Two-time winning Solheim Cup Captain and Major Champion, Catriona Matthew, is the worthy recipient of the Confederation of Professional Golf’s [CPG] 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her outstanding career as a player and as a captain.

READ ALSO: Adventure Continues for Bernard de Bruyckere

The Lifetime Achievement Award was introduced in 2011 and in the same year was posthumously awarded to Seve Ballesteros. Since then, winners have included Alison Nicholas, Bernhard Langer and José María Olazábal, with each being recognised for their success and influence in the sport within their own countries and around the world.

“It is very prestigious to be following on from these fantastic names” commented Matthew, as she received the award at her home club, The North Berwick Golf Club. “I am delighted and honoured to be given this award. It is fantastic recognition for how I have played and performed over the years.

“I have to thank my husband, Graham, who caddied for me for 20 years; to my first Professional and teacher, Jim Hume; and John Chillas, who helped me whilst competing at university. I would also like to thank all the PGAs and Professionals out there – it is you that do the hard work in moulding the future of our sport and the fact that there were 8 different nationalities in this year’s European Solheim Cup team illustrates what a fantastic job you are all doing.”

‘Beany’, as she is affectionately known, boasts a tremendous career in which she has tasted success on both the playing side and the leadership side of the game. Her success started during her amateur career, where she won many international championships and appeared in three Curtis Cup matches. This success translated quickly into the Professional ranks when she earned her LPGA card in 1994 and Ladies European Tour card in 1995 and went on to win various titles that included her standout major victory in the 2009 Women’s British Open.

Individual success has been complemented by representation and victory within team environments for Catriona too, which includes three Women’s World Cup of Golf appearances for Scotland and nine appearances for the European Solheim Cup team, where she amassed the third highest points total for a player in the event’s history, coupled with home and away success as captain in 2019 at Gleneagles and in 2021 at the Inverness Club.

“We are delighted to be able to recognise Catriona with this award for the significant achievements she has had as a player and more recently as a captain” commented CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “This year’s Solheim Cup success for Europe was one of, if not the, highlight of the golfing year and Catriona’s leadership of a team that contained 8 different nationalities from across Europe was truly outstanding. The fondness and respect that Catriona commands across the game is there for all to see and I could not think of a more deserving recipient of this year’s award.”

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PGA of Belgium Member and Chief Executive, Bernard De Bruyckere, has been awarded the CPG 5-Star Professional Award in recognition of his 30+ years in the sport and his hugely significant role in the development of the PGA of Belgium and its Members.

READ ALSO: CPG Special Recognition Award Goes to Golf Pride

The 5-Star Professional Award looks to recognise the best in the business – individuals who exhibit the key characteristics of what being a PGA Professional represents and have shown excellence across the many areas of expertise and activity that PGA Members are involved in.

De Bruyckere, who celebrated 30 years of service to the PGA of Belgium in early December, has demonstrated this perfectly throughout his career in areas such as coaching, administration, refereeing, education and development, to name but a few.

“It is a huge moment,” said De Bruyckere who received the award at the CPG Annual Awards Supported by Rolex, held at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. “To be nominated by your own PGA and Board and get recognition from the CPG, who now represent 43 countries worldwide, is amazing – I am very proud.

“It has been an adventure. When I started there were no computers, smartphones…not even the Euro! So to see the evolution of the game and the technology that surrounds it has been an incredible experience. Being a PGA Professional is a true challenge as you are dealing with so many different people and you have to find many solutions to a range of complex problems.”

De Bruyckere began working as a golf instructor during his military service and comes from a long line of golfers, with his Grandfather a greenkeeper at Royal Zoute Golf Club and his Father an Assistant Professional in their own rights.  At the age of just 24, he became the youngest golf manager in Belgium at that time.

His move to the administrative side of the sport occurred when he became treasurer for the PGA of Belgium, going on to assume the General Secretary position in 1994, where he has been ever since. As the first PGA of Belgium Professional to pass The R&A rules school, he has also officiated many national tournaments and CPG [formerly PGAs of Europe] events, such as the PGA Professional Championship of Europe, Fourball Championship and Beko Classic Pro-Am.

Bernard continues to have a significant impact on the education of PGA of Belgium Professionals and those further afield through his vision for, and development of, the association’s training and education programme.

CPG Chairman, Frank Kirsten, commented: “It is a great pleasure to have been able to award this honour to my great friend, Bernard.  We have known each other for many years and I cannot think of anyone more fitting to receive this recognition, considering the role he has played in developing PGA of Belgium members and PGA Professionals further afield too.”

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The Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] celebrate Golf Pride’s commitment to supporting the Association, PGAs and PGA Professionals with the 2021 CPG Special Recognition Award.

READ ALSO: Stéphane Damiano Receives 2021 John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching

Represented by Key Accounts Manager EMEA, Craig Watson, Golf Pride was presented with the award at the 2021 CPG Annual Awards Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. The US-based golf grip company joins an exclusive list of previous winners including Duncan Weir, Theodore Vassilakis, Mustafa Koç, Samuel Ryder, and Renton Laidlaw.

