PGA Staff
Eric C. Wilson, PhD, PGA Master Professional
Campus Director, The College of Golf
Dr. Eric C. Wilson is a PGA Master Professional in Instruction, one of 430 out of 28,000 PGA Members and Apprentices. Being a member of the College's PGA faculty allows him to live, work, and play in Port St Lucie, home of the PGA Education Center, where he trains both PGA Members and Apprentices.
In 1996, Dr. Wilson became Campus Director for the San Diego Golf Academy (SDGA), and later was the Campus Director at three of the four SDGA campuses, opening two of them from inception. He was listed by Golf Digest Magazine as one of the best teachers in South Carolina for six years in a row, and has over 12,000 hours of classroom teaching experience and has given over 10,000 individual golf lessons.
Dr. Wilson's Achievements include:
• 1994 - Horton Smith Award for the Southwest Section of the PGA
• 2002 - Bill Strausbaugh Award for the Carolinas Section of the PGA
• 2005 - Horton Smith Award for the Carolinas Section of the PGA
• Adjunct Faculty PGA's PGM Program (Since 1994)
• Certified Professional Program Mentor (one of only 30 PGA Members)
• PGA Master Professional Faculty (one of only 17 PGA Members)
• Chairman of Special Olympics Golf Committee for North America.
Brian Hughes, PGA Certified Professional
Program Director, The College of Golf
Brian Hughes is a Certified PGA Professional, one of the first 100 professionals in the nation to achieve this distinction. Mr. Hughes comes to Keiser University after working for the San Diego Golf Academy, Carolinas Campus since 2004. He is an expert in golf education, having graduated from the Golf Academy of the South as Valedictorian.
A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Hughes began his professional career as assistant golf professional at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, site of two PGA Championships and host of the 2008 Ryder Cup.
During his time at the TPC Avenel in Potomac, Maryland he assisted in the operation of six PGA TOUR events and played an integral role in the club being named one of Golf Shop Operations Magazine’s top 100 Golf Shops for five consecutive years. Later, as Head Golf Professional at the Golf Club at Yankee Trace in Centerville, Ohio, Brian was twice named the Southern Ohio PGA Merchandiser of the Year and was an extremely visible member of the community. Mr. Hughes went on to help develop two more facilities, Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope, Pennsylvania and Musket Ridge Golf Club in Myersville, Maryland. He brings to The College of Golf at Keiser University a wealth of educational, golf operations and tournament experience.
TJ Tomasi, Ph.D. PGA Professional, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher
GOLF Magazine Articles by Dr. Tomasi
Golf With TJ Tomasi.com
Dr. Tomasi is one of the most published professionals in the world with articles that appear in all the major golf magazines including Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golf Tips Magazine. He is the author of a weekly syndicated golf page called Insider Golf that appears around the world as well as the author of 13 books. He is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and has held that distinction for a number of years. Recently, Dr. Tomasi was appointed as the Program Director for Golf Magazines Top 100 Organization. He is also an authority on biomechanics and has been a presenter at educational seminars hosted by MIT in Boston, the PGA of America and the LPGA. He was the adjunct instructor at the Merrill Lynch Skins Game in Palm Springs in 2005 featuring Tiger Woods, and Annika Sorenstam and he does numerous golf outings for major corporations such as Wachovia, Pioneer and Deutches Bank. In 1999, GOLF Magazine appointed Dr. Tomasi chairperson of their worldwide Science & Golf Research Committee in order to find the most innovative and exciting research in golf. Dr. Tomasi holds a Ph.D. in Education, a Masters Degree in Education and an undergraduate degree in Sociology. It is estimated that he has given over 50,000 lessons.
David Wixson, PGA Certified Professional
David Wixson is a Certified PGA Professional, a distinction currently held by less than 3% of golf professionals in the nation.
A graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wixson began his professional career as assistant golf professional at Spring-Ford Country Club near Philadelphia before going to Doral Resort and Country Club where he had the unique privilege of studying the teaching methods of three top 100 golf instructors: Jim McLean, Jimmy Ballard and Kevin Walker. Mr. Wixson joined the Marriott Golf organization, working at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. was later named the Director of Instruction at Marriott’s Stone Mountain Golf Club, and also served as Senior Instructor of the Faldo Golf Institute at Marriott’s Seaview Resort. Since 2003, Mr. Wixson has operated Golf Perfect, LLC and served as Lead Golf Instructor for both MC’s Golf Academy and National Golf Schools in the Atlantic City. Mr. Wixson brings to The College of Golf more than 20 years of professional experience in the golf industry and a true passion for the game, both of which he looks forward to sharing with our students.
Donna White, PGA Professional, Class A LPGA Tour Division/Class A LPGA Teaching and Club Professional member, Top 50 Teacher
Ms White’s tenacity and commitment to excellence drives her passion to promote the game of golf to any and all ages and abilities. Her students vary from beginner to tour player. She is an instructor for the LPGA Player Development program, a national program in which LPGA and PGA club professionals attend to improve their golf skills two times a year and conducts corporate golf schools in the U.S. and Canada. A native of North Carolina, Donna enjoyed a successful junior, amateur and collegiate career winning many titles including the 1976 United States Women’s Amateur Championship in 1976. While attending the University of North Carolina-Greensboro she teamed with Candy Sibbick to win the 1973 Women’s Two Person National Championship. Transferring to the University of Florida in 1974, she won multiple collegiate titles and graduated in 1976 with a BSPE degree with certification for grades K-12.
Professional Highlights
- Winner of three LPGA tour events and ranked top 20 LPGA money winners 5 times in career
- 2010 Top 50 Women Teachers in America (Ranked #11): Golf Digest
- 2009 Top 100 Teachers: Golf Digest
- 2008-2009 LPGA Top 50 Teacher’s List
- 2008 LPGA National Professional of the Year Award
- 2008 LPGA Southeast Section Professional of the Year Award
- 2007 LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award recipient
- 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 “Top 50 Teacher”, Golf for Women Magazine
- 2004 Hall of Fame Inductee: UNC- Greensboro
- 2003 Merchandiser of the Year, LPGA Southeast Section
- 2002 Merchandiser of the Year, Public Facility, PGA SE Chapter
- 1999 “LPGA Professional of the Year” nominee
- 1986 Inductee into Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame
- University of Florida, first female athlete Hall of Fame and Letterman’s Association inductee
Frank Longabucco, PGA Certified Professional
Frank Longabucco was elected to the PGA of America in August 1998. A graduate of Rider University in New Jersey with a BS in Finance, he began his golf professional career as an assistant golf professional at Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation Florida, and worked at several other golf clubs in the state over the next several years. As a head golf professional he brings a wealth of knowledge in all areas of golf operations and has been recognized for his customer relations skills. Mr. Longabucco became a Certified PGA Professional in Golf Operations in August 2006.He specializes in short game instruction, and believes that balance, tempo and a great short game are the key elements in scoring. Mr. Longabucco was winner of the 2003 SECSFPGA Pro-Pro Chapter Championship and 2007 SECSFPGA Pro-Pro Classic. Mr. Longabucco is truly excited to be part of Keiser University’s College of Golf and looks forward to sharing his knowledge in the classroom and on the golf course with our students.
