Four Empire State Pros Lead 2022 GGP All-Pro Team

January 26, 2022

JAMESVILLE, N.Y. -- Several golf professionals from around New York State earned honors from Global Golf Post's PGA of America All-Pro Team, including four who received first team recognition.

Related: GGP All-Pro Team Announcement

Danny Balin of Fresh Meadow Country Club (Lake Success), Rob Labritz of GlenArbor Golf Club (Bedford Hills), Kirk Stauffer of Chautauqua Golf Club (Chautauqua), and Mark Tucker of Cazenovia Country Club (Cazenovia) all were selected to the first team for their 2021 playing accomplishments.

Jason Caron of Mill River Club (Oyster Bay) and Jimmy Farrell of Hamlet Golf & Country Club (Commack) were selected to the Second Team.

A handful of others were recognized on the Honorable Mention list, including: Carl Alexander of The Golf Club at Purchase (Purchase), Tom Cooper of The Creek Club (Locust Valley), Reid Howey of Manhattan Woods Golf Club (West Nyack), Darrell Kestner of Deepdale Golf Club (Manhasset), and Craig Thomas of Metropolis Country Club (White Plains).

Dal Daily, who recently left Battenkill CC for Don Law Golf Academy at Hammock Creek (Florida), Eric Mabee of CC of Pittsfield (Mass.) of the Northeastern New York PGA Section, and Ron Philo, Jr of Victoria National GC (Indiana) who's a native of Scotia were all selected ot the Honorable Mention list as well.

77 players were recognized in all. Professionals have to be classified A-1, A-4 or A-13 to be considered for the honors, to recognize pros who perform all of the tasks that working at a golf course includes while mantaining their high level of play. Selections were made based on finishes in key national touranments during the 2021 season, as well as performance in section events and consideration of player of the year awards at the section level.

See Highlights For Each Player Below:

First Team

Danny Balin
Head Pro, Freash Meadow CC
- Top 10, PGA Professional Championship
- Metropolitan Section Player of the Year
- Winner, NYS Open

Rob Labritz
Director of Golf, GlenArbor GC
- Top 10, PGA Professional Championship
- Top 10, Senior PGA Professional Championship
- Winner, Metropolitan Section Championship

Kirk Stauffer
Director of Golf, Chautauqua GC
- Western NY Section Player of the Year
- Winner, National Senior Stroke Play Championship (Group 3)
- Top 5, Quarter Century Championship (Group 3)

Mark Tucker
Head Pro, Cazenovia CC
- Made Cut, PGA Professional Championship
- Made Cut, Senior PGA Professional Championship
- Central NY Section Senior Player of the Year

Second Team

Jason Caron
Head Pro, Mill River CC
- Made Cut, PGA Professional Championship
- Top 10, National Stroke Play Championship

Jimmy Farrell
Head Pro, Hamlet G&CC
- Top 10, Senior PGA Professional Championship

Honorable Mention

Carl Alexander
Director of Golf, GC of Purchase

Tom Cooper
Head Pro, The Creek

Reid Howey
Head Pro, Manhattan Woods GC

Darrell Kestner
Director of Golf, Deepdale GC

Craig Thomas
Head Pro, Metropolis CC