On receipt of the award, Watson said: “As a proud partner of the CPG, we are very pleased to have received this recognition for the work that Golf Pride have done with the organisation’s collective membership to support their PGA Professionals over the past 23 years.

“PGA Professionals fulfil hugely significant roles within golf clubs and facilities, that can often have anything from five to six hundred members at each, so we strongly view club regripping as an integral part of any successful golf retail business. We will continue to help educate and support the workforce of the game in the best way that we can.”

“Golf Pride have been a fantastic supporter of the CPG, our Member Countries and their collective PGA Professionals over the many years that we have been partners in golf together” commented CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell

“Golf Pride recognise the importance of the PGA Professional and in providing the appropriate education and support to enable them to flourish. Our partnership with Golf Pride has, and continues to be, one that we are hugely proud of and we are delighted to be recognising their impact through this award.”

For over seven decades, Golf Pride have been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology, and has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company on Tour. It has been a partner of the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] for over two decades and continues to play an important role in supporting the industry, PGAs and PGA Professionals internationally.

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The Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] are delighted to recognise PGA of France Member Professional, Stéphane Damiano, with the 2021 John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching for his extensive role in nurturing the next generation of golfing talent in France.

READ ALSO: Stefan Quirmbach Honoured with Christer Lindberg Bowl

Created in 2011 to honour one of the most pre-eminent coaches of all time – John Jacobs, OBE, the award recognises individuals for their significant contributions and achievements as golf coaches, and boasts a glittering list of teaching pioneers to have previously received the award including the first Frenchman to do so in 2012 in Dominique Larretche, as well as Phil Kenyon, Neil Manchip and last year’s recipient, Ulrich Eckhardt.

Credited as being the coach that supported the early development of one of France’s most successful and vibrant players in Victor Dubuisson, and as the nephew of the 1993 5-Star Professional Award recipient, Michel Damiano, Stéphane Damiano holds a strong and established reputation throughout French golf. Stéphane now runs the highly-acclaimed Prime Golf Academy, situated at Royal Mougins Golf Resort in the South of France, which provides young people with world class golf coaching and academic teaching to support their progress and development towards excellence in golf and wider academic life.

Damiano received the award at the CPG Annual Awards Supported by Rolex, held at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, earlier this month: “I am very honoured in becoming the second French recipient of this award and to have been nominated by the PGA of France, as I am so passionate about teaching golf and working with young people to support their golf and academic development.”

“It is an honour to be awarding this year’s John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching to Stéphane Damiano for his incredible work and for the far-reaching impact that he has created for French golf” commented CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“As the sport’s leading influencer, PGA Professionals form the very heart of golf coaching and are at the fore when it comes to developing the next generation of golfers across all skill levels and walks of life. In this regard, Stéphane is an exemplary individual and golf coach whom is responsible for enhancing the lives of many young people through the vehicle of golf and is a credit to the PGA of France.”

Located 20 minutes from Cannes and set up in 1990 by Damiano himself, Prime Golf Academy is a highly-acclaimed golf school and academy that offers aspiring and talented individuals the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional golfer or gaining a scholarship in the US, whilst also obtaining a range of full time and post graduate academic qualifications as well. At the core of Prime Golf Academy’s mission is providing each of its students with the necessary tools to help them grow as individuals and pursue their golfing dreams.

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Former President of the PGA of Germany, Stefan Quirmbach, has been awarded the 2021 Christer Lindberg Bowl for his vision and contributions towards the development of professional golf and the PGA of Germany.

LISTEN: The Spin Podcast with Stefan Quirmbach

READ ALSO: 2021 President’s Award for Golf Development

Quirmbach held the position of PGA of Germany President for over two decades, during which time he led the organisation towards becoming one of the largest and most established PGAs internationally, that now holds an influential voice in golf and sport in the country.

A PGA of Germany Member Professional himself, Quirmbach’s astute leadership and continued drive has ensured that the PGA of Germany could sustain and grow its business to deliver the highest possible standards of education and support services to its Members. Now retired in this role as President, Stefan focuses his time and efforts on managing his successful golf school in Hardenberg.

On receiving the Christer Lindberg Bowl during the Confederation of Professional Golf’s [CPG] Annual Awards Supported by Rolex – adding to the 5-Star Professional Award that he won in 1996 – Quirmbach commented: “It is a privilege and an honour to be receiving the Christer Lindberg Bowl. I am most proud of the fact that this award represents the work that I and the team at the PGA of Germany have done over the years to position our PGA of Germany Members as key influencers in the sport.

“Through our development of the education programme in Germany, we are creating highly educated golf Professionals that golf clubs and facilities now rely on and look to for guidance on a daily basis. If I was to point towards one thing that this award recognises, then this would be it.”

