ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 1, 2007) - The MGA Foundation enjoyed a highly successful 2006 season with tremendous expansion of First Tee facilities, record participation in the GOLFWORKS Student Intern Program and the continued success of the $5 million Capital Campaign. Now, the MGA is pleased to turn the spotlight on several of our outstanding GOLFWORKS interns who distinguished themselves on several fronts, proving once again that GOLFWORKS can change lives.

One of the initial goals of GOLFWORKS was to open up career choices to young people who previously had little or no exposure to these opportunities. Always, the hope was that some of these young people would pursue careers in the golf industry and one day become permanent members of the golf community. This why it is especially exciting to announce that Hermen “Trapper” Van Dunk (pictured left), GOLFWORKS Class of ’95, has been hired as the new head golf course superintendent at Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester, N.Y.

Hermen was part of the very first GOLFWORKS Intern Class in 1994, and began his internship with the grounds crew at The Tuxedo Club, in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. After two years in the GOLFWORKS program, he enrolled Penn State University, where he studied agronomy and turfgrass management. During college he worked summers at The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, N.Y., and upon graduation worked as an assistant superintendent at Rockaway River CC in New Jersey and at Manhattan Woods GC in West Nyack, N.Y. In 2004, he was hired as an assistant superintendent under Peter Dirollo at Leewood Golf Club and in January 2007 was offered the chance to take the top job. The MGA Foundation is extremely proud of Herman and wishes him continued success.

When Trapper hires his own assistants someday, he may have to look no further than the GOLFWORKS Program, which currently has three other graduates enrolled in Turf Management programs. Thomas Gurdak, Hamilton Lopes and Steven Lopena, all graduates of St. Raymond High School in the Bronx, are each currently enrolled in Turfgrass Degree Programs at their respective schools - Gurdak and Lopez at SUNY Cobleskill, and Lopena at SUNY Delhi.

Gurdak, a junior, worked as an intern under former superintendent Steve Renzetti at famed Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., for three summers. “My three years in the GOLFWORKS program helped me to decide what to study in college,” said Thomas. “And it also gave me a head start on other students in my class.” Since graduating from GOLFWORKS Thomas has served two summer internships as part of his studies. The summer of 2005 at The Woodmere Club on Long Island and at Hudson National Golf Club in Westchester in 2006. 

Steven Lopena followed Thomas into the GOLFWORKS Program at Quaker Ridge.  Having played on the same golf team at St. Raymond, he was generally aware of what to expect, but was not ready for just how hard the work can be. “I was so tired that first day,” said Steve. “I remember going home after work and sleeping for a couple of hours. I was just hoping every day was not going to be like that. We had to move soil from the nursery out to the course.” Under Renzetti’s guidance, Lopes was asked to perform more and more difficult tasks. By his second year Steven was mowing fairways and greens and learning about irrigation, equipment maintenance and chemical application. When his second season came to an end he had a talk with Renzetti, who encouraged him to look into the opportunities available in turfgrass studies and how they can lead to a lifelong career.

Lopes (pictured left) got his first exposure to golf as an intern at The First Tee of Metropolitan New York site at Mosholu Golf Course in The Bronx under Superintendent Eric Feldman.  Feldman immediately identified him as a conscientious young man with a good work ethic and an affinity for course work.  At Feldman’s urging, Lopes has not only decided to pursue this career path at SUNY Cobleskill, but has already secured an internship for 2007, working under Bethpage State Park superintendent Craig Currier. This special opportunity not only gives Lopes valuable hands-on experience at a major golf course operation, but will provide a unique look at the preparations involved in the planning and staging of a national championship, as Bethpage continues with preparations to host the 2009 U.S. Open. 

In addition to these four outstanding graduates we are pleased to recognize five current GOLFWORKS interns who are also participants in The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and who were recently designated as national First Tee Scholars. Carlos Frestan, Paul Giordano and Patricia Leung (bottom right) all from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx; Louise Lisboa from The First Tee at Fairchild Wheeler in Bridgeport, Conn.; and Marvin Phisitkraiyakorn of The First Tee of Nassau County at Eisenhower Park are among 45 young people nationwide who are recognized as exceptional students and representatives of The First Tee and its Core Values. This designation gives these students the opportunity to apply for 29 scholarships at colleges throughout the United States.

The MGA Foundation is proud of all its interns and would like to acknowledge the support it receives from the USGA, corporate partners and MGA Member Clubs.  In the coming years the Foundation will expand its efforts to introduce young people to the many opportunities and benefits of the game of golf.

For more information on all MGA Foundation initiatives, or to make a donation to the MGA Foundation, please log on to www.mgagolf.org.