'Highest honor': Santa Ana's Gutierrez named Sun Country PGA Professional of the Year
Oct. 4—It had already been a pretty good weekend for Derek Gutierrez. Santa Ana Golf Club's general manager and director of golf was settling down after a long day at the Ryder Cup hosted by Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome when he got an unexpected call from Sun Country PGA President Tom Yost.
"It was like 11 p.m. and I got the call from Tom," he said. "It was just a great surprise to hear I had won the award. It was an honor to be nominated but to find out I had won, it blew me away."
Gutierrez was named SCPGA's Professional of the Year, in recognition of his leadership ability, service to the section and overall performance as a golf professional. He previously won the award in 2014.
"To be recognized by my peers and the Sun Country PGA section, which is over 200 PGA members, and then more specifically by the section awards committee, it's the highest honor you can receive in this section," Gutierrez said. "It's a humbling experience for sure. There's so many talented golf professionals, men and women, in our section that are equally deserving.
"To win this award amongst those professionals means the world to me."
In addition to Gutierrez, a slew of other SCPGA professionals were recognized through the section's yearly awards. Sandia Golf Club's Ben Gasparich was named SCPGA's Assistant Professional of the Year while Dan Hon was honored for his "extraordinary" dedication to the game with the Marilea Bush Amateur of the Year award.
Dan Koesters, the former director of golf at New Mexico State University and former head coach at Washington State, was honored with SCPGA's Lifetime Achievement award in light of his contributions to the Sun Country section.
Pat Gavin, the director of PGA golf management at NMSU since 1993, was recognized with the Bill Strausbaugh award for professionals "who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community."
As for the award in Gavin's name? Jason Baldwin, the head professional at G & L Golf Inc. in Alamogordo, won the Pat Gavin Professional Development award in recognition of his assistance to professional education.
NMSU PGA golf management instructor and Red Hawk Golf Course director of instruction Henry Stetina was named the Jack Hardwick Teacher of the Year for his continued success as an instructor.
Gerome Espinoza, a teaching professional based out of Albuquerque, was honored with the Player Development award. Sandia Golf Course's general manager and director of golf Nicholas Knee took home Youth Player Development honors.
In merchandising, Ryan Zonski, the head golf professional at Paako Ridge, took home Public Merchandiser of the Year honors while Donald Yrene, the head professional at The Canyon Club, was named Private Merchandiser of the Year. Twin Warriors head professional Zach Hoefel rounded out the section by being named Resort Merchandiser of the Year honors.
Perry Kauppinen, a sales representative with TaylorMade, was named Salesperson of the Year in light of his exemplary customer service shown to Sun Country members.
