Neil and PGA Professional Ryan Palmer.

Neil Wilkins Named 2006 Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year for the Southern Texas PGA!

Neil Wilkins, director of instruction at Sienna Plantation Golf Club, has been named the 2006 Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year for the Southern Texas PGA.

Wilkins was previously named Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year for the Eastern Chapter of the Southern Texas PGA in 2003 and 2005.

"It's quite an honor to win for the entire section, which not only includes Houston, but Austin, San Antonio and South Texas," Wilkins said. "I'm just floored."

The honor holds special meaning for Wilkins, as it was an early mentor, Jerry Smith, who created the award in 1983 while serving as vice predident of the Southern Texas PGA.

"Jerry developed the award for the Southern Texas PGA and then introduced the idea of a Teacher of the Year award to the national PGA," Wilkins said. "After working with Jerry for six years, I have tremendous respect for his talent and dedication to the PGA. I'm really honored to be the recipient of the award he created."

Harvey Penick, an esteemed golf professional, was the award's first honoree. He died in 1995, the same week one of his students, professional Ben Crenshaw, won The Masters golf tournament.

"Harvey was a brilliant teacher," said Wilkins. "He could say more with less than any person I've ever known. He was the father of teaching golf in Texas."

Wilkins, who was nominated by his peers, will receive the award during a January ceremony. Familiar to the awards spotlight, Wilkins was recognized in 2005 for his contributions to golf when he was named Dick Forester Pro of the Year by GolfReach Ministries during trhe third annual TPI "Pro" Classics. In 2002, Wilkins also was named on of the state's top 25 golf instructors by Golf Digest.

(For information on Sienna Plantation Golf Club, an 18-hole semiprivate course within the master-planned community of Sienna Plantation, visit www.siennagolf.com or www.siennaplantation.com)