In a testament to the talent and dedication of its members, the Indiana Section PGA proudly announces that three of its esteemed professionals have been recognized as recipients of the distinguished 2024 PGA of America Awards. Undoubtedly, the recognition bestowed upon Tony Pancake, Robert Koontz, and Crystal Morse comes without a surprise. These awards, presented annually, acknowledge individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, moral character, and unwavering commitment to the game of golf. A perfect summary of all three Indiana PGA professionals. Let’s take a closer look at their remarkable achievements and celebrate the honor that they have brought to the Indiana PGA Section.
Tony Pancake, PGA – PGA of America Professional of the Year, Crooked Stick Golf Club – Carmel, Indiana
Tony Pancake, PGA, the Director of Golf at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., is the recipient of the 2024 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Award. This is the highest annual honor given to a PGA of America Golf Professional, which is awarded for leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf. A PGA of America Member for 36 years, Pancake has helped steer Crooked Stick’s efforts on the national and international stage since 2003, as the facility played host to several championship events, highlighted by the 2005 Solheim Cup, 2007 USGA Women’s Amateur, 2009 U.S. Senior Open and the 2012 and 2016 BMW Championships. The Club will host the U.S. Senior Open Championship in 2028. A native of Seymour, Ind., Pancake attended the University of Alabama on a golf scholarship and earned an accounting degree. He served for nine years as PGA of America Head Professional at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., which hosted the 1996 PGA Championship. He then worked at Hurstborne Country Club in Louisville, before being named Head Professional at Baltimore (Md.) Country Club in 2002. Pancake just finished his 20th season at Crooked Stick, serving as Head Golf Professional from 2004-2009 and as Director of Golf & Club Operations since 2010. Pancake has served the PGA of America more than 30 years at both the Section and National Levels, including being named to the PGA of America Board of Directors in 2018. Through his career, he has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including the Kentucky PGA Section’s PGA Golf Professional of Year in 1992 and the Indiana PGA Section’s PGA Golf Professional of Year in 2009 and 2019. Pancake is one of Golf Digest’s top 10 Teachers in Indiana. He is also an accomplished player, having qualified for four Section Challenge Cup teams, was a quarterfinalist in the Section Match Play Championship, qualified for a PGA Professional Championship and was the winner of the 2015 Indiana Senior Open Championship. Tony and his wife Libby have been married for 36 years. They have four children and five grandchildren.
“To me, Tony is the epitome of what a PGA Professional should be. He’s involved in every facet of the club operations, is active with Indiana Golf, is active in his community and always finds time for his family. He is proof that you can have a balanced life and be very successful” said Indiana Golf Executive Director, Mike David.
ROBERT KOONTZ, PGA – PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Category – Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort – French Lick, Indiana
Robert Koontz, PGA, Head Professional at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind., and member of the Indiana PGA Section, is the recipient of the 2024 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award – Resort Category. This prestigious award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals who excel in business and merchandising for the promotion of golf. A two-time Indiana PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year – Resort (2017, 2023), Koontz has worked at French Lick Resort since 2016. He served as the Head Professional of the Donald Ross course until 2021, when he received his current position as Head Professional of the Pete dye Course. In addition to this role, Koontz is the Assistant Director of Golf at French Lick Resort and the Director of Golf Merchandise at all three venues of the resort. The merchandising philosophy that Koontz lives by is to create new opportunities through clean, neat displays filled with a well-planned variety of branded products while maintaining the business operations and margins required for a successful golf shop. To maintain a strong grasp on merchandising in the golf industry, Koontz is focused on studying the retail world, researching lifestyle trends, watching for social trends, building partnerships and learning from fellow PGA of America Golf Professionals. These actions, along with analyzing the sales data, create an on-hand supply of high demand product that produces Koontz’s successful golf shops.
Mike David notes “Rob has done a tremendous job since coming to French Lick’s Pete Dye Course. He is tremendously dedicated to his facility and his profession.”
CRYSTAL MORSE, PGA – PGA of America Player Development Award – The Legends Golf Club – Franklin, Indiana
Crystal Morse, a 15-year PGA of America Member in the Indiana PGA Section, and Head PGA Professional at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., is the 2023 PGA Player Development Award recipient. This honor bestows special recognition to a PGA of America Golf Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. A native of Greenwood, Ind., and a former standout junior golfer, Morse went on to play at Western Kentucky University, where she was named to the All-Sunbelt Conference team and served as captain of the WKU team her junior and senior years. Upon graduation in 2003, she spent two seasons as an Assistant Professional at The Legends, before moving to Palm Desert, Calif., where she earned her PGA of America Membership and spent nine seasons as the PGA Assistant Professional at The Lakes Country Club, a 36-hole private club. She then moved on to The Club at Morningside, in Rancho Mirage, CA., where she became the lead teaching instructor. She returned to The Legends in 2017 as the Director Player Development and then quickly became the Head PGA Professional for Ted Bishop, PGA, General Manager and 38th President of the PGA of America. Today, in addition to her position at The Legends, Morse serves as Co-Head Coach of the Franklin Boys and Girls High School Golf Teams and is co-owner of the Morse Golf Academy at The Legends with her husband Jim, a fellow PGA of America Golf Professional, where they teach over 1,500 private lessons per year. Morse runs one of the top PGA Jr. Leagues in the Section, being awarded the PGA Jr. League Gamechanger Award in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. She also runs First Tee Junior programs, is an LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site Director, organizes “Adult Get Golf Ready Programs” and a summer PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Program for Military Veterans. A longstanding, dedicated PGA of America Member, Morse has served on the Indiana PGA Board of Directors, currently serves on the Indiana Section Player Development Committee and has been a 2-time recipient of the Indiana Section Youth Player Development Award (2019 and 2020).
“Crystal understands that even though the game of golf is riding a high right now we still need to focus on where the future golfers are coming from. She is not afraid to try new programs and is truly an innovator” says Mike David.
Amidst the plethora of exceptional PGA Professionals nationwide, the fact that Indiana has produced three national award winners in a single year is nothing short of amazing. It serves as a genuine testament to the exceptional contributions of these three recipients, highlighting their continuous dedication to their facilities and the overarching passion for the game of golf.