The Carolinas PGA Section has announced 2011 players of the year and special awards and honors winners. As reported earlier, Kelly Mitchum of Southern Pines was named winner of the prestigious Johnny Palmer Trophy.

Rick Lewallen of Kannapolis amassed 485 points to win the Bob Boyd Section Player of the Year, beating out Mitchum for the honor. His season was highlighted by runner-up finishes in the Carolinas Open and the North Carolina Open.

The Senior Player of the Year is Robert Linville of Greensboro. Linville won the event at Rock Barn Golf & Spa, and also had a second- and a third-place finish during the year.

David Eaker of Forest City was named Senior Associate Player of the Year. Eaker, who also won this award in 2008, won his age group four times during the season.

Dave Robinson of Burlington was named Super Senior Associate Player of the Year. He had two first-place finishes and was in the top 10 in each of the events he appeared in.

Bill Sampson, director of golf at Old Tabby Links in Spring Island, S.C., is the Golf Professional of the Year. Sampson won the Bill Strausbaugh Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a CPGA professional.

Sampson won the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2007.

David Orr of Campbell University’s PGA Golf Management Program was named winner of the Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year Award. Several students Orr has instructed over the past five years have gone on to become successful professionals

Chad Newton, head professional at Pinewood Country Club in Asheville, is winner of the Horton Smith Trophy, awarded for exhibiting a commitment to the development and improvement of golf education for the PGA professional.

Newton says he has built his career and life around “acting like a pro wherever you go and always looking like a pro from head to toe.”

Jeff Nichols, director of golf at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, won the Bill Strausbaugh Award for making day-to-day significant contributions to the game through the mentoring of PGA professionals and the furtherance of their careers.

Chris Haarlow, director of golf at Precision Golf School in Greensboro, was honored as Junior Golf Leader for his instruction and development of junior golfers of all ages and levels.

Del Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Golf Services was presented the President’s Plaque for exemplary and extraordinary contributions to player development.

Merchandisers of the Year are: public — Gary Hobgood of Happy Valley in Wilson; private — Rich Barker of Benevue Country Club in Rocky Mount; and resort — Jeff Minton of Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms, S.C.

Josh Wagaman of Kiawah Island Resort’s Ocean Course is the Assistant Professional of the Year.