Former Amateur Championship winner turned three-time European Tour champion Stephen Dodd was named the 2025 recipient of the John Barnett Memorial Trophy, awarded for services to Welsh golf.
The trophy commemorates Barnett, a PGA Member and staunch supporter of professional golf in Wales, who captained The PGA from 1997-99 and was head professional at Royal St David's, Harlech, for many years. It was instigated by Peter Johnson, another champion of Welsh golf and PGA Professional who played a major role in developing the Vale Resort when he was director of golf.
Bestowed annually on an individual or organisation for services to Welsh golf, the trophy is presented each year at the Welsh National PGA Championship. Previous recipients include 1991 Masters champion and 2006 Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, Asbri Golf, and, posthumously, six-time Welsh National PGA champion Sid Mouland, whose trophy was collected on his behalf by his son, Mark Mouland, in 2024.
Dodd, from Barry, enjoyed a stellar amateur career before turning professional, winning the Amateur Championship in 1989 - a victory that qualified him to play in the Open Championship that year - and representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup.
He went on to become one of Wales' most successful professionals. After turning pro in 1990, Dodd claimed three European Tour titles - the China Open in 2004, the Irish Open in 2005 and the European Open in 2006 - and, alongside Bradley Dredge, won the World Cup of Golf for Wales in 2005.
His career enjoyed a remarkable second act on the senior circuit. Since turning 50, Dodd has won four times on the Staysure Legends Tour, and in 2021 claimed his first senior major, the Senior Open at Sunningdale, holding off Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke. That victory made him the first Welshman to win the title since Brian Huggett in 1998, and he went on to top the Order of Merit that season.
