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Every year, the Southern Ohio PGA gathers to celebrate its best people. Not simply the professionals who run golf shops, teach lessons or guide clubs, but the men and women who carry the heartbeat of the game in their hands. They are the culture builders, the teachers, the leaders, the quiet fixers, the patient listeners. They are the reason golf in Southern Ohio feels like more than a pastime. It feels like a community.
This year’s award winners remind us that golf’s greatest impact doesn’t show up only on a scorecard. It appears in the way a staff learns to trust its leader, the way a junior golfer beams with new confidence, the way a Veteran finds connection again standing with a club in their hand.
The 2025 Southern Ohio PGA Award Winners celebrate the men and women whose influence stretches far past the fairways.
At Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, Andy Montgomery has built a culture defined by warmth and trust, qualities that you feel the second you walk on property. That impact stretches across the Southern Ohio PGA Section as well, through his revitalization of the tournament program and his deep commitment to PGA REACH Southern Ohio initiatives like the Birdie Bash. Montgomery’s honor feels less like a career milestone and more like a reflection of the environment he creates everywhere he goes.
Teacher & Coach of the Year presented by GOLFTEC – Gene Powell, PGA, Director of Instruction at Four Bridges Country Club
With a scientist’s precision and a mentor’s touch, Gene Powell, PGA, has transformed Four Bridges Country Club into a powerhouse of player development. His programs blend biomechanics and long-term coaching models along with genuine care for students of every level. Powell’s influence resonates across the entire landscape of the PGA of America as well, as his educational programming has shaped thousands of aspiring PGA Professionals through the PGM University Program.
There’s a plaque that hangs on the wall of Rob Karnes’ office that’s older than the building it resides in. It’s small and humble, the kind of thing a 12-year-old might have put on their dresser or desk.
It reads: “You gotta wanta. So learn proper techniques then practice, practice, practice”
Karnes leads with the kind of steadfast conviction born from a lifetime of mentorship, modeling the “you gotta wanta” philosophy passed down by his grandfather. At NCR Country Club, he's built a culture rooted in integrity, support, and shared purpose. His influence is measured not in trophies, but in the people and careers strengthened by his guidance.
At NCR Country Club, excellence doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of vision, collaboration and steady leadership, all qualities that define Jeff Grant. Under his direction, NCR has flourished, with a growing membership and a continuous elevation of the club’s national presence, all without losing its community feel. His business acumen and collaborative spirit, empowers his team to thrive and advance in their careers. His impact is seen in the energy of NCR’s grounds and the people who bring the club to life each day.
Jeff Olson has become a steady force for Veterans in Central Ohio and a leading voice for PGA HOPE Southern Ohio. He doesn’t seek recognition for what he does, he seeks connection. Jeff’s clinics have created a lasting community where Veterans reconnect through golf and camaraderie, proving again and again that meaningful change often begins with the simplest of moments. A handshake, a smile, a life changed thanks to a renewed sense of purpose.
At New Albany Country Club, Justin Armour has transformed merchandising into an elevated member experience and the results have been extraordinary. What happens when you blend fashion and function with world class hospitality? A golf shop that serves its membership by being a hub of activity where curated collections and personalized service make it a true extension of the club’s identity. Armour’s creativity and member-focused mindset set a new standard for private-club retail in Southern Ohio.
Derrick DeHart decided it was time to make the most of the fact that the Golf Club at Stonelick Hills is one of Ohio’s best public golf destinations. That meant a 180 on branding and fresh displays. Extraordinary sales growth soon followed. DeHart’s clear understanding of what resonates with golfers created a welcoming, well-curated retail environment that made every guest feel like a regular. A true craftsman, that attention to detail made all the difference and is why Stonelick continues to be in prime position to capitalize on its standing in the landscape of Ohio public golf.
Player Development Award – Ben Chandler, PGA, Mark McDonald Golf Academy (Previously with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission)
Ben Chandler took one look at the instruction capability at Cincinnati Recreation Commission facilities and knew there was room for improvement. In just a short time, thanks to his tireless efforts and comprehensive programming, CRC facilities quickly became hubs for learning the game, perfectly timed with the post-COVID golf boom. From beginners to high-performing players competing across the country, Chandler’s instructing influence has the dexterity to touch every aspect of the game, regardless of someone’s ability or background.
One of the renowned junior golf coaches in the country, Chris Yoder’s impact on youth golf grows by the day. His efforts turned Scioto Country Club into a national model for junior golf, growing participation fivefold and fostering a culture built on competitive excellence and fun. Those same qualities define his impact with his PGA Jr. League team, which competes on a national championship level, while also making sure they use their significant success to give back to their communities. Yoder’s work proves that junior golf thrives when young players feel both inspired and supported.
For nearly two decades, Jeff McEldowney has made professional growth the centerpiece of his work at GOLFTEC Dublin, creating opportunities for aspiring and current PGA Professionals to refine their craft and advance in the industry. His programs elevated the standard for mentorship in the Section and continue to impact dozens of Professionals across Central Ohio. Success for Jeff comes in many forms but his biggest impact isn’t just about helping colleagues navigate the golf industry, it’s about providing a foundation for consistent, positive professional growth that’s the hallmark of a fulfilling career.
At NCR Country Club, Hannah McCrabb is the steady, reliable presence who brings structure, and energy to every corner of operations. Her rapid rise within the PGA of America and the Southern Ohio Section stems from her drive to learn and lift others. McCrabb’s passion and purpose is a common denominator across all of NCR and showcases her invaluable influence at one of Ohio’s premier golf facilities.
Adam Taulbee’s dedication at Elks Run Golf Club shines through in his leadership and commitment to learning. That tireless drive transformed the operation in a short period of time and turned the workplace culture at Elks Run into a place where everyone feels valued. Taulbee’s recognition reflects a professional on the rise, grounded in service and genuine love for the game.
