ORLANDO, FL (Jan. 26, 2022) – Gary D’Amato of Wisconsin.Golf took First-Place honors in three categories and won a single Outstanding Achiever award to lead the way in the 28th Annual ING Media Awards program. Results in 13 categories were announced Wednesday at the PGA Merchandise Show.
The International Network of Golf, a non-profit, media-based networking organization, conducts the awards program for its members. ING membership is open to anyone in the golf industry and media. Nearly four-dozen First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference. Media Awards’ sponsors this year were Bridgestone Golf, CertiFresh Cigar, PGA Golf Exhibitions Towel Tag and Zero Friction Golf.
D’Amato won with two articles that appeared in Wisconsin.Golf, and another that was published in Golftime Midwest magazine. The latter was tops in the Travel Writing Category and was titled “Wild At Heart,” a story about golf in Michigan. The other two first-place finishes were in the Competition Writing (“Thumbs Up Phil The Thrill”) and in the Equipment/Apparel Writing Category (“I Put A Few Generations Of My Drivers To The Test”).
Gary Van Sickle of SI.com/Morning Read had the most individual awards, taking one First-Place finish in the Opinion/Editorial Writing Category, and four Outstanding Achiever honors.
Northern California Golf Association News was selected the winner in the Publications Category with its Fall Issue. Top Radio Show for the second straight year went to Ann Liguori’s Talking Golf With Ann Liguori, WFAN, New York for her “August 29” Show. Dave Lockhart’s Golf 360 won in the TV Show Category with the “Summer Special” Show.
An independent panel of three judges in each category determines First-Place Winners and Outstanding Achievers. Judges use a point system with several criteria. Scoring is done by judges when possible without knowledge of the person responsible for the work, or of the other judges in the category. The number of Outstanding Achievers in a category is determined by total entries and scoring range in the category.
A category chairperson is responsible for securing the three judges. Media Awards Committee chair is Cody Law of Citywide Golf Solutions.
For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.
Results by category in the 2021 ING Media Awards
BUSINESS WRITING 1st Place: John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“A History Of Gambling In Golf”). Outstanding Achievers: Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“College Golfers Examine NIL Options”); Sally J. Sportsman, Golf Business Magazine (“PGA National Resort and Spa – Leading by Example“); Ed Travis, Golfing Magazine New York (“The PGA Show’s Uncertain Future”).
COMPETITION WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“Thumbs Up Phil The Thrill!”) Outstanding Achievers: Bill Fields, The Albatross (“Two Sides Of The Ryder Cup”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“Matsuyama Takes A Bow”); Len Ziehm, Chicago Daily Herald (“U.S. Dominates”).
EQUIPMENT & APPAREL WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“I Put A Few Generations Of My Drivers To The Test”) Outstanding Achievers: Bill Fields, The Memorial Tournament Magazine (“Pondering The Putter”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read Equipment Insider (“Cobra Putter Brings 3D Printing To Life”).
FEATURE WRITING 1st Place: David Weiss, FORE Magazine (“The Penmar: An Oscar For Food”). Outstanding Achievers: Kathy Bissell, ProGolfNow.com (“Did The Saw Unlock Morikawa’s Putting Genius?”); Tom Mackin, USGA Golf Journal (“Desert Pioneers”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Return Of The Lido”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“No, You Don’t Putt Like A Tour Pro”).
INTERNET VIDEO 1st Place: Steve Kashul, The Golf Scene (“Medinah Country Club”) Outstanding Achiever: Helen Farrelly, Met Golf Association (“The Road To The Majors: U.S. Senior Women’s Open”).
OPINION/EDITORIAL 1st Place: Gary Van Sickle, Arizona Golf Insider (“Thanks, Tiger, For Everything”). Outstanding Achievers: Tom Bedell, Golf Oklahoma (“Heed Your Elders, You Whippersnappers”); Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“But For The Grace Of God”); Tina Mickelson, FORE Magazine, (“First Cut: One For The Aged”); Jeff Neuman, The Met Golfer (“The Best (Original) Intentions”);
PODCAST 1st Place: Ken MacLeod, GolfOklahoma.org (“Ryder Cup With Major Ed”). Outstanding Achievers: Frank LaRosa, People Who Play The Game (“David Feherty”); Rory Spears/Len Ziehm, Ziehm & Spears On Golf (“The Saving Of The John Deere Classic”).
