The South Australian PGA Membership gathered at Mt Osmond Golf Club on Monday for the 2017 Annual State Divisional Meeting (ASDM) which was held in conjunction with the South Australian PGA Foursomes Championship.

Mt Osmond Head Professional and Chairman of the South Australian PGA Vocational Committee Ian Pritchard welcomed his peers of PGA members who were out in force with the strongest turnout in recent years.

Chairman of the PGA of Australia Peter O’Malley spoke briefly, highlighting his commitment to representing all members before Chief Executive Officer Gavin Kirkman gave a thorough presentation to the members which covered all facets of the association.

The South Australian membership which is made up of over 100 members had experienced an extremely challenging past 12 months, with 2016 delivering one of the wettest winters on record, having a significant impact on the businesses of many members around the state.

Ian Pritchard reminded the membership of the support available and the resilience of the PGA member and expressed his optimism looking ahead to 2017-2018.

“It has been a very challenging year and many of our members have been doing it tough but I am excited to see how engaged our South Australian professionals are and I am confident in what lies ahead,” said Pritchard who was awarded with the 2016 PGA Club Professional of the year while Anne-Marie Knight was announced the PGA Teaching Professional of the Year in 2016. Both awards were announced at the Annual Golf Industry Awards night which was held in October last year.

The Foursomes event was played following the ASDM and saw two young South Aussie stars take out the title in conditions which turned from sunshine to darkness when low cloud engulfed the field with a few holes to play.

Brad Moules and Anthony Murdaca carded a round of two-under-par 68 in the alternate shot format to take the Foursomes championship and highlighting some great form before both continue on the WA/SA Pro-Am Subaru Pro-Am Series which tees off at Flagstaff Hill on Wednesday and Glenelg Golf Club on Friday.

Moules and Murdaca are just two of the next generation of stars coming out of South Australia which in recent years has produced names including Nick Cullen, Adam Bland, Wade Ormsby, Max McCardle, David Lutterus and Jack Williams who continue to represent the PGA of Australia in South Australia and around the world.

PGA of Australia Life Member Peter Ormsby was also in attendance along with several of the South Australian trainees who are the next generation of PGA Members who will deliver the best in professional golf services seen anywhere in the world.

Another highlight from the 2016 year which was recognised at Mt Osmond was the sensational efforts of Chris Duke who captured the Australian PGA Professional’s Championship at Hamilton Island last November. The victory earned Duke a spot in the Australian PGA Championship field at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast last December.