April 12, 2011– Former Tuxedo Golf Club head professional Dave Carazo, PGA Life Member, was honored as the recipient of the 2010 Professional of the Year Award at the 49th Annual Metropolitan PGA Educational Forum, presented by Nike Golf at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, N.Y.

Carazo, whose 45-year career includes serving as the head professional at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, N.Y., from 1981 through 2010, received this distinction thanks to his tremendous contributions to both Met Area and nationally based PGA functions. Through his leadership, Tuxedo became more involved in hosting local and regional events including the Met Open Championship, the inaugural Met Senior Open, MGA Ike Stroke Championship, Westchester Open and more.

In addition to his tireless pursuit of growing and improving the game in the Met area, Carazo emphasized his love of the game, the area, and the opportunities it has afforded him during a heartfelt and warmly received acceptance speech.

The day, which celebrated all of the Met PGA award winners from 2010 and served as the kickoff for the Met PGA’s 2011 season, also recognized Danny Balin of Burning Tree Country Club with the 2010 Player of the Year Award. Balin had a breakout 2010 campaign which included qualifying to play in the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits as well as making it to a playoff at the Met Open at Bethpage Black. 

The Sam Snead Award was given to Michael Hebron of Smithtown Landing Country Club. Hebron, who has been an acclaimed PGA Professional for more than 20 years, has a résumé filled with accomplishments and accolades including sponsoring one of the Long Island Golf Association’s premier amateur events and playing an instrumental role in many of the Junior Golf and First Tee initiatives in the Met Area.

Also honored at the forum were the recipients of honors from the National PGA of America: Westchester Country Club head professional John Kennedy (Horton Smith Award), Century Country Club head professional Nelson Long (Bill Strausbaugh Award), and the Metropolitan PGA Section (Herb Graffis Award).

Preceding the awards was an impressive educational talk by Sean Foley, renowned golf instructor of some of the game’s biggest stars including Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Sean O’Hair, Justin Rose and more. Foley went into great detail on his coaching philosophies which include a uniquely scientific approach to instruction. Michael Breed, Head Professional at Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. and host of “The Golf Fix” on the Golf Channel then moderated a Q & A session with Foley.  

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