Eric Laporte
PGA Championship of Canada winner Eric Laporte heads a list of nine individuals selected for the PGA of Canada 2012 National Awards. The 34-year-old head professional from Montcalm Club de Golf near Montreal was named the recipient of the Mike Weir Player of the Year award.
Shaun Piercy, the head professional at The Ranch Golf Club in Acheson, Alberta, earned the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year honour while Andrew Steep of Glendale Country Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba is the Moe Norman Apprentice of the Year award winner.
Other winners included Cam Martens (Windermere Golf & Country Club, Edmonton, AB), the George Knudson Teacher of the Year; Doug Lawrie (Within Range Golf Centers Inc., Burlington, ON), the Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year; Jon Roy (Golf Association of Ontario, Uxbridge, ON), the Bern Kern Coach of the Year; Trevor Goplin (The Derrick Golf & Winter Club, Edmonton, AB), the Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year; and Mike Kelly (Golf Association of Ontario, Uxbridge, ON), the Tex Noble Award for Professional Development
Longtime golf journalist and author Lorne Rubenstein was previously announced as the 2012 recipient of the George Cumming Distinguished Service Award.
"The eight PGA of Canada members who earned an award this year are truly great golf professionals and on behalf of the National Board of Directors' and the Association's 3,800 members, I'm proud to congratulate them today on their achievements," said PGA of Canada President Gregg Schubert. "And while Lorne Rubenstein is not a PGA of Canada member, he has been one of the biggest contributors to golf in Canada for more than 30 years."
Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from more than 3,800 PGA of Canada members from-to-coast and recognizes winners in each of the categories. For the first time this year, the winners will all be recognized at Canada Night celebrations in Florida as part of the PGA Merchandise Show in late January.