Gary Van Sickle took home two first-place honors, FORE Magazine/SCGA won six awards and Met Golfer was named top publication in the Annual ING Media Awards program. Results in 13 categories were announced Friday at the PGA Merchandise Show Virtual Experience.
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. Approximately four-dozen First-Place and Outstanding Achiever awards were announced at the presentation press conference. Media Awards sponsors this year were CertiFresh Cigar, Volvik, Zero Friction and PGA Golf Exhibitions.
Van Sickle won with two articles that appeared in The Morning Read. One came in the Competition Writing Category with a piece titled “(“PGA Tour Reversal: Players Canceled”). The second was in the Equipment/Apparel Writing Category (“Volvik’s Call Looks Marvel-ous”).
FORE Magazine/Southern California Golf Association took top honors in three categories: Podcast, Internet Video and Opinion/Editorial Writing with a column by Tina Mickelson titled “First Cut: What Are You Wearing?”
The Met Golfer in New York won the Publications Category with its June/July issue under the guidance of editor Jeff Neuman.
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 is responsible for securing the three judges. Media Awards Committee chair is Cody Law of Citywide Golf Solutions.
For more information, visit www.inggolf.com.
Results by category in the 2020 ING Media Awards
BUSINESS WRITING
1st Place: Bill Fields, Pine Straw Magazine (“The Son Also Rises”).
Outstanding Achievers: Kathy Bissell, Ponte Vedra Recorder (“Hey Jerky Guy”); Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin Golf (“Help wanted: Make Your Living On A Golf Course“); Mark Herrmann, Met Golfer (“Who’s Afraid Of Virtual Golf?); Len Ziehm, Morning Read (“Youth Caddies Face An Uphill Climb”).
COMPETITION WRITING
1st Place: Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“PGA Tour Reversal: Players Canceled”)
Outstanding Achievers: Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“Voegeli Completes First State Amateur Run With Championship”); John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“Championship Golf Return To Classic Inverness Course”).
EQUIPMENT & APPAREL WRITING
1st Place: Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read Equipment Insider (“Volvik’s Call Looks Marvel-ous”)
Outstanding Achievers: Tony Dear, Colorado Avid Golfer (“Never One To Flag”); Ed Travis, Golf Oklahoma (“What’s Up With Bryson’s Driver?”).
FEATURE WRITING
1st Place: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin Golf (“Do You Believe In Miracles?”).
Outstanding Achievers: John Fischer, The Morning Read (“Let’s See PGA Top This Caper At Olympia Fields”); Tom Mackin, Phoenix Open Program (The Breakfast Clubbers); Jon Rizzi, Colorado Avid Golfer (“City Park’s Watershed Moment”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“Latino Women Bring Hope To Golf”).
INTERNET VIDEO
1st Place: Southern California Golf Association Rules Crew (“The Godfather Redux”)
Outstanding Achiever: Jamie McWilliams (“A Golf Tour of Northern Ireland.”)
OPINION/EDITORIAL 
1st Place: Tina Mickelson, FORE Magazine (“First Cut: What Are You Wearing?”).
Outstanding Achievers: Fred Altvater, Ohio Golf Journal (“Is It Time For The Word Golf Tour?”); John Steinbredder, Global Golf Post (“PGA Of America Addresses ‘Regrettable’ Time”); Ed Travis, California Golf + Travel (“Why Rolling Back The Ball Is Not The Answer”); Gary Van Sickle, Morning Read (“Golf’s Dead End Year”).
PODCAST
1st Place: Jonathan Coe, SCGA Quarantine Chronicles (“Chris Harrison Interview”).
Outstanding Achiever: Gordon Dalgleish/Mark Barnes, A Greenside Chat (“The Inner Workings Of The Old Course”); Ann Liguori, Morning Read Podcast (“John Pak Interview”); Colin Weston, The ModGolf Podcast (“Hype Sports Innovation”).
PROFILE WRITING
1st Place: Adam Schupak, Met Golfer (“Passion Project”).
Outstanding Achievers: Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin Golf (“LPGA pioneer Joyce Malison”); Bill Fields, Pine Straw Magazine (“The Legend Of Eddie Pierce”); Tom Mackin, Phoenix Open Program (“Home Town Favorite”); Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma (“An Affair Of The Heart”); Judd Spicer, FORE Magazine (“A Pleasure, Win Or Lose”).
PUBLICATIONS
1st Place: Met Golfer, June/July 2020 Issue (Jeff Neuman, Editor).
Outstanding Achievers: FORE Magazine, Winter Issue (Jonathan Coe, Managing Editor); Troon Magazine, May Issue (Tom Mackin, Editor).
RADIO SEGMENT
1st Place: Holly Geoghegan, The Golf Insiders, iHeart Radio Orlando (“Damon Hack Interview”).
Outstanding Achievers: Charles Humphries, The Golf Shop Radio Show (“Hal Sutton Interview”); Tony Leodora, Golf Talk Live Philadelphia (“Gary Player Interview”).
RADIO SHOW
1st Place: Ann Liguori, Talking Golf With Ann Liguori, WFAN, New York (“May 31 Show”).
Outstanding Achievers: Chuck Garbedian, Garbedian On Golf (“July 25 Show”); Rory Spears, Golfers On Golf Radio, WCPT-AM, Chicago (“June 20 Show”); Rich Styles, Back 9 Boys, ESPN Coastal (“May 2 Show”).
TELEVISION SHOW
1st Place: Frank LaRosa, Golf To Go (“Pebble Beach At 100”).
Outstanding Achiever: Dave Lockhart, Golf360 (“September Show”).
TRAVEL WRITING
1st Place: John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post (“The Isle Of Islay”);
Outstanding Achievers: Tom Bedell, Morning Read (“Narin & Portnoo Links”); Jeff Neumann, Met Golfer (“My Heart Is In The Highlands”); Joe Passov, FORE Magazine (“The Joys Of Western Canada”); Jon Rizzi, Colorado Avid Golfer (“Cactus Makes Perfect”); Adam Schupak, Golfweek (“Morocco’s Magic Carpet Ride”).
