The PGA Members were joined by PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman, Deputy Chairman of the PGA David Stretton, NSW/ACT Vocational Committee Members, Acushnet representatives Nic Hibbert and Andrew Williams and many family and friends of the graduating class.

Gavin Kirkman gave the opening address, highlighting the value of the Membership and the task ahead of the golf industry in retaining golfers new to the game and promoting the sport through their career within the Association.

Having navigated the bushfires in 2019 and COVID-19 in 2020, a common theme throughout the night was the recognition of their achievements and successfully graduating into Full Membership after such a tumultuous 18 months.

The awards night also recognised Academic in Excellence Awards which were awarded to Darcy Boyd (Kiama Golf Club) and Danielle Vasquez (Links Shell Cove) who in the first year of the program finished first and third respectively for their year groups.

Darcy was ranked first in his year group for academic excellence, finished seventh for the year on the national performance rankings, held an adjusted average of -0.47, by the end of 2020 he had won two trainee matches at Gosford and Brighton Lakes respectively and rounded out the year with three runner-up results and five top-5 finishes including a tied fifth finish at the Rich River classic.

PGA Trainee Graduates – Class of 2020
Damien Anderson
Bovorn Bovornratanaraks
Craig Cox
Jayden Cripps
Jye Forrester
Mitchell Gannon
James Gleeson
Michael Gunawan
Jarrod Harding
Harrison Hartman
Allan Haughie
Nicholas Heath
Lauren Hibbert
Christina Kang
Ricky Kato
Claudia Lim
Benjamin Morgan
Kesava Nair
Luke O’Carrigan
Samuel Pasquali
Justin Roach
James Sampson
Liam Sheils
Stefan Tuionetoa
Billy Watson
Jordan Widdicombe