Congratulations to North Liberty, IA native, Brandon McCarty on being selected as the 2020 Charlie Burkart Scholarship honoree by the Iowa PGA Foundation Charlie Burkart Scholarship committee.  

“I am very honored and appreciative that I was selected as the 2020 Charlie Burkart Scholarship winner. This award will be a tremendous help as I continue my academic and golf career at the next level, McCarty said.”

In college he plans to play golf and major in Business with a minor in Finance. McCarty will start his golf and college career at Kirkwood, with the goal to transfer to a D1 school after year two. Following college, his dream would be to continue to play golf at the Professional level. Knowing that this road is extremely difficult, his backup plan would be to become a PGA Teaching Professional and manage a golf course.

The game of golf has meant so much to McCarty growing up.  He credits the game of golf for shaping his character.  Three of the most important lessons he has learned from golf are etiquette, patience and integrity.  These lessons have not only made his golf game better but will also help him be a better person moving forward.  Golf is also an escape for McCarty.  It allows him the ability to pour his passion into something he absolutely loves to do.
 
Golf will continue to play a role in his future life.  Coming from a golf centered family, McCarty understands the hard work that this sport requires and what it takes to get to the next level.  This will set him up well for college golf and beyond.  He also knows that golf will always be a sport that will continue to guide his character.  Because golf is a sport of integrity, it teaches one to always make the right choices on the course.
 
He will be a student athlete at Kirkwood so McCarty will not be able to work while going to school.  Therefore, this scholarship is a true blessing to McCarty and his family as it will reduce the financial burden, which will allow him to focus on his schoolwork and golf.

Coming from a golfing family McCarty was born with a passion for golf. His dad, Chad McCarty and his Uncle, Sean McCarty, were both members of the University of Iowa Golf Team. Both have continued to be top players in the State of, Iowa, so it was only natural that McCarty developed a love for the game of golf. Before he could even walk, he was trying to swing the club. Because of this drive for golf he became a member of the Iowa PGA Pee Wee Tour at the age of 8. Since this time, he has continued to play on the Iowa PGA Junior Tour, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, as well as the Iowa City Golf Association events.

McCarty had a successful high school golf career. He was the team captain and top golfer on the Clear Creek-Amana high school team since his Freshman year. Other high school golf accomplishments include individual state qualifier Sophomore and Junior year, 1st Team All-State Junior year, 1st Team All-Conference Sophomore and Junior years, All Conference Honorable Mention Freshman year, Academic All-Conference Sophomore and Junior years, KGYM/Sheet Metal Workers Athlete of the Week, Des Moines Register All-Iowa Elite Team Honorable Mention Junior year, as well as a varsity letter winner each year. His goal for this year was to become the 3A state golf champion, before Covid-19 hit and took the season away.
 
Congratulations Brandon McCarty on receiving this award.
 
“I have known the McCarty family for over 20 years, and they consistently display strong family values and teach a sense of community in their children. They would do anything for you and have shown time and again that they are a great addition to any community. His parents are a great support team for anything he pursues, and he has always strived to be the best.” Brian Wernimont, PGA Professional, Brown Deer Golf Club.
 
In addition to golf McCarty played basketball and ran cross-country in High School. He was a 4-year letter winner on a team that went to the state cross country championship four times. In addition, he won the 2019 cross country Most Valuable Teammate Award and was Academic All-Conference his Junior and Senior years. For basketball McCarty won the Offensive MVP award his Freshman year and the Coaches Award his Sophomore year.
 
In addition to athletics, academics have been a priority for McCarty in high school. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was on the honor roll each year
 
Brad Fox, Principal at Clear Creek Amana had some nice words to say about Brandon. “He leads by example with his positive outlook and the integrity he shows on and off the course. Brandon is someone I want my son to look up to and emulate in school, on the golf course, and in life.”

The Iowa PGA Foundation annually awards a college scholarship in memory of Charlie Burkart, PGA member for 50 years and Head PGA Professional at the Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids for 43 years. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students in furthering their education. At least one high school graduate will be the 2020 Scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,500 per year for four years. Other previously graduated applicants will be reviewed with additional scholarships awarded when possible.

Any graduating high school senior or previous graduate residing within the boundaries of the Iowa PGA Section and the State of Iowa is eligible to apply. The Iowa PGA Section is bounded on the west by U.S. Highway 71 and includes an area of Western Illinois from a point north of Quincy, east to near Springfield and directly north. It includes the major cities of Monmouth, Macomb, Galesburg, Moline, Rock Island, Kewanee and Galena. It does not include the cities of Freeport, Springfield or Quincy.

Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their interest and activity in golf, the potential for future contributions to the game, leadership skills/community involvement, then on their academic/professional ability and financial need.

The Iowa PGA Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2020 Charlie Burkart Scholarship. Applicants must complete the application and mail to the scholarship committee prior to TBD. Applications can be mailed to Iowa PGA Section, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, IA 52327. Call 319-648-0026 with any questions.
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Each applicant is required to submit the following when applying for the scholarship:

1. High school transcript of work completed and description of any post-secondary academic achievement.

2. Two recommendations – may be from a high school administrator or teacher, a PGA professional or other non-family connections.

3. Applicant must include a self-statement concerning his/her interest in golf, other activities and awards, his/her educational and vocational plans/career goals and financial need.

4. Applicant is requested to send a list of other scholarship they have applied for and those that they have received.

 

Congratulations to Bailee Flory on being selected as the 2020 Charlie Burkart Scholarship honoree by the Iowa PGA Foundation Charlie Burkart Scholarship committee.  

Bailee Flory started her golf career at Waverly-Shell Rock High School before attending Wartburg College. At Wartburg she excelled on the golf team including playing at the NCAA Division III National Finals in 2018. After serving an internship with the Iowa PGA Section in the summer of 2018, she was hired that Fall as the Tournament Assistant. Flory was then promoted to Junior Golf Coordinator in October of 2019. Flory left her position as the Junior Golf Coordinator to take a position as the Associate Golf Professional/Tournament Coordinator at Amana Colonies Golf Club in March 2020.

“Thank you to the Charlie Burkart Scholarship committee for granting me this scholarship,” Flory continues “I’m grateful to be the recipient so I can continue to further my education through the PGM Program and become a PGA Professional.

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