LITTLE ROCK — Several golfers from the Tri-Lakes Edition coverage area were honored Nov. 1 at the Arkansas State Golf Association’s season-ending awards banquet at the Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.
The Hot Springs Country Club was well represented, with Barry Howard, general manager and director of golf, named PGA Chapter Professional of the Year; Philip Holley, head professional, PGA Chapter Player of the Year; Pat Elliott, Senior Women’s Amateur Player of the Year; and Charlie Angel, Men’s Masters Player of the Year.
“We’re just pretty fortunate,” Howard said. “We’re lucky, and good things happen to us.”
The other local player honored was Rhonda Haynes of Hot Springs Village, who was named Women’s Masters Player of the Year.
Howard’s award was based on overall performance — service to the chapter and section and leadership, said Jay Fox, executive director of the ASGA.
“Anytime that you are honored by your peers with an award, it is very humbling,” Howard said. “There are so many good golf pros in Arkansas who are just as deserving. I hope to represent them and my club to the best of my ability.
“Without the staff and membership that we have at the Hot Springs Country Club, I would not be able to do the things that I have been able to accomplish.”
Elliott topped the senior women’s standings with 362.5 points, better than runner-up Pam Evans of Maumelle, who earned 315. Elliott won three tournaments (ASGA Women’s Scramble, ASGA/AWGA Women’s Designated and ASGA/AWGA Women’s Four-ball), finished third at the ASGA/AWGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship, tied for fourth at the ASWGA Championship and finished fifth in the ASGA/AWGA NWA Championship.
Angel earned 960 points in the men’s masters race. Glen Talbert of Sheridan finished runner-up with 690.
Angel was consistent, finishing among the top four in all 11 tournaments he played. He won the Hot Springs Country Club Stroke Play and Rebsamen Park Stroke/LR City Championship; finished second in the Harbor Oaks Stroke Play, Eagle Hill Stroke Play, Arkansas Amateur Championship, Course at Eagle Mountain Stroke Play, Pine Bluff Country Club Stroke Play, Sherwood Amateur and ASGA Match Play; third in the Fourth of July Championship; and fourth in the Maumelle Classic.
The secret to his success, Angel said, was being the young buck in his age division (70+). He will turn 71 this week.
“I started playing [the ASGA circuit] about four years ago, and I’ve played quite a few [tournaments] the past four years,” he said. “I was in the super-senior division, which at that time was 65 and up.”
Angel is retired from the engineering and construction business and has been a member of the Hot Springs Country Club for about four years.
“About all I do is play golf,” he said Tuesday, adding that he’d just come off the course.
Haynes’ win in the ASGA/AWGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship earned her the women’s masters (70+) title. She finished with 250 points, ahead of Catherine Walsh of Hot Springs and Candace Barker of Maumelle, who tied for second with 162.5.
Other amateur players of the year honored were Julie Oxendine of Russellville, women; Mackenzie Lee of North Little Rock, junior girls; Connor Gaunt of Cabot, junior boys; Trey Schaap of Maumelle, mid-senior; Tracy Harris of Little Rock, senior men; Bill Wrentz of Cabot, super-senior men; and Miles Smith of Little Rock, men’s amateur.
Joining the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame during the festivities were Dawn Darter of Sherwood, Chris Jenkins of Little Rock and Brent Winston of Sheridan.