January 16, 2024 - The PGA of BC is proud to recognize its 2023 Career & Professional Development Top 100, as determined by the Association’s Career & Professional Development Program (PDP) points race presented by Sunice & Bobby Jones.
The PDP points race acknowledges PGA of BC Professionals who make outstanding contributions to the Association, their communities, the province’s golf industry and, most importantly, themselves. The PDP provides an avenue to showcase and reward the diverse strengths of PGA of BC Professionals by crediting their participation in continuing education, the Association’s annual Buying Show and Awards Program, tournament competition and various forms of volunteerism.
"Sunice & Bobby Jones are extremely proud to sponsor this prestigious program. We congratulate the top-100 golf professionals who all demonstrated dedication and perseverance in 2023," said Steve Graham, BC Sales Representative for Sunice & Bobby Jones. "Service to our community and respect for the game of golf are important values to us, and we are thrilled to support a program which reflects those values."
The PGA of BC is proud to announce that Callum Ashby, Head Professional at Highland Pacific Golf, has topped the standings with a whopping 130 points to finish with a 19-point lead. This is Ashby’s first time topping the points race, an achievement he earned through his dedication to professional development, education, competition and service to the Association, his club and his community.
Chilliwack Golf Club Head Professional Ryan Tofani finished the year ranked second on the points list with an incredible 111 points. Copper Point Golf Club Executive Professional Brian Schaal rounded out the podium, finishing third with 109 points.
“Professional development is so important because it keeps you at the forefront of the industry. In a world that constantly evolves, habits change and we must adapt accordingly or we risk getting left behind. It has allowed me to connect and learn from the leaders in the industry and opened doors to collaborations and mentorships,” said Ashby.
“Advice I would give to others hoping to get more involved in professional development would be to seek out opportunities provided by the Association that align with your interests and career goals. Whether it’s attending events, workshops or seminars, approach these experiences with a different lens and look at others’ perspectives. It’s a great opportunity to not only learn from others' experiences but to share your own so we can learn from you too. We have some of the best people in the industry and everyone can learn from each other.”
New this season, the Association tracked an Assistants’ and a Rookies’ race. Ashby, who served as an Assistant Professional in 2023, also led the Assistants’ standings. Copper Point Golf Club’s Dennis Bradley (104 points) ended the season as Assistants’ runner-up, while Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club’s Chris Ward (97 points) finished in third place.
Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club’s Carson Spooner was the 2023 Rookies’ champion, earning 66 Professional Development points. Vancouver Golf Club’s Shania Remandaban (58 points) finished the year in second place, while Capilano Golf & Country Club’s Bradley Gagnon (55 points) placed third among all Rookies.
“Getting involved in Professional Development events was very beneficial for getting acquainted with the PGA of BC in my first year as a member. I made new connections within the industry, developed a better understanding of the PGA of BC, and learned new skills that will be beneficial towards my career,” said Spooner.
“For anyone looking to get more involved, I recommend signing up for anything you can. Whether it’s online events, the spring seminar, or tournaments, you can learn something from any event you attend. Volunteering is also a great way to get involved directly with the PGA of BC.”
Please click here to view the final standings from the 2023 season and to learn more about the Professional Development Program.
Thanks to the patronage of Sunice & Bobby Jones, the top-10 finishers on the points race will once again split a bursary purse of nearly $5,000, meant to provide financial opportunity and incentive to pursue additional education and professional-development undertakings in the future. We thank Sunice & Bobby Jones for their generous, ongoing support of the program.
For more information and for any media inquiries, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org.