With a competitive background that includes time on the LPGA Tour and three Symetra Tour wins, Jenny brought rare insight to her role in golf sales. Her approach, rooted in relationships and integrity, also had the backing of her tremendous playing career. Her reliability and care made her a trusted partner throughout the Section, supporting facilities with consistency and enthusiasm. Now the Director of Women’s Golf at Scioto, she continues to elevate the game from every angle.
Tod Hecht’s story is one of profound resilience, shaped by a stroke that nearly ended both his playing and teaching careers, and by the courage that carried him back. A mainstay across Central Ohio golf, Tod’s unwavering dedication to service and connection continues to have a profound impact on anyone lucky enough to come within his considerable reach. Tod perfectly embodies the spirit of the Deacon Palmer Award with his exceptional perseverance and an unwavering love for the game.
On the final day of the 2025 PGA Jr. League Championship, the Texas sky wouldn’t cooperate. Lightning sirens wailed, rain hammered the turf and the championship match against Team California kept slipping into pauses. The players were pulled off the course, then back on, then off again, waiting for that pesky Texas rain to move through. It was a stop-start, edge-of-your-seat kind of afternoon. But when the final putts fell and the match concluded at last, Team Ohio stood in second place, exhausted, soaking wet and somehow fuller for the experience.
And maybe fittingly, their final tally told a different kind of story: 79 birdies, each one pledged by supporters across the country. Each one worth real money for real people who may never know the names of the kids who made them. Veterans and under-served communities benefitted from Team Ohio’s inspired play. Everyone benefited from Team Ohio’s example.
“There are so many different ways to win and this is a huge win for our team and PGA REACH Southern Ohio,” said Coach Chris Yoder, PGA. “To raise funds to grow the game, for Veterans and underprivileged communities, to be able to pay it forward, is a huge win for everybody.”
Second place on the scoreboard. First place in impact.
That idea didn’t start with marketing meetings or donation drives. It came from who these kids already were.
When they weren’t competing, Team Ohio (or, Team Yoyo, after Coach Yoder’s collegiate golf nickname) was volunteering at Nationwide Children’s Hospital through Smiling Fore Life, an outreach program under the umbrella of PGA REACH Southern Ohio. Smiling Fore Life carries golf into places where childhood is often interrupted by treatment schedules and hospital machines.
“Volunteering is very important to me and my team,” Yoder said. “Through Smiling Fore Life, we’re able to give the kids who are patients at the children’s hospital a distraction from all the challenging things they might be going through and just have fun.”
That word—fun—tends to orbit this group. Even under the pressure of a national championship, even with the weight of weather delays and the gravity of facing the country’s best, they kept the game light. No one had more fun in Texas than the Ohio boys.
“I’ve told the team that they’ll play in hundreds if not thousands of individual tournament rounds over their lifetimes,” said Yoder. “But the memories I hold the closest are the memories I made playing with a team.”
And now his players have theirs: waiting out storms together, vibes and high fives, grinding when it mattered and stacking up 79 birdies that will ripple into communities across Southern Ohio.
The trophy went elsewhere. But when the storms finally cleared, Team Ohio walked off the course knowing they had made the week matter, in ways that will last far longer than any trophy.
For a team that came to Texas with a mission, the scoreboard wasn’t the only place victory could live.
Before he ever cradled a 7-iron or gave a Veteran the gift of golf, Burt Jones was a kid from Milford, Ohio, staring down the narrow roads of a small town and choosing the only path that seemed to lead somewhere bigger. In December 1968, despite Cronkite chronicling the flames and firefights of Vietnam on the nightly news, he enlisted in the Air Force.
“I really didn’t have a direction I wanted to go,” said Burt. “Continuing my education was not at the top of my list.”
The world had to be larger than where he was. What he found was far larger than he imagined.
He moved from warehouses at Lockbourne Air Force Base to the belly of a KC-135 tanker supporting Linebacker II, the thunderous bombing campaign of the war. He lived the kind of days you don’t describe so much as carry. Days of flight orders, tonnage dropped, the tremble of an exploding Hanoi and Haiphong a few thousand feet below his boots.
Later came the underground nuclear testing programs, radar sites strung across continents and the fighter wings. The fighters were grand: the dexterity of F-16s, the unmistakable burp of the A-10 Warthog, the shadowy silent F-117, whose secrets he shepherded as a Weapons System Manager until his retirement in 1994.
Civilian life brought the typical burdens Veterans face but Burt found structure with the VA Hospital in Cincinnati. Managing the computer systems and maintenance personnel for the VA isn’t quite the same as a stealth fighter–rewarding for sure, but IT doesn’t have the same team bonding qualities you get when responsible for a multi-million dollar war machine.
“I retired from the VA and I was bored,” says Jones. “I had been around Veterans and active-duty my entire adult life.”
Then came golf. Or rather, PGA HOPE. First as a participant in Cincinnati from 2017 to 2019, then, after a nudge from local PGA Professional Matt Starr, as a Southern Ohio PGA HOPE Ambassador. Soon, Burt was a ubiquitous presence at HOPE programs, beneath sun or drizzle, no matter what. No excuses. Present and accounted for, helping heroes find what had gone missing: the military family, reborn in laughter, branch banter, encouragement.
He has watched men and women with disabilities discover balance again. He has watched strangers become a unit. He has even trained beyond the program to help adaptive golfers with no military ties at all. Joy, he’s learned, has no rank.
“You will never know what golf can do for your mental well being, how it can bring you close to people with similar experiences until you try PGA HOPE,” says Jones. “Seeing the faces of people enjoying themselves is all I need to keep going.”
And coming from a man who has lived whole lifetimes inside service, that sounds a lot like an order worth following.
