Golf Digest writers earn top honors in GWAA writing competition

Seven Golf Digest writers combined to earn nine top-three awards over seven categories in the Golf Writers of Association of America 2025 Writing Contest results that were announced on Monday.

Joel Beall took two first-place honors—in the Long Profile category for his ​“The Misunderstood Life of Grayson Murray”​ and in Enterprise for ​“Why is Tony Finau being sued?”​ Mike Stachura’s post-Olympics profile, ​“Le Golf National is a success, but another Paris course is quiet,”​ earned the top spot in Short Features.

Beall has won six first-place GWAA honors in his career. Two years ago, he also garnered two top awards.

As noted on the GWAA website, “One judge praised Beall’s profile of the late Murray, a 30-year-old two-time PGA Tour winner who took his life last spring, for ‘deftly’ exploring mental-health issues."

Golf Digest’s Luke Kerr-Dineen earned second place for his Enterprise story, “​I analyzed 1,353 shots from Scheffler’s historic streak​” and third in News/Game Story for “​The state-of-the-art technology Bryson uses, explained​.”

Four Golf Digest writers received single top-three awards: Jerry Tarde (T-2, Short Profile) “​Why golfers climb mountains”​; Sam Weinman (third, Short Feature), “​Murray’s death pushes hard conversations​”; Alex Myers (T-2, Short Feature), “​How golf helped a war reporter recover​”; Keely Levins (T-2, Commentary/Analysis), “Cringeworthy viral video showcases problem for women golfers​.”

GWAA members submitted a total of 287 entries in the seven categories: commentary (52), enterprise (19), long feature (40), long profile (27), news-game story (52), short feature (50), short profile (47).

The GWAA Writing Contest winners will be recognized at the 51st annual ISPS Handa GWAA Awards Dinner on April 9, on the eve of the 89th Masters Tournament. Other honorees will include players of the year Scottie Scheffler (men), Nelly Korda (women) and Ernie Els (senior). The PGA of America also will recognize Lewine Mair with the association’s Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award and Fred Vuich with the Lifetime Achievement in Photography Award.

A full list of the GWAA winners:

NEWS/GAME STORY

1. Ryan Lavner, GolfChannel.com, “​Bryson’s star is reborn​,” June 17
2. Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.golf, “​Erin Hills visionary has another dream​,” Dec.
3. Luke Kerr-Dineen, GolfDigest.com, “​The state-of-the-art technology Bryson uses, explained​,” May 29

SHORT FEATURE

1. Mike Stachura, GolfDigest.com, “​Le Golf National is a success, but another Paris course is quiet​,” Aug. 6
   2. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com, “​Waiting for Verne one last time​,” April 15
   3. Sam Weinman, GolfDigest.com, “​Murray’s death pushes hard conversations​,” May 30

HONORABLE MENTION: Mike McAllister, LIVGolf.com, “In cancer battle, Schwartzels have a friend in Phil”; Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com, “On playing through Maui’s deadly tragedy.”

SHORT PROFILE

1. Adam Schupak, Golfweek.com, “​Harmon’s full-circle road to the Champions Tour​,” June 27
   T-2. Jerry Tarde, Golf Digest, “​Why golfers climb mountains​,” December
   T-2. Alex Myers, GolfDigest.com, “​How golf helped a war reporter recover​,” July 2

HONORABLE MENTION: James Colgan, Golf.com, “How Rich Lerner became real-time author of Golf TV”; Josh Berhow, Golf.com, “How Ugandan long-shot made U.S. Amateur history.”

LONG PROFILE

1. Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com, “​The Misunderstood life of Grayson Murray​,” Nov. 26
   2. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com, “​His death on a golf course was inexplicable​,” Dec. 28
   3. Ryan Lavner, GolfChannel.com, “​For Trazzy​,” May 13

HONORABLE MENTION: Gabrielle Herzig, The Athletic, “Bryson’s caddie processes a tragedy”; Nick Piastowski, Golf.com, “Block gets honest about whirlwind year.”

ENTERPRISE

1. Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com, “​Why is Tony Finau being sued?​” Sept. 30
   2. Luke Kerr-Dineen, GolfDigest.com, “​I analyzed 1,353 shots from Scheffler’s historic streak​,” May 14
   3. Gary Van Sickle, Memorial Tournament Magazine, “​Rollback rolls on​,” June

HONORABLE MENTION: Nick Piastowski, Golf.com, “This desperate golfer was ready to quit”

LONG FEATURE

1. Alan Bastable, Golf.com, “​Augusta’s trees were coming for her​,” April 5
   2. James Colgan, Golf.com, “​Golf’s post-money generation is here, and they’re terrifying​,” May 26
   3. Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek.com, “​Transgender on Davidson’s win: ‘I don’t think it’s fair’​,” Feb. 2

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

1. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com, “​Grayson Murray’s life touched many. So, too, has his death​,” May 28
   T-2. James Colgan, Golf.com, “​The real sin of $750 Ryder Cup tickets isn’t the price​,” Oct. 17
   T-2. Keely Levins, GolfDigest.com, “​Cringeworthy viral video showcases problem for women golfers​,” Feb 27

HONORABLE MENTION: Tom Coyne, The Golfers Journal, “Requiem for a score:” Gary Van Sickle, SI.com, “Even at the Masters, time marches on”