlight Winners of Colorado PGA Honors

(Larkspur, CO) - Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA, outgoing President of the Colorado PGA (COPGA) and current District IX Director of the PGA of America, has been named the 2024 Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year. In winning the highest annual honor given to a PGA Golf Professional, Matthews-Kane heads the 2024 Colorado PGA Special Awards class.

Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA General Manager of The Country Club of Colorado, is just the second female President to serve the Colorado PGA since its inception in 1957, and now the 61st member of the Colorado PGA to be named Golf Professional of the Year. Cathy has been a PGA of America Golf Professional for over 15 years and an active member of the PGA, serving in local volunteer roles as a Board Member for the PGA REACH Colorado Foundation, Finance Committee, and Employment Committee. Cathy began her golf journey in her hometown of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada. A graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Cathy was a three-time academic All-American, four-year Varsity letter winner and co-captain of the women's golf team. After graduation, she joined the staff of the Hole-In-The-Wall Golf Club in Naples, Florida, as an Assistant Professional and then moved to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as an Assistant Professional. Matthews-Kane also currently serves as the PGA of America District IX Director and sits as the co-chairman of the National Employment Committee. She is a Certified PGA of America Golf Professional in Executive Management.

When asked what her first thoughts were after learning of this recognition, Matthews-Kane said, "I am honored to be named Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This award not only recognizes my dedication to the game of golf but also recognizes the camaraderie and support of the Colorado golf community. I am grateful to serve the Country Club of Colorado, the Colorado PGA Section, and the PGA of America. I look forward to the Awards Gala and sharing the stage with all the incredible 2024 Special Award Winners.”

Stan Sayers, a 38-year Member of the Colorado PGA Section, is the Director of Instruction at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado. This is Stan’s second time winning the award, his first honor being in 2009. He is a New Mexico-born golfer who has been in love with the game since the first time he picked up a club at age three. Stan has over 40 years of experience in teaching and coaching and has worked with players ranging from beginners to proven Tour Professionals. In 2023, he taught over 900 individual lessons and clinics to golfers across the region. “To receive this award once is one thing. To be honest it kicked off one of the most difficult times of my life. All my doing. There is much more to this story. To receive it twice is incredibly humbling. I am in a much different place and so incredibly grateful and blessed,” said Stan Sayers.

"The Colorado Section is very fortunate to have so many amazing PGA of America Golf Professionals. Their dedication to the game, the players, service to their communities, and fellow PGA of America Golf Professionals is an inspiration to all of us,” comments Jim Hajek, PGA Life Member and Chair of the Awards Task Force. “As our award winners are nominated by their peers, with each deserving of the honor, the task force had the great challenge of selecting only the best of the best for 2024."

Matthews-Kane and Sayers lead a group of 15 PGA of America Golf Professionals and four other industry leaders winning the Colorado PGA’s 2024 Special Awards. These awards will be presented on October 25th during the 2024 Colorado PGA Special Awards Gala at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. The Gala is open to the public. To inquire about attending please contact Sara Brown at 303-996-1599.

For more information on the Colorado PGA Special Award Program, each award description, and past winners please visit, https://www.coloradopga.com/special-awards.

Full List of Recipients of the 2024 Colorado PGA Special Awards include:

Golf Professional of the Year: Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA | Country Club of Colorado

Teacher of the Year: Stan Sayers, PGA | Colorado Golf Club

Assistant Professional of the Year: Mitchell Gore, PGA | Columbine Country Club

Presidents Award: Phil Anschutz | Broadmoor Resort

Bill Strausbaugh: Zach Lambeck, PGA | GOLFTEC Headquarters

Ed Kelbel Award (Former Professional Development): Jon Husby, PGA | UCCS Golf Management

Warren Smith: Mark Kelbel, PGA | Broadmoor Resort

Patriot Award: Visanu Tongwarin, PGA | Legacy Ridge Golf Course

Player Development: Kyle McGee, PGA | Thorncreek Golf Course

Youth Player Development: Maggie Hartman, PGA | Trent Wearner Golf Academy

Public Merchandiser of the Year: Trey Johnson, PGA | Vail Golf Club

Private Merchandiser of the Year: Greg Bryan, PGA | Roaring Fork Club
Resort Merchandiser of the Year: Jake O’Dell, PGA | Flying Horse Resort and Club
Noble Chalfant Award: Ed Oldham, PGA, Marion Pfluger, PGA, Tony Novitsky, PGA

Salesperson of the Year: Marcus Gregory | Callaway Golf
Todd Phipers Media Award: Gary Baines | Colorado Golf Journal

Superintendent of the Year: Tim Davis | Legacy Ridge Golf Course

About the Colorado PGA: The Colorado Section of the PGA promotes the game of golf for the golfers of Colorado, Eastern Wyoming, and a small part of South Dakota. The purpose of the Section is to promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry within the Section.

The Section accomplishes this purpose by enhancing the skills of its professionals and the opportunities for amateurs, employers, manufacturers, employees, and the general public within the Section. The Colorado PGA has more than 900 members and associates.

About the Colorado PGA Special Awards Program: The Colorado PGA Section Awards Task Force and Board of Directors honor Colorado PGA of America Golf Professionals annually who are industry leaders in their respective operations. The annual winners are nominated by their peers and selected based on their credentials.

Media Contact:

Steven Bartkowski

CEO/Executive Director

Colorado PGA
PGA REACH Colorado Foundation

sbartkowski@pgahq.com

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