Leslie Core-Drevecky, the PGA head professional at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora who in 2014 became the first female president of the Colorado PGA, was named the Section’s 2016 Golf Professional of the Year, its highest honor.
Core-Drevecky (pictured) was one of a dozen special award winners announced on Thursday by the Colorado PGA. All will be honored on Nov. 4 during the Section’s Awards Gala at Colorado Golf Club in Parker.
The Golf Professional of the Year award goes to a Section member for overall performance, including leadership, service and promotion of the game of golf.
Core-Drevecky has been a PGA member for 23 years, and prior to being elected president she served for six years on the Section’s board of directors, as well as two terms on the PGA of America national Education Committee. She has twice won the Colorado PGA Horton Smith Award for outstanding and continuing contributions in developing and improving educational opportunities for the PGA golf professional.
During Core-Drevecky’s time as president, the Colorado PGA teamed up with the CGA to form the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, which oversees many junior tournaments and events and features Golf in Schools, PGA Junior League, the Drive Chip & Putt Championship and more. Core-Drevecky was also instrumental in the creation of the Colorado PGA Women’s Championship, which debuted this year.
Among the other Colorado PGA award recipients is longtime CGA executive director Ed Mate, who has worked alongside Colorado PGA executive director Eddie Ainsworth in forging a strong alliance between the two organizations to nurture and grow the game of golf in the state. Most recently, that includes forming the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, which just wrapped up a successful inaugural season. Mate, who worked for the Colorado PGA before being named the head of the CGA staff in 2000, will receive the President’s Award.
(Updated Oct. 6) Here are the Colorado PGA’s special awards recipients for 2016:
— Golf Professional of the Year: Leslie Core-Drevecky, Murphy Creek Golf Course.
— Teacher of the Year: Steve Patterson, Hiwan Golf Club.
— Assistant Golf Professionals of the Year: Brad Gannaway, Colorado Springs Country Club.
— Bill Strausbaugh Award (mentoring fellow PGA professionals): Dale Smigelsky, Collindale Golf Course.
— Horton Smith Award (exceptional contributions to promote and improve PGA educational programs): Mark Bacheldor, UCCS PGA-PGM.
— Warren Smith Award (special contributions to game of golf, the Colorado PGA, junior golf and their facility): Craig Parzybok, Fox Hollow Golf Course.
— Noble Chalfant Inductee (distinguished service to the Colorado PGA) — Tom Apple, Country Club of the Rockies
— Player Development Award: Trent Wearner, Trent Wearner Golf Academy.
— Youth Player Development Award: Katie Milstead, The First Tee at Green Valley Ranch.
— Private Merchandiser of the Year: Greg Bryan, Roaring Fork Club.
— Resort Merchandiser of the Year: Rich Parker, Kissing Camels Club.
— Public Merchandiser of the Year: Mark Pfingston, The Golf Club at Bear Dance.
— President’s Award: Ed Mate, CGA
— Dow Finsterwald Player of the Year — Geoff Keffer, PGA Learning Center at Park Hill
— Senior Player of the Year — Mike Northern, Colorado Springs
— Apprentice Player of the Year — Pat Grady, University of Colorado