PROFILE WRITING 1st Place: John Fischer, Morning Read (“A Man For All Seasons”). Outstanding Achievers: Farrell Evans, The Met Golfer (“Stroke Saver”); Mike McCallister, NCGA Golf Magazine (“Growing Up Bryson”); Rory Spears, Ryder Cup Championship Program (“Making A Splash – Host Professional Dirk Willis”); Gary Van Sickle, SI.com (“Steve Stricker May Be The Perfect Captain”).
PUBLICATIONS 1st Place: NCGA Golf, Fall Issue (Adam Schupak, Editor). Outstanding Achievers: FORE Magazine, Spring Issue (Jonathan Coe, Managing Editor); Golf Oklahoma, April/May Issue (Ken MacLeod, Publishers); The Met Golfer, June/July Issue (Jeff Neuman, Editor).
RADIO SEGMENT 1st Place: Rich Styles, Back 9 Boys Golf Show, ESPN Coastal (“Jack Nicklaus II Interview”) Outstanding Achievers: Holly Geoghegan, Golf Insiders (“Peter Kostis Interview”); Frank LaRosa, Golf To Go, KHTK Sacramento (“A Conversation With Dottie Pepper”)
RADIO SHOW 1st Place: Ann Liguori, Talking Golf With Ann Liguori, WFAN, New York (“August 29 Show”). Outstanding Achievers: Frank LaRosa, Golf To Go, KHTK Sacramento (“September 2 Show”); Rory Spears, Golfers On Golf, WCPT AM Chicago (“ September 18 Show”).
TELEVISION SHOW 1st Place: Dave Lockhart, Golf360 (“Summer Special Show”). Outstanding Achiever: Tony Leodora, Traveling Golfer, {“Travel Boom Show”).
TRAVEL WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato; Golftime Midwest Magazine (“Wild At Heart”). Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, Links Magazine (“Your Own Public Idaho”); Tony Leodora, Golfstyles Magazine (“Travel Boom”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Kohler Resort Keeps Moving Forward, Predictably”).
The International Network of Golf, a non-profit, media-based networking organization, conducts the awards program for its members. ING membership is open to anyone in the golf industry and media. Nearly four-dozen First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference. Media Awards’ sponsors this year were Bridgestone Golf, CertiFresh Cigar, PGA Golf Exhibitions Towel Tag and Zero Friction Golf.
D’Amato won with two articles that appeared in Wisconsin.Golf, and another that was published in Golftime Midwest magazine. The latter was tops in the Travel Writing Category and was titled “Wild At Heart,” a story about golf in Michigan. The other two first-place finishes were in the Competition Writing (“Thumbs Up Phil The Thrill”) and in the Equipment/Apparel Writing Category (“I Put A Few Generations Of My Drivers To The Test”).
Gary Van Sickle of SI.com/Morning Read had the most individual awards, taking one First-Place finish in the Opinion/Editorial Writing Category, and four Outstanding Achiever honors.
Northern California Golf Association News was selected the winner in the Publications Category with its Fall Issue. Top Radio Show for the second straight year went to Ann Liguori’s Talking Golf With Ann Liguori, WFAN, New York for her “August 29” Show. Dave Lockhart’s Golf 360 won in the TV Show Category with the “Summer Special” Show.
An independent panel of three judges in each category determines First-Place Winners and Outstanding Achievers. Judges use a point system with several criteria. Scoring is done by judges when possible without knowledge of the person responsible for the work, or of the other judges in the category. The number of Outstanding Achievers in a category is determined by total entries and scoring range in the category.
A category chairperson is responsible for securing the three judges. Media Awards Committee chair is Cody Law of Citywide Golf Solutions.
For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.
Results by category in the 2021 ING Media Awards
BUSINESS WRITING 1st Place: John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“A History Of Gambling In Golf”). Outstanding Achievers: Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“College Golfers Examine NIL Options”); Sally J. Sportsman, Golf Business Magazine (“PGA National Resort and Spa – Leading by Example“); Ed Travis, Golfing Magazine New York (“The PGA Show’s Uncertain Future”).
