Huntingdale Golf Club once again hosted the Victorian Trainee Graduation & Awards Dinner. The night celebrated the achievements of Victorian Trainees in 2016 included the Graduation of 21 Trainees into Full Vocational Membership.

The night was attended by PGA Life Member Brian Simpson and his wife Joan, PGA Board Director Bruce Green, PGA CEO Gavin Kirkman, PGA COO Stuart Hergt, as well as representatives from PGA Education partners Acushnet, On Course Golf & Trackman.

During his speech, Simpson welcomed the new Members to the Association and wished them for a career as long and as fulfilled as his.

Each graduate thanked their partners, family and friends, their indenturing PGA Member, their golf club and acknowledged the support they received throughout their traineeship and look forward to a long career in the golf industry.

In other awards on the night, Stephanie Jamieson, PGA Training Manager, & Mike Whitlock from Titleist presented Catherine Odgers, from the Growling Frog Golf Club, & Jessica Stirling, from the Box Hill Golf Club, the Titleist & Footjoy Excellence in Education Awards for Year 1 & Year 2 Victorian Trainees respectively.

The 2016 CPM Trainee Pro Am of the Year was presented to Mitchel Judd & Isaac Sirianni for the Brian Twite Metropolitan Trainee Pro Am. This award was voted on by Trainee members at the end of the season as the best Pro Am of the Year.

After a close race all year Ben Murphy took out the 2016 Victorian Trainee Order of Merit title. The Order of Merit came down to the very last match of the year at Portsea with Murphy securing the title by winning the event.

After a standout year in 2016 that also saw him capture the National Trainee of the Year, Luke Bleumink won the Victorian Trainee of the Year. The year included receiving distinctions in 2 subject areas, winning 5 Trainee matches and finishing 5^th in the National Trainee Averages.

Full List of Graduates & Award Winners

• Titleist Footjoy Excellence in Education Award – Year 1
  • Catherine Odgers (Growling Frog)
• Titleist Footjoy Excellence in Education Award – Year 2
  • Jessica Stirling (Box Hill)
• CPM Trainee Pro Am of the Year
  • Brian Twite Metropolitan Trainee Pro Am
• 2016 Trainee of the Year
  • Luke Bleumink
• 2016 Trainee Order of Merit Winner
  • Ben Murphy
• Trainee Graduation Ceremony
  • Luke Bleumink
  • Adam Burdett
  • Jessica Cowie
  • Daniel Defelice
  • Belinda Diamond
  • Jack Donaldson
  • Luke Farry
  • Vernon Gunson
  • Qianyao (Yoyo) Han
  • Dong-Kyu (Dennis) Im
  • Zac Morwood
  • Josh Shaw
  • Adam Schultz
  • Michael Moore
  • Ed Nicolette
  • Andrew Kelly
  • Mitchell Sheather
  • Harley Williams
  • Daniel Smith
  • Jack Paisley