YOUTH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD: Jon DePriest
The 2019 Gateway PGA Youth Player Development Award winner is Jon DePriest. The Gateway PGA Junior Golf Leader Award recognizes the PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf and who reflects the ideals of those who work with youth.
Jon DePriest has been the PGA Director of Golf at Sunset Hills Country Club since 1999 and has been affiliated with the PGA since 1980. He was elected into membership of the PGA of America in 1984. Prior to joining Sunset Hills, Jon was the Head Golf Professional at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville, TN as well as the GM/ Director of Golf for the Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton, IL, The Presidio in San Francisco, CA, and The Country Club of Paducah in Paducah, KY. The Junior Program at Sunset Hills, with over 150 students participating, reflects Jon’s commitment to the future of golf in the area.
The Sunset Hills Country Club junior program includes all ages and skill levels, from the 6 & under Tiny Tour groups, to the free clinics held for Edwardsville area high school teams. Jon also sponsored and conducted weekly clinics for the first ever PGA Jr. League program at Carlyle Lake Golf Course in Clinton County, IL, attracting 66 new juniors to the 9-hole facility. Jon has been a major supporter of junior golf and growing the game throughout his 45+ years working in the golf industry.
He was the recipient of the Gateway PGA Junior Golf Leader Award in 1994. Most recently, Jon has served as the Host PGA Professional for many high school & junior golf events.