IAGA Quick Hits | 2.23.26
Younkman 2025 LPGA Professional of the Year
From the Metropolitan Golf Association
The LPGA Professionals in late 2025 announced its Global Awards selections, recognizing outstanding contributions to the game of golf through teaching, professional service, coaching, and junior golf leadership. Megan Younkman, the chief operating officer and director of instruction at Golf Channel Academy with Kelley Brooke, was named Professional of the Year.
The award, established in 1980, is awarded annually to an LPGA Professionals member primarily engaged in a golf operation, golf association, or industry position, promoting the game through player development, growth of the game initiatives, and other golf-related activities.
Younkman moved to New York in 2019, bringing years of academy experience with her from Florida to work for good friend Kelley Brooke at Bethpage State Park. She now oversees the Golf Channel Academy with Kelley Brooke operations at Bethpage, Montauk Downs Golf Course, Harbor Links Golf Course, Merrick Golf Club, and Lido Golf Club.
“All those years of developing and running my own academies in Florida was teeing me up for something as big as this,” says Younkman, who became a Class A certified instructor in 2007.
How Lake Placid Club Helped Secure the First U.S. Winter Olympic Games
From the New York State Golf Association
The Intersection of Golf, Winter Sports, and the Olympics in New York State.
There are very few places where golf and the Olympic Games are connected by more than coincidence. The Lake Placid Club is one of those sacred grounds.
Here, golf courses don’t just sit near Olympic venues. They provided the foundation that made them possible.
As the 2026 Olympic Winter Games unfold on the global stage in Italy this month, we are reminded how one NYSGA Member Club offers a truly unique story steeped in the early beginnings of these international games. Here, golf and winter sport evolved together, on the same grounds, leaving a legacy that New York State golfers are still reminded of each season.
Byrd Looks Back: The Georgia Win That Sparked His Golf Journey
From the Georgia State Golf Association
For Marcus Byrd, a move to Georgia in the early 2010s helped shape his life and who he is now as a professional golfer chasing his dream.
Byrd made the journey from Maryland to the Peach State to help develop against tougher competition and take advantage of better weather throughout the year.
It didn’t take long for Byrd to make his mark in Georgia and open doors for college and gain confidence in his abilities. Byrd took home the 2013 Georgia Junior Championship at The Farm in Rocky Face by one shot with a three-day total of 215 (-1) not too long after moving to the Peach State.
“That was the first week in my life that I really realized I could compete at a really high level,” Byrd said. “There were a lot of really good players in that championship, and the golf course was set up perfect for me. I love that golf course. It was long and I was definitely one of the longer hitters, so it was an amazing place for me.
“Winning that championship opened the floodgates for me when it came to college recruiting. I didn’t really even know too much about playing golf in college or if I would even have the opportunity.”
MSGA Launches Junior Grant Program in Maryland & Washington, D.C.
From the Maryland State Golf Association
The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) is proud to launch the MSGA Junior Grant Program – a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to deliver impactful financial support to promising junior golfers throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. The new grant program launches in parallel with MSGA’s Team Maryland initiative, part of the United States Golf Association’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP).
How the Program Works
The MSGA will oversee all aspects of the grant program, including applications, reviews, and distributions, using a streamlined and accessible system designed to support junior golfers. Applications will be managed through Reviewr, a leading scholarship and grant management platform, while Thru Golf will provide support and collaborate on outreach to maximize impact.
The MSGA will award four grants of up to $5,000 each, with Thru Golf serving as a program sponsor, to help break down financial barriers and expand access to high-level playing and development opportunities through a simple, mission-driven grant process.
Selection Process and Timeline
Applications will be reviewed by the MSGA selection committee to ensure the process is mission-aligned, credible, and athlete-focused. The inaugural application period is open from February 5, 2026, to April 15, 2026, with grants to be awarded in May 2026. Eligibility requirements, detailed criteria, and application instructions can be found here: Junior Grant Program.