LAS VEGAS – PGA of America Golf Professional Scott Vandegrift, Head Coach at Millersville and a member of the Philadelphia PGA Section, has been named the 2024 Labron Harris Sr. Award recipient presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America in cooperation with the PGA of America. The Harris Award is presented to the college or high school coach and Class A PGA Professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching, and involvement in the community has helped ensure the game of golf’s continued growth and who represents the finest qualities the game has to offer.

“Being selected to receive the Labron Harris Sr. Award is something that I’ve always dreamed about happening” said Vandegrift. “I was flattered that former SMU coach Barry Rodenhaver nominated me, and after researching the history of Labron Harris Sr., it meant even more to me to be considered.”

Vandegrift was hired as head men’s golf coach at Millersville in 1985 and has also been the head women’s golf coach since the program’s inception in 2008. A GCAA member since 1997, the Delaware native’s Marauders have maintained success at the conference, regional, and national level, winning a combined 123 events (93 men and 31 women) and six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships (five men and one women). 2002-03 saw the men win a program record five times, including the program’s first NCAA Regional title (East), and qualify for their first NCAA Division II Championship. The women won the PSAC Championship during the 2015-16 season and have won 14 tournaments since 2021, highlighted by four in 2023-24 and three already this fall.

Marauder accolades under Vandegrift include 68 All-PSAC selections (56 men and 12 women), five PSAC Freshman of the Years (three men, two women), three PSAC Golfer of the Years, and five PSAC Coach of the Years (four men, one women).

A member of the Philadelphia PGA Section since 1981 and now a Life Member, Vandegrift has been a PGA Teaching Professional at Tanglewood Manor Golf Course in Quarryville, Penn. since 2018, teaching private lessons and summer junior golf camps. He teaches and Captains their PGA Jr. League Team, who went undefeated in 2023, and has been selected to be All-Star Team Captain. He was Associate Golf Professional at Tanglewood Manor from 1977 to 1987, developing and executing the club’s teaching program with responsibility for all clinics, private lessons, demonstrations, and presentations. He was instrumental in increasing the annual rounds played from 18,000 to 38,000 despite being closed on Sundays.   

As an Instructor for Get Golf Ready at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club (2009-12), Vandegrift taught and coordinated all junior and high school golf camps. He increased private lesson participation by 400% in two years and was responsible for teaching all adult, ladies, and senior clinics. 

Vandegrift was Head Golf Professional at Crossgates Golf Club in Millersville from 1994 to 2008, conducting weekly youth and adult clinics, teaching high school golf clinics during the summer, and helping develop and maintain an annual budget of $950,000 at an upscale public golf course with between 27,000 and 31,000 rounds played. Three high schools as well as the Millersville University programs claimed Crossgates as their home course while Vandegrift was there. He developed a successful tournament and outing business entertaining over 60 groups per year.

As Head Golf Professional and Golf Branch Manager at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army facility, from 1987 to 1993, Vandegrift was responsible for operating three courses and clubhouses with gross revenues of $1,146,000. He supervised 40 employees, including pro shop staff, greens crew, and food and beverage. Daily play increased from 28,000 rounds in 1987 to 61,000 in 1993 with Vandegrift. He was instrumental in building a $1.2 million clubhouse at the main course, installing a $500,000 fully-automated irrigation system, building a $250,000 maintenance storage shed, purchasing new equipment to handle increase in play, and upgrading course maintenance procedures. 70 new tournaments and outings producing $145,000 in additional income were created by Vandegrift and he produced a ten-fold increase in pro shop sales while expanding to a 1,000-square-foot shop, restaurant, and lounge with annual revenues of $160,000.

Vandegrift has volunteered with the American Cancer Society in Lancaster, Penn. since 2010, with the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community since 2010, as a Resource Consultant with the National Golf Foundation Teaching Staff since 1978, an Instructor for Approach Golf since 2018, and an Advisor at Solanco High School since 1984. He has also been a Teaching Professional at Valleybrook Golf Range (1974-79), Assistant Professional and Teaching Director at Meadia Heights Golf Club (1974-76), and Assistant Professional at Penn Oaks Country Club (1974) among other community involvements.

“For 39 years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching young men at Millersville University,” Vandegrift continued. “In 2010, 

I’ve been blessed to have a wonderful family and the opportunity of promoting the game of golf as a PGA Professional and Collegiate Golf Coach over all these years, 

All-Time Recipients

2024 – Scott Vandegrift (Millersville/Philadelphia PGA Section)

2023 – Rich Mueller (Columbia/Metropolitan PGA Section)

2022 – Tim Poe (Central Missouri/Midwest PGA Section)

2021 – Scott Flynn (Belmont/Tennessee PGA Section)

2020 – Joe Tesori (Le Moyne College/CNY-PGA Section)

2019 – Jaime Howell (Eastern Florida State/North Florida PGA Section)

2018 – Jerry Haas (Wake Forest/Carolinas PGA Section)

2017 – Scott Cartwright (Cal Poly/Southern California PGA Section)

2016 – Harry Hammond (West Chester/Philadelphia PGA Section)

2015 – Puggy Blackmon (South Carolina/Carolinas PGA Section)

2014 – Mike Mayer (Indiana/Indiana PGA Section)

2013 – Mike Small (Illinois/Illinois PGA Section)

2012 – Pat Goss (Northwestern/Illinois PGA Section)

2011 – John Bermel (Northern Iowa/Iowa PGA Section)

2010 – Rick Pohle (Williams/Northeastern New York PGA Section)

2009 – Pat Owen (Navy/Middle Atlantic PGA Section)

2008 – Jim Brown (Ohio State/Southern Ohio PGA Section)

2007 – Herb Page (Kent State/Northern Ohio PGA Section)

2006 – Rod Myers (Duke/Carolinas PGA Section)

2005 – Devon Brouse (Purdue/Indiana PGA Section)

2004 – Jay Hardwick (Virginia Tech/Middle Atlantic PGA Section)

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 31,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.

About Golf Coaches Association of America

Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men’s collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA’s mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic and civic endeavors.

Adam Mackey
Director of Communications
Golf Coaches Association of America
adam@collegiategolf.com
(517) 763-4291