COMPETITION WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“Thumbs Up Phil The Thrill!”) Outstanding Achievers: Bill Fields, The Albatross (“Two Sides Of The Ryder Cup”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“Matsuyama Takes A Bow”); Len Ziehm, Chicago Daily Herald (“U.S. Dominates”).
EQUIPMENT & APPAREL WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“I Put A Few Generations Of My Drivers To The Test”) Outstanding Achievers: Bill Fields, The Memorial Tournament Magazine (“Pondering The Putter”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read Equipment Insider (“Cobra Putter Brings 3D Printing To Life”).
FEATURE WRITING 1st Place: David Weiss, FORE Magazine (“The Penmar: An Oscar For Food”). Outstanding Achievers: Kathy Bissell, ProGolfNow.com (“Did The Saw Unlock Morikawa’s Putting Genius?”); Tom Mackin, USGA Golf Journal (“Desert Pioneers”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Return Of The Lido”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“No, You Don’t Putt Like A Tour Pro”).
INTERNET VIDEO 1st Place: Steve Kashul, The Golf Scene (“Medinah Country Club”) Outstanding Achiever: Helen Farrelly, Met Golf Association (“The Road To The Majors: U.S. Senior Women’s Open”).
OPINION/EDITORIAL 1st Place: Gary Van Sickle, Arizona Golf Insider (“Thanks, Tiger, For Everything”). Outstanding Achievers: Tom Bedell, Golf Oklahoma (“Heed Your Elders, You Whippersnappers”); Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.Golf (“But For The Grace Of God”); Tina Mickelson, FORE Magazine, (“First Cut: One For The Aged”); Jeff Neuman, The Met Golfer (“The Best (Original) Intentions”);
PODCAST 1st Place: Ken MacLeod, GolfOklahoma.org (“Ryder Cup With Major Ed”). Outstanding Achievers: Frank LaRosa, People Who Play The Game (“David Feherty”); Rory Spears/Len Ziehm, Ziehm & Spears On Golf (“The Saving Of The John Deere Classic”).
PROFILE WRITING 1st Place: John Fischer, Morning Read (“A Man For All Seasons”). Outstanding Achievers: Farrell Evans, The Met Golfer (“Stroke Saver”); Mike McCallister, NCGA Golf Magazine (“Growing Up Bryson”); Rory Spears, Ryder Cup Championship Program (“Making A Splash – Host Professional Dirk Willis”); Gary Van Sickle, SI.com (“Steve Stricker May Be The Perfect Captain”).
PUBLICATIONS 1st Place: NCGA Golf, Fall Issue (Adam Schupak, Editor). Outstanding Achievers: FORE Magazine, Spring Issue (Jonathan Coe, Managing Editor); Golf Oklahoma, April/May Issue (Ken MacLeod, Publishers); The Met Golfer, June/July Issue (Jeff Neuman, Editor).
RADIO SEGMENT 1st Place: Rich Styles, Back 9 Boys Golf Show, ESPN Coastal (“Jack Nicklaus II Interview”) Outstanding Achievers: Holly Geoghegan, Golf Insiders (“Peter Kostis Interview”); Frank LaRosa, Golf To Go, KHTK Sacramento (“A Conversation With Dottie Pepper”)
RADIO SHOW 1st Place: Ann Liguori, Talking Golf With Ann Liguori, WFAN, New York (“August 29 Show”). Outstanding Achievers: Frank LaRosa, Golf To Go, KHTK Sacramento (“September 2 Show”); Rory Spears, Golfers On Golf, WCPT AM Chicago (“ September 18 Show”).
TELEVISION SHOW 1st Place: Dave Lockhart, Golf360 (“Summer Special Show”). Outstanding Achiever: Tony Leodora, Traveling Golfer, {“Travel Boom Show”).
TRAVEL WRITING 1st Place: Gary D’Amato; Golftime Midwest Magazine (“Wild At Heart”). Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, Links Magazine (“Your Own Public Idaho”); Tony Leodora, Golfstyles Magazine (“Travel Boom”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Kohler Resort Keeps Moving Forward, Predictably”).
