President’s Message 2

Esposito Reigns 3

Special Award

Recipients

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NJGF Holiday Party 7

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The changing seasons and cold

weather in New Jersey is not

getting in the way of Brooklake

Country Club Head

Professional, Frank Esposito.

The 2014 NJPGA Senior Player

of the Year traveled to Florida

and did what can only be defined

as dominate. He began at the

2014 Senior PGA Professional

National Championship at PGA

Golf Club in Port St. Lucie,

Florida which he qualified for

based on his finish in the 2013

Championship. Throughout the

four day tournament, Esposito

stayed atop the leaderboard. He

opened the Championship with

four straight birdies to shoot a

record tying first round 64. He

continued this great play

through the next two rounds

and entered the final round with

a four stroke lead. With a steady

one under par, 71 for the final

round of the Championship

Continued pg.3

F r a n k E s p o s i t o r e i g n s i n F l o r i d a

2 0 1 5 N J P G A B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s

From Left to Right: John Mascari, Tommy Monteverdi, Paul Poandl, Michael Holiday, Matt Freitag, Scott Paris (President),

Keith Stewart, Vince Guinco, Joe Galan, David Reasoner (Vice President), Joe Kelly (Secretary & Treasurer) & Bob Downey.

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Please click on the image above to view the December

President Message from NJPGA President, Scott Paris.

On November 24, PGA Member, Dr. Charles L. Sifford, received the

Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from

President Barack Obama. Sifford is the third golfer to receive the Presi-

dential Medal of Freedom, following Arnold Palmer (2004) and Jack

Nicklaus (2005). Often referred to as the “Jackie Robinson of Golf,”

Sifford was the first African-American PGA member to successfully

break through racial barriers and compete professionally on the PGA

Tour. This came after the demise of the “Caucasian-only” PGA of

America membership clause. Sifford was inducted into the World Golf

Hall of Fame in 2004. The national recognition on behalf of Sifford origi-

nated from the PGA of America and was met with wide-ranging support

from 64 Members of Congress, golf's leading governing bodies, national

diversity-focused organizations and renowned sports figures. Among

those lending their support to the effort were the PGA TOUR, United

States Golf Association, World Golf Foundation and notable athletes

that included Tiger Woods, Jim Brown, Alonzo Mourning and Bill Rus-

sell. Thanks Charlie Sifford!

Click here to read more about Sifford’s Medal of Freedom

D r . C h a r l e s l S i f f o r d r e c e i v e s

p r e s i d e n t i a l m e d a l o f f r e e d o m

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Continued from pg. 1 ….Esposito won the 2014 Senior PGA Professional National Championship by four

strokes with a final score of –16 (272). The only other PGA Professional from New Jersey to win this event

was Bill Britton in 2009. With this win, Esposito earns a spot in the 76th Senior PGA Championship presented

by KitchenAid, May 21-24, 2015, at French Lick (Indiana) Resort!

Following his win at the Senior PNC, Esposito trav-

eled to Panther Lake Golf Club in Winter Garden,

Florida to participate in qualifying for the 2015

Champions Tour season. He earned an exemption

into this year’s qualifying following his 5th place fin-

ish in the 2013 Senior PGA Professional National

Championship. Fresh off his win at the 2014 Senior

PNC, Esposito had a strong start in Qualifying

School and sat in a tie for 7th place after his first

round, 71. He stayed in the hunt with a 68 in his

second round but made a run during his third round,

finishing with a 67 and a three stroke lead. Despite a

few competitors making strong charges on the final

day, Esposito stayed steady and shot a cool 71 on his

way to a four shot victory in Champions Tour Quali-

fying School. Esposito earned himself a full exemp-

tion onto the 2015 Champions Tour. It is sure to be

an exciting 2015 season for the New Jersey PGA and

we look forward to watching Esposito continue his

reign as a regular on the Champions Tour!

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Congratulations to the 2014 Special Award Recipients

Golf Professional of the Year - Andy Brock (Metuchen Golf & Country Club)

Teacher of the Year - Mike Adams (Hamilton Farm Golf Club)

Youth Player Development Award - Bill Castner (Plainfield West 9)

Bill Strausbaugh Award - Joe Kelly (Mendham Golf & Tennis Club)

Horton Smith Award - Keith Stewart (Springdale Golf Club)

Player Development Award - Kevin Beirne (Eagle Ridge Golf Club)

Patriot Award - Tom Flatt (Apple Ridge Country Club)

Private Merchandiser of the Year - Mike Strlekar (Montclair Golf Club)

Public Merchandiser of the Year - Joe Febonio (Royce Brook Golf Club)

Assistant Professional of the Year - Robin Curtis (Mountain Ridge Country Club)

Club of the Year - Baltusrol Golf Club

Salesman of the Year - Rick Hartigan (TaylorMade)

2014 National Merchandiser of the Year

George Ancuta (Knoll Golf Club)

2014 Players of the Year

Assistant Player of the Year - Pat Fillian (Canoe Brook Country Club)

Senior Player of the Year - Frank Esposito (Brooklake Country Club)

Player of the Year - Brett Jones (Mountain Ridge Country Club)

2014 NJPGA/NJSGA Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Russell Helwig (Essex Fells Country Club)

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Click here to view invitation &

registration form

Friday December 12, 2014

Spring Brook Country Club

Morristown, New Jersey

7:00pm - 10:00pm

Sponsored by Lincoln Motor Company