Davies wins PGA Rookie Award

Yorkshire golfer Gareth Davies (above right) has capped a memorable year on and off the course by winning the Rookie of the Year at the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year awards.

The 37-year-old, based at Abbeydale Golf Club in Sheffield, earned the accolade after coming top of his peers in the first year of the three year PGA Foundation Degree.

In recognition of his achievement, he collected the Major John Bywaters Trophy and a cheque for £1,000 from Titleist brand director Matthew Johnson and Ryder Cup director Richard Hills, who was the guest of honour at the PGA Graduation Ceremony held at the University of Birmingham.

The trophy added to his list of prizes on his first year on the course having shown his prowess on the fairways and greens by winning the PGA Assistants’ Championship and the England & Wales PGA Inter County Championship with Yorkshire.

Davies, pictured above with Year Two top performer Sean Kay and Year Three winner Julie Otto, said: “I was pleasantly surprised when I got the letter from The PGA to find out I’d come top,” he said.

“I knew I’d done reasonably well in my exams and this is an unexpected reward for all the hard work. When I started I didn’t go in with the mind set of winning of the award, so I’m really pleased.

“I guess being a bit older I was focused in terms of what I achieve and get out of doing the PGA Foundation degree.

“To get this on top of the tournament wins makes it a great first year.”

Titleist's Johnson added: “Titleist has had a long standing commitment to PGA professionals, we realise and endorse that they play a key role in the development and growth of the game across all levels, and we are delighted to support the next generation of qualified professionals, we look forward to working with them and would like wish them well with their future careers.”

Find out more about a career in golf as a PGA Professional here.