RYE, N.Y. (December 4, 2024) — The Metropolitan Golf Association held its 127th Annual Meeting and Dinner on Wednesday at Westchester Country Club, celebrating the 2024 season, its players, staff, and volunteers and thanking its partners. The meeting portion of the evening was highlighted by the election of Ned Zachar of GlenArbor as the Association’s 68th President while Matthew Lowe, Ina Kim-Schaad, and Jeffrey R. Holzschuh were all honored as year-end award recipients during the dinner portion of the evening.
Related: Photos | Year-End Content
Alongside Zachar’s new election, Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol will serve as Vice President, Bryan Pendrick of Meadow Brook as treasurer, and Damon Wright of Winged Foot as secretary. Additionally, Laura Delin of Weekenders Women’s Golf Club, Arjun Murti of Canoe Brook, Kerrill O’Mahony of Nassau, and Kim-Schaad of Deepdale newly joined the MGA’s Board of Directors, while Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head was thanked for his service on the Board.
The dinner portion recognized MGA eClub – Long Island member Matthew Lowe as the 2024 MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year; Ina Kim-Schaad as Women’s Player of the Year; and Jeffery Holzschuh as the 2024 MGA Distinguished Service Award recipient.
During the meeting portion, MGA president Patrick Donnelly welcomed delegates, committee members, and guests. He delivered his final president’s report, highlighting the many ways golf provides a community and teaches important life lessons. He also honored the MGA for creating pathways for new communities to experience golf, such as through the MGA Foundation’s Adaptive Golf initiative that launched in 2024 and the GOLFWORKS student-intern program that celebrated its 30th anniversary. A video highlighted the occasion, showcasing young men and women who have benefited from the program.
Gregg Angelillo introduced Ned Zachar to give a 2024 champions report. While not present, Zachar honored Jack Chung of Greenwich, Conn., as recipient of the 2024 Junior Player of the Year Award, Presented by Callaway. Long time dedicated volunteer Charles Beach of New Jersey was honored with the 2024 Jerry Mahoney Award, which goes to the Rules and Competitions Committee’s Volunteer of the Year.
Attendees also heard from WNBA Commissioner and USGA Executive Committee member, Cathy Engelbert who spoke with MGA Director of Communications Helen Farrelly for a fireside chat to close out the meeting portion. Engelbert highlighted the power of women in sport, speaking on WNBA star Caitlin Clark and prominent golfer Nelly Korda as two women athletes leading the way.
After a cocktail hour, attendees headed into the dinner room to hear from the night’s award winners.
A video honored 2024 champions and showcased interviews with the winners.
Lowe was recognized with a video highlighting his MGA career that began when he was only thirteen years old competing in a USGA qualifier. Lowe thanked his family and girlfriend for their unwavering support in his golf career and also thanked his fellow teammates whom he played alongside in the French-American challenge this year.
Kim-Schaad was also honored with a video that recapped her fruitful career in Met Area golf as one of the most prominent women golfers. She thanked her family and friends for their support with her game.
Lastly, Jeffrey R. Holzschuh received a standing ovation as he accepted the 2024 Distinguished Service Award following an introduction from 2016 recipient and close friend Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sport. Holzschuh thanked the volunteers, staff, honored the players and expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he’s had to give back to golf through the years.
