Tom Mcgovern Receives Award From State H.S. Athletic Association

Tom McGovern, former NJSGA president (2012-13), received a special sports recognition award from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association at its annual meeting on December 1 at the Pines Manor in Edison.

McGovern, the general manager of the Valley Brook Golf Course within the Bergen County Department of Parks, was cited for his contributions to golf in the county.

The NJSGA annually sponsor the NJSIAA high school boys' and girls' golf championships.

The NJSIAA awards program stated:

· Since 1985, has been working with award-winning Pioneer Junior Golf programs, whch provides instruction and tournament play for boys and girls ages 8 to 18 all summer long. Many of its participants have gone on to play high school and college golf.

· Involved with the All-Par Autistic Golf Program since its inception over five years ago. As a result, several of these autistic young men are currently playing golf and competing for their high school teams.

· Has been involved with the New Jersey State Golf Association for more than 20 years, including as past president. The NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation has awarded almost $11 million in college scholarships to qualified students in New Jersey.

· Tom has conducted rules seminars for high school golf teams and assisted during the season as a rules expert throughout Bergen County. He’s been at many NJSIAA State qualifiers, assisting in course setup and rules interpretation as well as offering support to the tournament committee.

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Bergen County public courses Rockleigh, Overpeck and Darlington have served as sites for NJSIAA sectional championships while Valley Brook and the other courses have hosted many conference championships.

“It’s nice to know we’ve contributed to high school sports and have been recognized for it. There’s a major interest by youth in golf in Bergen County and the young people are definitely getting something back from the sport,” McGovern said.

Dick Bennett, golf coach of Midland Park, was also recognized in the sport of golf. He has served as tournament director of both the girl’s state high school and Bergen County championships in recent years.