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Ben Polland (left) of Jackson, Wyoming; Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (middle) of Jacksonville, Florida; and Jason Caron (right) of Oyster Bay, New York, won their respective 2024 PGA Professional, Women’s PGA Professional and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Awards presented by Rolex.
Polland, the PGA of America Director of Golf at Shooting Star of Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyoming, captured the 2024 PGA Professional Championship title by three shots last May at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco. He was the lone player in the field to finish under par with a final score of 2-under 286.
The 34-year-old Polland became the first member from the Rocky Mountain PGA Section to win the event. With the win, he earned a spot in his fourth PGA Championship, competing as a member of the Corebridge Financial Team at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
Polland’s standout 2024 season continued at the 31st PGA Cup, where he led the U.S. to a resounding 17.5- 8.5 victory over Great Britain & Ireland. He became just the sixth U.S. player in PGA Cup history to post a perfect 5-0-0 record.
“Winning the national PGA Professional Player of the Year Award is an incredible honor,” said Polland.
Connelly-Eiswerth, PGA/LPGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida, picked up where she left off in 2023 en route to a standout 2024. She totaled 860 points to become the first two-time winner of the Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award.
“It’s amazing, another awesome year,” said Connelly-Eiswerth.
She started the year on a high note, winning the Women’s Stroke Play Championship at the PGA Winter Championships in February. She shot a stellar 5-under-par 67 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker course in the final round.
Connelly-Eiswerth appeared in her third consecutive PGA Professional Championship, finishing T-26 at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco. She made her sixth straight start (2019-24) in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.
Connelly-Eiswerth helped the United States to a 12-shot victory at the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup. She led the charge for the Americans, recording a final-round 5-under 66 to earn medalist honors and finish at 6-under for the week.
Caron capped a highlight-filled 2024 by claiming his first Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Award. Caron, who won PGA Professional Player of the Year in 2020, becomes the fourth PGA Member to win both titles.
Caron, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Mill River Club in Oyster Bay, New York, claimed low PGA of America Golf Professional honors in the 2024 Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores. His nearly flawless, final-round 5-under 66 followed rounds of 69-70-67, for a 12-under total of 272 and a T-4 finish.
The 52-year-old Caron’s memorable summer continued in PGA Tour Champions events with T-3 finishes at the Rogers Charity Classic and Simmons Bank Championships, a T-4 result at the Constellation Furyk & Friends and T-26 at the Dominion Energy. His T-3 result in October’s Simmons Bank Championship secured full status on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025.
