ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 10, 2007) - The Met PGA honored its 2006 award winners on Tuesday, April 10, at the45th Annual Metropolitan PGA Educational Forum at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, N.Y. Sponsored by Callaway Golf, the forum included the presentation of the Met PGA’s major awards and discussions by renowned golf instructors Stan Utley and David Wright. More than 100 PGA professionals from the Met Section were in attendance.

Golf instructor Stan Utley gave two presentations on putting and chipping at the seminar. Sports Illustrated has called Utley “the hottest instructor on the PGA Tour” and this is evident in his list of pupils, which includes Jay Haas, Darren Clarke and Peter Jacobsen. The second presentation was by David Wright of the “Wright Balance Program,” which focuses on swing mechanics as well as the emotional elements of the game. Wright has been honored by the Southern California PGA with the Teacher of the Year and Horton Smith Awards.

Among the 12 award winners honored on Tuesday was North Hempstead Country Club head professional Greg Hurd, who was named Golf Professional of the Year. Hurd has spent nearly 20 years at North Hempstead as head professional after arriving in 1988. In addition to his involvement with the Met PGA, Hurd, the 1993 recipient of the Horton Smith Award for educational contributions, was a member of the The First Tee of Metropolitan New York board of directors. He was president of The First Tee board when the area’s second facility at Eisenhower Park on Long Island was opened.

Ron Philo of Hudson National Golf Club was honored for his outstanding 2006 season with the Player of the Year Award. Philo put together one of the best seasons on record in the Met Section with five victories and a number of top-twenty finishes. He began his season with a top-five finish at the New York State PGA Championship and rode that momentum to victories at the PGA Professional National Championship, Westchester Open and Met PGA Championship. Philo also earned a spot in the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club.

Other award recipients include: Phil Laskawy of the accounting firm Ernst & Young (Sam Snead Award); Dave Carazo of Tuxedo (Bill Strausbaugh Award);Michael Breed of Sunningdale (Horton Smith Award); Carl Alexander of Purchase (Teacher of the Year); Kevin Morris of Westchester Hills (Junior Golf Leader Award); Jim Wahl of Whippoorwill (Merchandiser of the Year - Private);Keith Miller, formerly of Harbor Links, (Merchandiser of the Year - Public); Chris Caulfield of Doral (Merchandiser of the Year - Resort); Mike Wade of Eisenhower Park (President’s Plaque); John Hines of Fox Hill (Ely Callaway Award).

For more information on the award winners please visit the Met PGA Web site atwww.met.pga.com.