Winners in 12 categories were announced Wednesday in the 24th Annual ING Media Awards program 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. A total of 42 First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference conducted in ClubING at the PGA Show.
Media Awards sponsors this year were Chase 54 apparel company, Nexbelt, Wilson Golf and PGA Golf Exhibitions. Golf Channel’s Morning Drive show host Damon Hack served as the master of ceremonies.
Colorado Avid Golfer, with editor Jon Rizzi, was selected best in the Publications category with its 15th Anniversary edition.
The Traveling Golfer, with host Tony Leodora, was voted the No. 1 TV show for the third straight year. Best radio show for the second consecutive year went to Ann Liguori’s Sports Innerview on NPR.
The Met Golfer led the way with nine individual awards. First-Place Winners from the New York-based magazine were: Tom Mackin in the Business Writing category, Ken Van Vechten in the Equipment & Apparel Writing category and Craig Brass in the Travel Writing category.
There were several other multiple award winners (either First Place or Outstanding Achiever). They included freelance writer Jeff Gilder of iNet Golf, Kevin Kane from Virginia Golf Report, Ken MacLeod of Golf Oklahoma, freelancer Sally J. Sportsman, Rich Styles of The Back 9 Boys radio show, freelancer Ed Travis, freelancer Gary Van Sickle and freelancer Len Ziehm.
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, who is responsible for securing the three judges. Media Awards Committee chair is Cody Law of Golf Mesquite Nevada.
For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.

COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVERS

BOOK AUTHOR
1st Place: James Dodson (“The Range Bucket List”)
Outstanding Achiever: Tripp Bowden (“All The Memorable Rounds”); Tom Callahan (“Arnie”).

BUSINESS WRITING
1st Place: Tom Mackin, The Met Golfer (“Thrown For A Loop”).
Outstanding Achievers: David Barrett, The Met Golfer (“Game Changer”); Jeff Gilder, TGD Magazine (“Reinvesting In Myrtle Beach”); Ed Travis, Golf Oklahoma (“Mixed Signals: Good And Bad News For Retailers”).

COMPETITION WRITING
1st Place: Len Ziehm, The Daily Herald (“Koepka Wins First Major”)
Outstanding Achievers: Kevin Kane, Virginia Golf Report (“Longest Day in Golf Has Become Most Exciting Day in Golf”); Gary Van Sickle, MorningRead.com (”U.S. Open Trophy Shines for Qualifiers”); Len Ziehm, Chicago District Golfer (“Make It A Double”).

EQUIPMENT & APPAREL WRITING
1st Place: Ken Van Vechten, The Met Golfer (“Forging Ahead”).
Outstanding Achievers: Mike Kern, Golf Pennsylvania/Golf Northeast (”Fitting”); Ed Travis, Golf Oklahoma (“Driving Miss Daisy”).

FEATURE WRITING
1st Place: Ed Travis, The A Position (“PGA TOUR Superstore Bucking The Trend”).
Outstanding Achievers: Bill Fields, The Met Golfer (“Future Stock”); John Paul Newport, The Met Golfer (“Best Practices”); Sally J. Sportsman, SeniorGolfInsider.com (“Arnold Palmer Cup: A Lasting Legacy From the King”).

OPINION/EDITORIAL
1st Place: Bob Oliver, Golf Insiders Radio Blog (“Rules Call Ins: Stop The Insanity”).
Outstanding Achievers: Kevin Kane, Virginia Golf Report (“Joggers and Leggings and Plunging Necklines, Oh My”); Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“City of Tulsa Golf Courses in Need of Champion“); Ed Travis, The A Position (“Fuzzy Thinking”); Gary Van Sickle, The Morning Read (“Reality Check on Distance Gains: Don’t Worry, Be Happy”).

PROFILE WRITING
1st Place: Gary Van Sickle, Memorial Tournament Magazine (“William McGirt, The Nice Guy Who Finished First”).
Outstanding Achievers: Adam Schupak, The Met Golfer (“Jake (Heart) NY “); Sally J. Sportsman, SeniorGolfInsider.com (“Giving Back: Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell”); John Steinbredder, Global Golf Post (“Sughrue Surges on The Right Path”).

PUBLICATIONS
1st Place: Colorado Avid Golfer, 15th Anniversary Issue (Jon Rizzi, Editor).
Outstanding Achievers: Golf Minnesota (Greg Wires, Publisher); Golf Oklahoma, April/May 2017 Issue (Ken MacLeod, Publisher); The Met Golfer, August/September 2017 Issue (Jeff Neuman, Editor).

RADIO SHOW
1st Place: Sports Innerview, With Ann Liguori on NPR’s WPPB Public Radio.
Outstanding Achievers: Back9Boys Golf Show, ESPN Coastal, Rich Styles Host; Golf Talk Live, ESPN Lehigh Valley, Tony Leodora Host.

RADIO SEGMENT
1st Place: Chuck Garbedian, Garbedian On Golf (David McLay Kidd Interview)
Outstanding Achiever: Holly Geoghegan, The Golf Insiders, iHeart Radio, Orlando. (“Arnie’s Legacy Lives On”); Rich Styles, Back 9 Boys, ESPN Radio (“Davis Love III Interview”).

TELEVISION SHOW
1st Place: Tony Leodora, The Traveling Golfer (“St. Augustine”).
Outstanding Achiever: Jeff Gilder/Brian Stefan (“Amateur Long Drive World Championship”).

TRAVEL WRITING
1st Place: Craig Brass, The Met Golfer (“Come In, We’re Open”).
Outstanding Achievers: Ray Tennenbaum, Ray, The Met Golfer (“Vive Le Golf”); Len Ziehm, Daily Herald (“Simply Grand”).