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BERNIE EATON NAMED SOUTHWEST PGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – 12-28-22 – Bernie Eaton has been named the executive director of the Southwest Section PGA, becoming the fifth executive director in the 64-year history of the organization.

It was recently announced by Southwest PGA President Al Sutton that Eaton, 52, was hired after a search and will formally assume the position on January 23, 2023. The Southwest Section PGA is the fifth largest PGA Section in the United States with over 1219 PGA members and apprentices in the Section, which covers the state of Arizona and Clark County (Las Vegas) in Nevada.

“The Southwest PGA is honored to have Bernie Eaton as our next executive director,” said Sutton. “His passion and drive to improve our Section for the member’s benefit has been evident since he got involved in Section Leadership.”

Born in Reading, Pa., Eaton played on the varsity golf and tennis teams at Schuylkill Valley High School in Leesport, Pa. and earned the distinction of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. Following high school, Eaton attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., earning a Bachelor of Science degree in turf grass management with a business administration minor in 1993.

Eaton is a member of both the PGA of America and Club Management Association of America. He earned his membership in the PGA in March of 1999 and served on the Southern Chapter PGA Board of Directors for 12 years and the Southwest PGA Board of Directors for 3 1/2 years.

During his career, Eaton has held numerous management positions at facilities in the Tucson area as a Director of Golf and General Manager. He has spent the last 2 1/2 years as the General Manager for El Conquistador Golf Club and led a team that produced a $1.7 million financial turnaround for the 45-hole property.

Eaton was honored with the 2016 and 2020 Southern Chapter PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, the 2018 Southern Chapter PGA Professional Development Award (formerly the Horton Smith Award), and the 2016 Southwest PGA Player Development Award.

Eaton and his wife Stacy will be relocating to the Scottsdale area after the new year.