South Carolina's Puggy Blackmon wins Labron Harris Sr. Award
12/1/2015 | by Golfweek
Longtime college coach Blackmon is honored for his contributions to the continued growth of golf.
Puggy Blackmon, a longtime college coach and program director, was named the 2015 recipient of the Labron Harris Sr. Award on Monday.
Blackmon is the director of golf development and facilities at South Carolina and a member of the Carolinas PGA Section. He had coached college golf for 24 years.
The Harris Award is presented to the college (or high school) coach and PGA professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of golf.
“I am both honored and humbled by this prestigious award,” Blackmon said in a release. “Labron Harris was a pioneer in collegiate coaching at a time when his tireless efforts and contributions were for the love of the game. Many thanks to the GCAA for this award and their contributions to the unparalleled growth of our great profession.”
Blackmon burst onto the scene in college coaching in the 1980s at Georgia Tech. In 12 seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Blackmon brought the program five top-7 national finishes, including a runner-up in 1993.
He moved to South Carolina in 1995 and proceeded to make eight more NCAA Championship appearances in 12 seasons with the Gamecocks. In Blackmon's 24 years, his players would earn 31 Ping All-America honors. Blackmon was a four-time ACC Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2005.
Blackmon relinquished head-coaching duties of South Carolina's men’s program in 2007. Three years later, he took on additional duties as associate head coach of the women’s team.
Blackmon may be best known for instructing David Duval during the future major champion's years at Georgia Tech years and later. Blackmon also was involved with the organization of the AJGA in the late 1970s, later serving as the association's director of development.
Blackmon joins names such as Rod Myers, Pat Goss, Mike Small and Devon Brouse as recipients of the Harris Award, named after the former Oklahoma State coach.
By Kevin Casey for Golfweek
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