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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2025
The Gulf States PGA Selects 2025 Section and Chapter Award Winners
PGA of America Golf Professional Mike Raby headlines the Class of 2025 Gulf States PGA Award honorees. In all, 17 Award recipients will be recognized at the 2025 Awards Gala to be held on Sunday, December 7th at Reunion Golf & Country Club in Madison, MS. Recipients, their families and friends, and fellow PGA professionals are invited to join us for what promises to be a special evening.
“Our 2025 Gulf States PGA Award recipients have dedicated their lives to helping countless individuals enjoy this game we all love, and they do it exceptionally well,” said Section President Jake Narro. "Each one of them stands out amongst their peers, and we are proud to be able to recognize them in this way."
In addition to our Award recipients, that evening at Reunion Golf & Country Club, we will also recognize our three Playing Professional of the Year winners, including our Gulf States PGA Player of the Year, Senior Player of the Year, and Assistant Player of the Year.
In recognition of his exemplary role as a PGA member, Mike Raby, the Director of Golf at BREC Golf, has been chosen as the 2025 Gulf States PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor paid to a Gulf States PGA professional.
In response to being notified of his award, Mike said, “I am deeply honored to be named the 2025 Gulf States PGA Professional of the Year, and I am truly grateful for this recognition. This award reflects the support I’ve received from my family, colleagues, employees, and the Gulf States PGA community, who continue to inspire me every day. I look forward to continuing to promote the game of golf and serve golfers and fellow professionals with dedication and passion.”
Stuart Lambert, PGA, of Bayou Oaks at City Park, was named the recipient of the Gulf States PGA Patriot Award. This award is presented to a PGA professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
Chad Darby, PGA, Director of Instruction at David Toms 265 Academy, has earned his first Gulf States PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Award. This award recognizes the recipient’s exceptional teaching ability and dedication to teaching the game.
In recognition of his continued efforts to grow the game of golf at the youth level, Drew Belt, PGA, Director of Instruction at Tupelo (MS) Country Club, has been awarded the 2025 Gulf States PGA Youth Player Development Award. This award acknowledges the recipient’s passion to promote the game by sharing knowledge and skills with today’s youth, benefiting the future of golf in the Section.
Marie Gateley, PGA, Director of Golf at The Country Club of Louisiana, has been chosen as this year’s Gulf States PGA Professional Development Award winner, acknowledging her commitment to furthering the education of fellow professionals.
JT Crawford, PGA, Head Golf Professional at New Orleans Country Club, has been selected as the Gulf States PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner in recognition of his leadership and valued involvement with the community and assisting fellow professionals.
Ashley Rogers, PGA, Assistant Professional at New Orleans Country Club, has displayed exemplary leadership as an assistant professional and continues to serve as an outstanding representation of her class, earning her the title of Gulf States PGA Assistant Professional of the Year.
The Merchandisers of the Year are selected based on their skills in the promotion of golf, including merchandising ability and technique, inventory levels and turn rate, shop display, and attention to detail.
Nathan Barrow, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Querbes Park Golf Course in Shreveport, LA, has been named Gulf States PGA Merchandiser of the Year in the Public category.
Zach Tate, PGA, Director of Golf at Starkville (MS) Country Club has earned the distinction of Gulf States PGA Merchandiser of the Year in the Private Category.
Scott Davey, PGA, Director of Golf at Contraband Bayou Golf Club in Lake Charles, LA, has earned the Gulf States PGA Merchandiser of the Year in the Resort category.
Devin Thomas, PGA, General Manager at Ellendale Country Club in Houma, LA, has been named the Gulf States PGA Player Development Award winner. This award honors his extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development.
Leading the class of 2025 award winners in the Louisiana Chapter is Golf Professional of the Year Drew Goff, PGA, Director of Golf at Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans, LA. “I am truly honored to receive the Louisiana Golf Professional of the Year Award. To be recognized by my fellow golf professionals, who I know work tirelessly at their respective facilities, makes this recognition especially meaningful. It is no secret how much dedication and passion go into our profession, and it is an honor just to be nominated alongside so many deserving peers. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Special Awards Committee for this honor.”
Louisiana Chapter Assistant of the Year has been awarded to Rantz Bourgeois, PGA Associate, Assistant Professional at The Country Club of Louisiana.
Zach Tate, PGA Director of Golf at Starkville (MS) Country Club, has been awarded the Mississippi Chapter Golf Professional of the Year Award. Zach remarked, “I am truly honored to be named the 2025 Mississippi Chapter Golf Professional of the Year. This award would not be possible without the exceptional staff and Board of Directors here at Starkville Country Club, who work alongside a great membership, and the support I receive from my wife, Mary Elizabeth. I am looking forward to serving our members for many years to come.”
Representing the Mississippi Chapter Assistant of the Year category is this year’s award winner, Benj Bostic, PGA Associate, Assistant Professional at the Shell Landing Golf Club in Gautier, MS.
Two special Chapter awards are set aside to honor individuals who tirelessly and unselfishly work to support the game of golf.
The Louisiana Chapter has chosen Craig Gibson of Mandeville as the recipient of the Barbato-Thomas Award. This award is named after Mike Barbato and Henry Thomas who both played a major role in the birth and development of the Gulf States Section. The award is presented to individuals in recognition of those who have unselfishly served and supported the game of golf and the PGA professional. Craig has been apart of the Section since 1998 serving as an Assistant Professional at Beau Chene Country Club & Money Hill Golf & Country and Head Golf Professional at Beau Chene Country Club. For the past 13 years, he has worked as a sales representative within our Section, and during that time, he has also sponsored multiple Section events. He said, “Humbled to have been nominated, never-mind being honored with this distinguished award. Blessed to work alongside the best PGA Professionals in the business.”
The Mississippi Chapter Carpenter-Lindsay Award was named for James Ray Carpenter and Ken Lindsay, both of whom served as PGA of America Presidents and have given so much to the Association. This year’s recipient is Dean Tennille, of PING Golf. “Feel truly honored to be considered in the same breath of two such great men and ambassadors of our game. I am also proud to be selected by my Mississippi brethren as my years covering the Gulf States Section are some of my fondest memories. ”
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the Gulf States PGA Special Awards Ceremony to be held on December 7th at Reunion Golf & Country Club in Madison.
The Gulf States PGA Awards Committee consists of past award winners, Chapter officers, and a select group of PGA At-large appointees.
About the Gulf States PGA Section
The Gulf States Section, Professional Golfers’ Association of America, is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation, and enjoyment in the game of golf; establish and maintain professional standards of practice and enhance the well-being of golf professionals.
Written By:
Andrew Lewis
(504) 250-8838
alewis@pgahq.com