COLUMBUS, Ga. – Brian Stubbs, one of college golf’s biggest supporters, died Saturday from natural causes. He was 54 years old.
Stubbs had served as the executive director of the Haskins Foundation for the past 13 years, spearheading the promotion of both the Fred Haskins Award, given annually to the national collegiate player of the year, and the Annika Award, which recognizes the top female collegiate player each year. Both honors are the only awards in college golf voted on by players, coaches and media members.
Prior to his role with the Haskins, Stubbs, a graduate of Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia, worked as the head golf professional at the Country Club of Columbus, during which he served a term as president of the Georgia PGA.
Last year, Stubbs was named the Georgia PGA’s executive of the year. Longtime Haskins Foundation board member John Shinkle reckons Stubbs would’ve been a hot commodity across the industry but says Stubbs found his niche as the foundation’s tireless and passionate leader.
“He was so happy in this position,” Shinkle said. “I remember after he won that award, him saying, ‘I love my job. I’m doing what I was meant to do.’ … He knew everybody in college golf. College golf is going to miss him.”
Stubbs took over as the Haskins’ executive director shortly before the Annika Award was created in 2014. At the time, Haskins voting was still being done via paper ballots and phone calls. Stubbs led the awards into the modern era, and since taking over had easily quadrupled the number of votes the Haskins received on an annual basis.
“He always wanted one vote more than last year, and he always got it,” Shinkle said.
Golfweek’s Lance Ringler chuckles when he thinks back to Stubbs sitting in media rooms at NCAA Championships as votes for both awards would come in.
“He’d get a vote, say it was a player from Colgate, and sure enough, he’d look up that player’s Instagram and send them a direct message, ‘Thank you for voting,’” Ringler said. “I’d be like, ‘Stubbs, what are you doing?’ He’d tell me he wanted to thank every player who voted. That’s how deeply he cared. … I still remember how excited he’d get when a new school would vote.”
Stubbs was a constant at tournaments – men and women, big and small, far and wide – throughout the season. He’d usually drive to those events, trophy riding shotgun and strapped in with a seatbelt. One time, he trekked from his home in Columbus, Georgia, to Scottsdale, Arizona, for the NCAA Championship.
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