Westchester Welcomes Giants of Golf at Awards Dinner

Three-time major championship winner Padraig Harrington will be presented with the NY area golf writers’ highest honor—the Gold Tee Award—on Monday, June 18, at the Westchester Marriott.  Joining him in the winner’s spotlight will be 2017 Player of the Year Justin Thomas and his family, USGA Women’s Amateur legend Carol Semple Thompson, metropolitan area PGA TOUR player Morgan Hoffmann, NY golf journalist Hank Gola, and Fresh Meadow Country Club, named club of the year.

Harrington has a long association with golf in Westchester, having competed as an amateur in the Hugh L. Carey Challenge Cup between the Golfing Union of Ireland the MGA before turning pro in 1995.  He’s won three majors, back-to-back British Opens in 2007 and 2008 and the 2008 PGA Championship, as well as 20 international victories and six times on the PGA TOUR.  In 2005, he edged out Jim Furyk by one stroke to claim the Barclays Classic title at Westchester Country Club.

Justin Thomas, currently ranked as World No. 1, was the 2017 PGA TOUR Player of the year. His breakout year saw four wins including the PGA Championship as well as the FedEx Cup Championship. He’s the son and grandson of PGA of America pros, making them the golf writers’ pick for the Family of the Year Award.

The MGWA has recognized the game’s greatest players and contributors to the sport at its National Awards Dinner, the longest running such event in the US.  Previous Gold Tee winners represent a who’s who of golf ranging from Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Sam Snead to Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson.  Recent winners include Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam, Davis Love III, and Mark O’Meara.

Proceeds from the dinner are contributed to the caddie scholarship programs in the NY Metro and other golf-related causes.  Tickets are available at www.metgolfwriters.org or by contacting Robin Sauerhaft at (914) 347-4653 or rsauerhaft@mgagolf.org.