John Bermel, a 1984 Central College graduate, has been named the Iowa PGA’s golf professional of the year.

Bermel now serves as head golf professional at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls and is also the men’s and women’s golf coach at the University of Northern Iowa. Earlier this year Bermel qualified for the U.S. Senior Open men’s golf tournament. He competed in the first two rounds, July 12-13 at Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan. It was his third major, and first since 1996.

At Central, Bermel was a four-time all-Iowa Conference honoree, finishing as high as second, and received honorable mention all-America distinction three times. He helped the Dutch win league championships all four years and post four top-10 national team finishes at the NCAA Division III championships. He served as team captain in 1984 and was named the squad’s MVP.