Mullin Is Wmga Player Of Year; Dennis Wins Judy Bell Award

Dani Mullin of New York’s Southward Ho, who will soon be turning professional, was named Player of the Year by the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association at its annual meeting on Thursday, October 29, at Montclair Golf Club.

WMGA president Val DePiro of Montclair presented the award.

Kathy Dennis of New York’s Bellport was named winner of the annual Judy Bell Award, which recognizes significant contributions to women’s and junior golf in the Metropolitan area. Two years ago, the NJSGA was the recipient of the Judy Bell Award.

The WMGA established the Judy Bell Award in 1997, with Ann Beard of Essex Fells, a USGA rules official and former WMGA president, the first recipient. The award is permanently housed at WMGA headquarters in Elmsford, N.Y.

Guest speaker was Golfweek writer and author of seven books, Bradley S. Klein of Bloomfield, Conn. Klein is a former tour caddie and university professor with a Ph.D. in political science.

Mullin, 25, recently placed in the Round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur and plans on joining the LPGA Symetra Tour this fall. The NJSGA conducted the USGA Mid-Am qualifier at North Jersey C.C. in Wayne where Mullin was one of four to gain a berth into the U.S. Mid-Amateur, October 3-8 ,at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.

This summer, Mullin won the WMGA Stroke-Play Championship for a second time and was the lowerst amateur at the Women’s Met Open. She also was a member of the New York State Team at the U.S. State Team Championship.

“I have a great love of the game and I’m ready to turn it into a career,” said Mullin, who attended Elon University. “I hope I can help guide a young girl someday the same way I’ve been guided by members of the WMGA,” she said.

WMGA vice president of outreach Michele Greenfield, who presented the Judy Bell Award, noted that the WMGA Foundation will be the recipient of a donation when the U.S. Girls’ Junior is played next July 18-23 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus.

The WMGA’s Girls to the Tee-New Jersey will conduct a clinic there, including touring pros, at the event next summer.

Dennis has served the WMGA since 1991 and was on the Board from 2000 through 2008, and was president for the final two years on the board. She has ensured that Long Island caddies reap scholarships from the WMGA Foundation.

“The greatest reward I’ve ever received is the ability to promote this game we love,” Dennis said. “This award symbolizes all of the efforts of the WMGA volunteers over the past 116 year. To me, there is no higher award to receive than the Judy Bell Award.”