Bristol Pro Golfer Billy Andrade Wins PGA Award For Character

BRISTOL, RI — Bristol native Bill Andrade has enjoyed a 35-year professional golf career, winning four PGA TOURs. But on Tuesday, the PGA honored him for his work away from the golf course.

Andrade received the Payne Stewart Award at a ceremony in Atlanta. The award, presented annually, is given to the golfer who best exemplifies Stewart's commitment to character, charity and sportsmanship.

"It’s very special. Payne was unbelievable to me and I got to know him very well," Andrade told the PGA's news site. "I"m speechless, really, to think that now I'm part of this elite group of past recipients who have all done it the right way. It's really nice to see that people have watched and seen that I can inspire others, and I can’t thank Southern Company, the TOUR and Jay Monahan enough to now call myself a Payne Stewart Award recipient."

Andrade, 58, was born in Bristol. He moved south to begin his dream of competing as a professional golfer. He went to Wake Forest University, after receiving the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. Andrade now resides in Atlanta.