By: KSU Sports Information Department
ATLANTA – Kennesaw State alumnus Larry Nelson was honored by the Professional Golf Association of America as he received the PGA Distinguished Service Award in a ceremony on Wednesday evening at The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
On the eve of the 93rd PGA championship, in front of a crowd of more than one-thousand friends, family and members of the golf community, Nelson was presented with the PGA of America’s highest honor.
The prestigious award is given annually to “outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf.” The PGA honored Nelson not only because of his remarkable playing career, but also because of his tireless dedication to service and charitable organizations.
During his impressive career, Nelson won two PGA Championships, the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont and also won 19 titles in 14 years on the Champions Tour. He is also considered one the United States best-ever Ryder Cup players. He competed on three U.S. Ryder Cup Teams, in 1979, 1981 and 1987, and had a 9-3-1 overall record.
Nelson has an overpowering commitment to the service of others and has contributed to charities all over the world. He helped develop the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes Junior Golf Camps and worked with Joe Inman in developing the First Tee of College Park in Atlanta and contributed to the Atlanta Care Center.
Yesterday, Nelson competed in his 27th PGA Championship, with his oldest son, Drew, serving as caddie. Nelson posted an 8-over-par 78, and said that he would have youngest son, Josh, caddie on Friday.
Nelson attended Kennesaw State when it was a junior college in the early seventies and in 2009 he was inducted in the Kennesaw State Athletic Hall of Fame.
PGA Distinguished Service Award Recipients:
1988 Herb Graffis
1989 Bob Hope
1990 No recipient
1991 The Hon. Gerald Ford
1992 Gene Sarazen
1993 Byron Nelson
1994 Arnold Palmer
1995 Patty Berg
1996 Frank Chirkinian
1997 The Hon. George H.W. Bush
1998 Paul Runyan
1999 Bill Dickey
2000 Jack Nicklaus
2001 Mark McCormack
2002 Tim Finchem
2003 Vince Gill
2004 Pete Dye
2005 Wally Uihlein
2006 Fred Ridley
2007 Jack Burke Jr.
2008 Dennis Walters
2009 William Powell
2010 Billy Casper
2011 Larry Nelson
