POLLAND, SOMERS AND VAN VLEET ARE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION PGA 2024 ROLEX PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – POLLAND EARNS NATIONAL HONOR
“Player of the Year” has a nice ring to it. It’s one thing to win an event here or there, but it’s completely different to be recognized as “Player of the Year”. It quite simply means you were the very best, and that accolade is a lifetime accomplishment no matter what your chosen talent. The 2024 Rocky Mountain Section PGA ROLEX Players of the Year are our very best and sincere congratulations are in order. The Section recognizes its players of the year in three categories: The Player of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year, and Senior Player of the Year. The Section wishes to thank ROLEX for their generous support with our events and recognition of our Players of the Year.
PGA Director of Golf, Ben Polland, from Shooting Star in Teton Village, Wyoming, is the 2024 ROLEX Player of the Year in the Rocky Mountain Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. This marks the second time Polland has earned this award in our Section as he adds this to his 2021 award. The 2024 version, however, is extra special. Ben is the first person in the 90-year history of the grand ole Rocky Mountain Section to win not only our Section Player of the Year Award, but the PGA of America National Player of the Year Award. Polland was simply unstoppable in 2024. He won our Section Championship… He was undefeated, 5-0, in the PGA Cup Matches… He won the PGA Professional Championship. Ben Polland was unmatched in 2024, and the Section congratulates him for his extraordinary play.
PGA Director of Instruction, Katie Somers, from River Birch Golf Course in Star, Idaho, is the Women’s 2024 ROLEX Player of the Year in the RMSPGA. This is the 7th consecutive time Somers has claimed this award. As the Section does not yet have enough women to play in their own events, Katie has to earn this award the hard way, playing against all men, all the time. Highlights from her year include an 11th place finish in the Pro-Pro Shootout, a T-35 in the Section Championship, and a T-10 in the Fall Pro-Pro. Congratulations goes out to Katie for another solid and award-winning season.
PGA General Manager, John Van Vleet, from Preston Golf & Country Club in Preston, Idaho, is the Senior 2024 ROLEX Player of the Year in the RMSPGA. Van Vleet had an exceptional year winning the Senior Section Championship, finishing 2nd in the Snake River Chapter Championship, and making the cut in the PGA Senior Professional Championship on a National level. Just to top it off, John steadily made checks in nearly every Pro-Am he played in. This is the first time Van Vleet has earned the Senior Player of the Year Award.
Polland, Somers, and Van Vleet will formally receive their Player of the Year awards in May of 2025 at the Rocky Mountain Section PGA Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.