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Mill Creek MetroParks head golf professional Brian Tolnar wins PGA of America award

Mill Creek MetroParks head golf professional Brian Tolnar has been named the PGA Merchandiser of the Year — Public Category by the Professional Golfers Association of America. Tolnar, a member of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA since 2015, was recognized Wednesday during the opening ceremonies of the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. This is the sixth time a Northern Ohio Section member has been selected for one of PGA of America’s top awards, a news release states.

The Merchandiser of the Year Award recognizes PGA professionals who have excelled as business persons/merchandisers in the promotion of golf, according to the PGA’s website. A native of Hubbard, Tolnar returned to northeast Ohio in 2015 after a 12-year stay at two courses near Rochester, New York. He attended Youngstown State University and the PGA Professional Golf Management University program in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Tolnar oversees Mill Creek’s North and South courses, as well as an adjacent 18-hole, par-3 course. He is a three-time winner of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA’s Merchandiser of the Year Award. “Anytime you have the opportunity to win one of these prestigious awards, it’s a total honor, whether at the section level or especially the national level,” Tolnar said in the release. “It’s a career changing opportunity professionally and a game changer for our golf operation at the Mill Creek MetroParks.”

Read the original article at Mahoning Matters.

Mill Creeks Tolnar named PGA Merchandiser of the year -Its one of the PGA of America’s most prestigious award

Mill Creek MetroParks Head Golf Professional Brian Tolnar has been named the PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category by the Professional Golfers Association of America.

Tolnar, a member of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA since 2015, was recognized today during the opening ceremonies of the PGA Show in Orlando, Fla.

This marks the sixth time a NOPGA member has been selected for one of the PGA of America’s most prestigious awards. Tolnar becomes the second NOPGA member to earn the Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category Award, joining Bob Sprunk in 1982.

Mill Creek MetroParks is located in Boardman, Ohio and consists of two 18-hole championship courses designed by Donald Ross and an 18-hole, par-3 course located about five miles from Mill Creek’s two 18-hole facilities.

A native of Hubbard, Ohio, Tolnar returned to Northeastern Ohio in 2015 after a 12-year stay at two courses near Rochester, N.Y. He attended Youngstown State University and the PGA Professional Golf Management University program in Port St. Lucie.

Tolnar, 44, oversees Mill Creek’s North and South Championship courses, as well as an adjacent 18-hole Par-3 course. The club’s 900-square foot pro shop has drawn rave reviews for many years, reflective of Tolnar being a three-time winner (2016-2018-2020) of the NOPGA’s Merchandiser of the Year Award.

Tolnar learned of his award during a phone call from PGA President Jim Richardson. It was a call Tolnar never expected but a call he’ll never forget.

“When the call came in I was shocked and speechless,” he recalled. “It caught me off guard. Your heart starts pounding immediately. It took me two weeks of totally sleepless nights for it to finally register. Anytime you have the opportunity to win one of these prestigious awards it’s a total honor, whether at the Section level or especially the National level. It’s a career changing opportunity professionally and a game changer for our golf operation at the Mill Creek MetroParks.”

Other NOPGA members to earn national awards include Sprunk and Howard Morrette (1972 PGA Golf Professional of the Year), Don Kotnik (1993 PGA Golf Professional of the Year), Dr. Renee Powell (2003 PGA First Lady of Golf and Dr. William Powell (2009 PGA Distinguished Service Award).

See the original article at WFMJ.

Weller Gallery displays MVWS members’ work

The work of Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society members will be on display through April 17 at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Weller Gallery.

“A Splash of Color” features the work of 31 area artists who create with watercolor, plein air watercolor, acrylic and alcohol ink. MVWS was founded in 1982 by 11 artists with the goal to encourage local watercolor painters. The society provides watercolorists a place to share work, to learn more about watercolor techniques and to receive information regarding watercolor-related events in the community.

The group’s members range from beginners to professional artists who teach and show their work internationally.

The Weller Gallery is located inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free.

For more information, go to millcreekmetroparks.org or call 330-740-7116. For more information on the society, go to mvartists.org.

See the original article at Tribune Chronicle.