Belmont's Head Women's Golf Coach
Lissa Bradford has been named the recipient of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Kim Evans Award, which was awarded Monday at the 2019 WGCA and GCAA Conventions in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Kim Evans Award is presented to the college or high school coach, and Class A PGA Professional, whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game of golf and represent the finest qualities the game has to offer. In its second year, the prestigious Evans Award honors the lifetime achievement of the WGCA Hall of Fame Coach from Auburn University.
In addition to the Evans Award, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) awarded the Labron Harris Sr. Award to Eastern Florida State College Head Men's Golf Coach Jamie Howell, PGA.
"It's an honor to congratulate PGA Members Lissa Bradford and Jamie Howell on receiving these two prestigious national coaching awards from the WGCA and GCAA," said PGA President Suzy Whaley. "Coaching is at the heart of the PGA of America's mission to grow the game, and these two outstanding college coaches represent our Association at the highest of levels with their tremendous passion for the game and its future."
Lissa Bradford, PGA has been at the helm of the Belmont Women's Golf program since 2001. During her tenure at Belmont, the program has won six team and 12 individual titles, had one conference Player of the Year, nine All-Conference performers, and nine top-six finishes at conference championships. In addition, the program regularly earns academic accolades, and last season the Bruins earned the NCAA APR Recognition Award for the 11th consecutive year. In addition, three golfers: Emma Kate Liu, Carlee Nanney and Julia Nittoli were named to the WGCA All-American Scholar Team.
"Kim Evans has always been someone I have admired both in the coaching world and junior golf arena," said Bradford. "It is such an honor to be recognized with an award bearing her name. Her strength, passion and dedication to life and the game are an inspiration to us all."
In addition to her coaching duties, Bradford serves as Senior Director of Junior Golf for the Tennessee Golf Foundation, as well as on the Tennessee PGA Section Junior Golf and Growth of the Game Committees. She also volunteers for PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), Special Olympics Golf and as a Stephen Ministry Leader with her church.
In 2010, Bradford received the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award, the WGCA's most prestigious honor. Afterwards, she began a four-year term as a member of the NCAA Women's Golf Committee. She now serves annually at both NCAA regional and national championship events. Recently, she was named to the PGA Magazine Women Leaders Platform.