Meet The Agronomists

Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy

chartwiger@usga.org | 678-591-7410 | Based in Pinehurst, NC

Chris Hartwiger is based in Pinehurst, NC and is the Director of Agronomy.

Darin Bevard, director, Championship Agronomy

dbevard@usga.org | 610-246-9263 | Based in Kennett Square, PA

Darin Bevard is the director of Championship Agronomy for the USGA Green Section and is based out of Kennett Square, Pa. He oversees agronomic preparations for USGA championships with an emphasis on open championships.

Cole Thompson Ph.D., director, Turfgrass and Environmental Research

cthompson@usga.org | 908-396-1562 | Based in Pinehurst, NC

Dr. Cole Thompson oversees the USGA’s turfgrass and environmental research initiatives to improve sustainability and advance turfgrass science principles that enhance management practices for golf courses.

Jordan Booth, Ph.D., director, Course Consulting Service

jbooth@usga.org | 804-814-3078 | Based in Pinehurst, NC

Jordan joined the Green Section in 2021 as an agronomist in the Southeast Region. He is currently based out of North Carolina.

Elliott L. Dowling, regional director, East Region

edowling@usga.org | 224-656-9773 | Based in Oxford, PA

Elliott is an agronomist in the USGA Green Section’s Northeast Region based out of Oxford, Pa. He helps golf facilities maintain better playing conditions through USGA Course Consulting Service on-site visits, educational outreach and research throughout the region.

Brian Gietka, agronomist, East Region

bgietka@usga.org | 410-218-0131 | Based in Hagerstown, MD

Brian joined the Green Section in 2023 as an agronomist in the East Region. He is based out of the Mid-Atlantic area.

John Rowland, Ph.D., agronomist, East Region

jrowland@usga.org | 954-952-7743

John joined the Green Section in 2022 as an agronomist in the Southeast Region and is based out of Florida.

Paul Jacobs, agronomist, Central Region

pjacobs@usga.org | 734-642-5927 | Based in Prescott, AZ

Paul joined the Green Section in June of 2016 as an agronomist in the Northeast Region and has relocated to the Central Region.

Zach Nicoludis, regional director, Central Region

znicoludis@usga.org | 412-215-6488 | Based in Columbus, OH

Zach joined the Green Section in the spring of 2016 as an agronomist in the Central Region. He is based in Columbus, Ohio and conducts visits in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky as well as providing educational outreach throughout the Central Region.

Brian Whitlark, regional director, West Region

bwhitlark@usga.org | 480-215-1958 | Based in Gilbert, AZ

Whitlark joined the Green Section staff in 2008 as a senior consulting agronomist in the West Region. He makes Course Consulting Service visits in Arizona, Nevada, California, New Mexico and Mexico.

Cory Isom, agronomist, West Region

cisom@usga.org | 831-917-3152 | Based in Puyallup, WA

Cory Isom is an agronomist in the USGA Green Section’s West Region. He is based in Puyallup, Washington.