Ron McPherson, president and CEO of the Antigua Group, Honored with Entry into Arizona Golf Hall of Fame

(Scottsdale, AZ) - Ron McPherson, a former state amateur champion who is now the president and CEO of the Antigua Group Inc., based in Peoria, will be inducted into the Arizona Hall of Fame Nov. 21 at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale after the completion of a pro-am scramble tournament. McPherson has been involved with golf on various levels, began playing very young and became a proficient amateur player.

McPherson, who was born in Montana and grew up in Wyoming, literally worked his way from the bottom to the top of Antigua, where he was the very first hire (sales manager) in 1979 of a company then called Eagle Golf. From humble beginnings in a Scottsdale warehouse with one embroidery machine, Antigua has grown into one of the nation's leading brands in lifestyle apparel and accessories.

Antigua has expanded into other sports, including an NFL licensing agreement for 2012, but remains most prominent in golf, and in 2011 was the official outfitter of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. McPherson took over as president of Antigua when its founder, Tom Dooley, sold out in 1997 and added CEO to his title in 2003.

"I moved here initially to play and when I realized that wasn't going to work as a career, I moved to the other side of the counter into the supply side of golf," McPherson said. "So to have this (induction) happen is a huge honor. I was quite taken back by it."

On the course, McPherson was Wyoming state amateur champion in 1968 and '70. He is a member of Ancala Country Club and remains a scratch golfer.

His company is a primary sponsor of virtually every significant golf organization and event in the state and McPherson also has been active in raising funds for cancer research through the Banner Health Foundation. Among other things, Antigua has sponsored the Antigua Junior Tour for more than 20 years and sponsored the National High School Championships in Scottsdale in September.

"One of our goals in growing the company through the '80s and '90s was to be an important part of the local golf community, so we've done everything we could to stay involved with various sponsorships, especially junior golf," McPherson said. "The development of young players is very important to us."

McPherson has received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2006 was given the Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contributions to golf by the PGA of America.

The induction ceremony is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. after a 5 p.m. cocktail hour. A better-ball tournament, which ideally will feature one pro and three amateurs in each group, will start at 12 p.m., with registration at 11 a.m. The cost is $175 per player. For more information, contact Maureen LaMantia at 602-944-3035 or 800-458-8484 or go to www.azgolf.org.

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