Digger Smith Award Winners
Presented annually since 1991, the J.R. “Digger” Smith Award is given to a supporter who is devoted to the AJGA mission and purpose of developing young men and women through competitive junior golf. The award is named in honor of AJGA Chairman of the Board J.R. “Digger” Smith, who has dedicated himself to the AJGA and to junior golf for more than three decades.
2018: |
Chuck Strong, Tournament Chair at The Country Club of the South |
2017: |
James E. Nugent III, Founder / Publisher Global Golf Post / AJGA Board President |
2016: |
Rolex |
2015: |
Jim Ahern, Director of Player Development Administration, Acushnet Company |
2014: |
Joseph E. Quirk III, AJGA Board of Directors |
2013: |
Chris Dernick, HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods Brett Snortland, HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods |
2012: |
Dr. Howard Foote, Tournament Chairman of Michigan event |
2011: |
Terry Finger, Tournament Chairman of Hilton Head event |
2010: |
Del Cochran, Thunderbird International Junior Mike Kennedy, Thunderbird International Junior |
2009: |
Pat Saunders, AJGA Board of Directors |
2008: |
John A. Solheim, Chairman & CEO of Karsten Manufacturing (PING) |
2007: |
Bruce Slovitt, Midwest Junior Players Championship |
2006: |
Gayle Champagne, President of AJGA Board of Directors |
2005: |
Dr. Jo Stegall, Burgett H. Mooney Rome Classic |
2004: |
Orrin Vincent, Edgewood Tahoe Junior Classic |
2003: |
Betsy Rawls, McDonalds Betsy Rawls Girls Championship Mary Carriker, Texas San Antonio Shootout |
2002: |
Michael C. Thompson, RTJ Golf Trail Junior Classic / President of the AJGA Board of Directors |
2001: |
Bill Haws, Compaq Junior Classic at English Turn |
2000: |
Jerry Clapp, Greater Greensboro Chrysler Junior |
1999: |
Steve Storm , Nabisco Mission Hills Junior |
1998: |
Bob Carter, Hargray Junior Classic at Indigo Run Barbara Lander, AJGA Tucker Anthony Junior / AJGA Board of Directors |
1997: |
Tom Cooksey, AJGA Bluegrass Junior Invitational |
1996: |
Don Miner, Lake Tahoe Junior Classic Stephen A. Hamblin , Executive Director, AJGA Coach George Hannon, University of Texas |
1995: |
Don Snortland, TaylorMade Woodlands Junior Classic Wally Uihlein, Chairman & CEO, Acushnet Company |
1994: |
Wayne Moore, Todd Moore Memorial Junior |
1993: |
Leslie Akers, AJGA French Lick Junior |
1992: |
Steve Braun, Great Lakes Buick Junior Jerry Cole, AJGA Board of Directors |
1991: |
John de Garmo, Darien, Conn. Tom Rupert, AJGA Bluegrass Junior Invitational |