Sutton Wins 2022 Assistant Professional of the Year
Riverside, Iowa – Davis Sutton of Cedar Rapids Country Club has been named the 2022 Iowa PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. This honor is based on the professional’s entire record with emphasis on his performance and achievements over the past year. This is the highest honor paid to an assistant golf professional and the award committee determined this winner based on strength as a player, teacher, merchandiser, and overall golf professional, the contributions to the success of the nominees facility, the nominees contributions to the game of golf, the character of the nominee and respect for other professionals, example of professionals who have enhanced their careers through the nominee, the nominee’s ability to play golf and the previous Section awards or community involvement activities.
When asked on what this means to win this award Sutton responded with, “This award means a tremendous amount to myself. Since I joined the Iowa PGA, I have sought to develop as a professional and to grow and contribute all that I can to my facility, this award proves to me that I have done each of these. I deeply care about becoming the best PGA professional that I can be, and helping CRCC and the Iowa Section prosper, and receiving this award means a great deal to me because of the efforts I have made over the past several years. I would not be receiving this award if it weren’t for the great PGA Professionals who have always surrounded me since I was a kid and who I have learned so much from, for Cedar Rapids Country Club who has allowed me to grow and develop as a professional and find my passion in the industry, and for my wife. Katie, and family who have always been so supportive of everything I have done and have always been there to help me in every way."
In the past year, Davis has achieved two milestones he was seeking as a professional. On July 5, 2022, Davis became a PGA member, which he has been working towards the last four years. In November of 2021, Davis took the role of President of the Iowa PGA Assistants Association, which has been a goal of his since the re-creation of the association in 2020. Both accomplishments have helped him develop as a professional and have aided his contributions to Cedar Rapids Country Club and the Iowa PGA Section.
Davis Sutton has been in the Iowa Section for four years and has spent three of those years actively involved in the section serving on committees and on the board for the Assistants Association. In November of 2021, Davis became the President of the Assistants Association after serving as Vice President the prior two years. He has served on the Iowa PGA Tournament Committee since 2020, where he has been involved in decision making covering section tournaments for his fellow professionals.
Davis has been involved in the creation and implementation of the Assistants Teaching and Coaching Summit, adding the Assistants Match Play to the 2022 tournament schedule, creating and developing the District 8 Challenge, and planning a PGA Level 1 workshop for associates. He is committed to bettering the lives of all Assistant Professionals in the Iowa Section by creating more opportunities for all of them.
Sutton describes his leadership style as thoughtful, intelligent, and passionate. As a young professional, Davis is a proud leader at his facility and in the Iowa Section. He is willing to take on all responsibility that comes his way, either leading the team at CRCC or leading the Assistants Association. His leadership ability is strong, but continuously evolving as he continues to learn from the PGA Professionals, he surrounds himself with.
Kari Tomash, PGA Academy Director at CRCC, “Davis is an invaluable member of our Cedar Rapids Country Club Golf Staff. He is admired and respected not only by the membership but by the entire club staff. I am lucky not only to call Davis a coworker but also a friend and someone that my son looks up to.”
Sutton has won the Assistant Player of the Year in 2019.
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Davis Sutton as our 2022 Assistant Professional of the Year.
Owens Wins Sales Representative of the Year
Jim Owens of Callaway Golf Company has been named the 2022 Iowa PGA Sales Representative of the Year. This honor is based on the vendor’s entire record. This is the highest honor paid to a Sales Representative. The award is based on the following attributes, strengths in service and communication, contributions made to nominee’s company’s success, contributions to the game of golf at the section level, size and success of nominee’s line, sales call rotation and customer interaction and previous awards or community involvement.
When asked on what this means to win this award Owens responded with, “It is an honor and privilege to be selected as this year’s Sales Representative of the Year. This award would not be possible without the support and dedication of my peers, to be nominated is truly special and very humbling. I am very fortunate to have great partners and cannot thank them enough!”
Having a strong team in place allows him the chance to efficiently communicate pertinent updates, provide more personal service and spend more valuable time with his partners. It also
allows him the opportunity to interact more in depth at various fittings events through the year to ensure everyone is playing their best golf. In total, his fitting team and Owens has conducted 219 green grass fitting events over the last two years.
Being a member of the PGA is a badge of honor and he hopes to add to the rich history of the Iowa PGA Section. Whether he is collaborating tee gifts with a fellow PGA Professional for an upcoming Member-Guest, mentoring a young staff professional on new product or participating in one of the various Section events, he takes great pleasure in being a trusted advisor and valuable resource. Day in and day out he strives to add value to my dedicated business partners, the Callaway Golf Company and the PGA of America.
Erin Strieck, PGA President of the Iowa PGA & Iowa PGA Foundation and Head Golf Professional at Pinnacle Country Club, “When I think of Jim, three words come to mind: driven, dedicated, and passionate. I have seen firsthand Jim’s dedication to Callaway Golf. He is focused on the success of the Iowa Golf Professional and Callaway Golf within the golf industry.”
Ken Schall, PGA Ken Schall Golf Performance Studios, “As a PGA Professional, James has been on our side of the business and knows what it takes to succeed. He is interested in our success as a business, not just getting orders. Whenever we have special needs or issues, James is extremely
responsive and ALWAYS comes through with a solution.”
Matt Matthias, PGA General Manager at Echo Valley, “Jim has become a good friend of mine as well as our entire staff. He is interested in learning about our Club and our membership. He has great ideas on how to make our operation better, and this doesn’t always include pushing his product line. Jim has that unique ability as a sales rep to promote his product, look out for us as golf professionals, and always carry himself with class.”
This is Owen’s first Iowa PGA Section award.
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Jim Owens as our 2022 Sales Representative of the Year.
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