STEPHENS CLAIMS THIRD GEORGIA PGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR TITLE

Roswell, GA — Craig Stevens, PGA teaching professional from Brookstone Country Club in Acworth, claimed his third Georgia PGA Player of the Year title presented by PGA National Resort and Spa and the highly coveted Billy Weir Trophy after a long stretch of outstanding play in 2012.  Stevens previously won the Georgia PGA Player of the Year title in 1999 and 2001.

Stevens’ steady year began in March with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Griffin Classic at Griffin Country Club and at the Yamaha Georgia PGA Match Play Championship, which was conducted at University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens. In June, the fifty one-year old from Dallas tied for seventh place at the Yamaha Atlanta Open presented by Bolle/Bushnell at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville. His solid play continued throughout the warm summer where he never finished outside of the top-25 in a player of the year point event. In July, Stevens had another runner-up finish at the The Championship at Berkeley Hills Country Club presented by Pennywisely.  Stevens finished two shots behind champion Stephen Keppler of Marietta Country Club. In August, Stevens finished in a tie for 25th place at the Georgia Open presented by Club Car at The Legends at Chateau Elan in Braselton.  Later in the month, Stevens finished in solo ninth place at the E-Z-GO/ExecGolf Georgia PGA Championship presented by TaylorMade, adidas, Ashworth and the PGA Tour at Sea Island Golf Club’s Plantation Course.

Stephens affectionately known by his peers as “Lumpy” finished the 2012 season with yet another runner-up finish in the Georgia Professional Championship in early October at The Standard Club in Johns Creek.  He was two shots behind champion and seven-time Georgia PGA Player of the Year Tim Weinhart of Nuclear Golf at The Standard Club. By claiming the 2012 Georgia PGA Player of the Year title and the Billy Weir Trophy, the affable Stevens will receive an exemption into the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic, which will be conducted in the fall of 2013 at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course.