Chief Executive of the CPG, Ian Randell, said: “It is a great pleasure to be honouring Stefan in this way. Over the course of his presidency, Stefan has worked closely with Rainer Goldrian and his team to significantly enhance the PGA of Germany’s structure, education and other activities for the betterment of their PGA Members. As a staunch and passionate advocate for the game, he has created a legacy that will continue to positively impact golf in Germany for decades to come.”

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In acknowledgement for its ongoing development activity and delivery of global projects and initiatives related to golf for the disabled, EDGA has been awarded the CPG’s 2021 President’s Award for Golf Development at this year’s CPG Annual Awards supported by Rolex.

EDGA [formerly the European Disabled Golf Association] is a volunteer organisation that aims to make the sport more inclusive for players with disability at every level, through the promotion and delivery of opportunities to sample, participate and compete in golf. It also advises and works with major stakeholders in the game including The R&A, The International Golf Federation, The European Tour and The European Golf Association on various issues related to golf for the disabled.

The President’s Award, which recognises outstanding golf development programmes, initiatives and grassroots projects, was presented to EDGA President, Tony Bennett: “To receive this award on behalf of EDGA and the team of volunteers that work so hard for the organisation and for golf for the disabled is humbling.

“This award vindicates our longstanding work to create change in golf for the disabled, build awareness about it and create pathways to sample, participate and compete in the sport regardless of ability. To be receiving this recognition from a highly respected golf organisation in the CPG is incredible and I offer my thanks to them for this award.”

CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell, commented: “Just recently at the EDGA Dubai Final, we saw a glimpse of the incredible and far-reaching work that EDGA is involved with around golf for the disabled, as well as getting to hear about the many inspiring stories from the golfers and in turn, the shared support they have for the organisation with the opportunities it has provided them in golf too.”

“Tony and the team of volunteers at EDGA are doing a terrific job to deliver the message of golf being for everybody, particularly in the area of golf for the disabled, so I could not think of a more worthy recipient of the 2021 edition of this award than EDGA.”

Additional to working alongside the DP World Tour to deliver its globally televised events, EDGA has designed and implemented coach education programmes for delivery in rehabilitation centres, hospitals and golf clubs internationally, as well as creating protocols for tournament administration, definitions of impairment and other programmes too. All of these initiatives are available to EDGA members and are designed to grow the number of golfers with disability around the world.

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With the team’s best two 18-hole scores to count in each round, Team Italy’s round-by-round totals of 134, 141 and 141 at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort saw them set an almost unassailable target of 416 [22-under-par] for the rest of the field to try and reach. In the end, their 13-shot victory over Team Germany in second and Team Austria in third was illustrative of their impeccable and consistent performances throughout.

The ITC’s unique team format places emphasis on consistency of performances, ensuring the strongest team of three PGA Professionals from CPG’s 43 Member Countries is found. “Having contributed to the totals on the first two days, I said to the guys it was their turn on the final day” joked Molteni. “Whilst I played well personally, as a collective we were phenomenal this week.”

On the team’s initial reaction to the win, Maestroni commented: “We are obviously delighted by this victory, and for me personally to share it with my friends is fantastic. There is no doubt we will be celebrating over the coming days as we bring the trophy back to Italy.”

Yet despite the initial and inevitable jubilations, team captain Andrea Perrino was quick to recognise the wider significance of this win for golf in Italy: “We really hope this win will put golf on TV screens and on the front of newspapers and across the wider media landscape. We have had tremendous success in other sports like football, but its popularity is more widespread than golf right now. This result can convince many people that golf is a sport for them.”

In the Team Shield – an event that runs alongside the ITC that is specifically for CPG’s smaller Member Country PGAs with 100 members or less – Team Slovakia [Juraj Zvarik, Jan Keher and Adam Puchmelter] defended the title that they won in 2019 in comprehensive fashion, pipping runners-up Team Poland with a final score total of 437 [one-under-par].

For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page https://cp.golf/2021ITC. For more information on the CPG visit cpg.golf, or find the CPG on Twitter (@cpg_golf), Facebook (@cpg.golf), LinkedIn, Instagram (@cpg_golf) and Anchor.fm.

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Gregory Molteni and Andrea Perrino’s scores of 70 (-3) and 71 (-2) respectively were enough to keep the Italians ahead of a strong European contingent heading into the third and final round tomorrow.

“It would be great if we could win tomorrow on behalf of the PGA of Italy because we have never won the ITC before” commented Perrino.

“Playing on behalf of our PGA is an honour that has clearly pushed our performances to another level this week and I could not be happier to be sharing the week with such great teammates in Nicola and Gregory. I think we have a strong team and we will certainly give it our best shot to bring the trophy back to Italy tomorrow”.

In round two of the Team Shield, Team Slovakia extended their lead over Team Poland after a second-round score of 152 (+6) gave Juraj Svarik, Jan Keher and Adam Puchmelter a 15-shot margin heading into the final round.

For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page https://cp.golf/2021ITC. For more information on the CPG visit cpg.golf, or find the CPG on Twitter (@cpg_golf), Facebook (@cpg.golf), LinkedIn, Instagram (@cpg_golf) and Anchor.fm.

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