12/11/2025
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, December 11, 2025
JACKSONVILLE AREA GOLF ASSOCIATION
ELECTS 2026 OFFICERS
-Duke Butler III of TPC Sawgrass reelected to serve
second one-year term as president-
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) elected its 2026 officers on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at its end-of-year Annual Meeting at Stillwater Golf and Country Club. Duke Butler III of TPC Sawgrass was elected to serve a second one-year term as president in 2026 and will lead the organization as it celebrates its 73rd year of promoting golf, community goodwill and volunteerism, and awarding college scholarships.
As was the case with last year’s elections, only one officer is departing the Board this year, giving JAGA the benefit of leadership continuity once again in 2026.
The 2026 officers are:
Jim Loftin of The Palencia Club returns as the Vice President of Administration for a third year.
Jeff Johnstone of Sawgrass Country Club is the Vice President of Tournaments for the fifth straight year.
Another Sawgrass Country Club director, Joe Cronauer, was elected Secretary. Cronauer replaces Ryan Wharton of The Golf Club of South Hampton, who served in the Secretary capacity in 2025. Wharton will turn his focus to overseeing relationships with JAGA member courses.
John Milton of Jax Beach Golf Club will continue in his role as Treasurer, a position he has filled on either an interim or officer basis since April 2024.
The following is background on each of the 2026 officers:
DUKE BUTLER III – President
JAGA director, TPC Sawgrass, since 2015….Retired PGA TOUR executive/Competitions and Tournament Business Affairs…A graduate of Texas A&M, where he was a four-year member of the Aggie golf team….Was a teaching professional at Baltusrol GC in New Jersey under 1928 U.S. Open champion Johnny Farrell prior to playing briefly on the PGA TOUR….Served as Executive Director of the Houston Golf Association (1978-1991), which included oversight of the PGA TOUR’s Shell Houston Open prior to joining the PGA TOUR staff….A member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, recipient of the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and perennial advocate of junior golf….A Life Member of the PGA of America, he became the first PGA member to be president of JAGA when elected to the post last December….A native of College Station, Texas….Resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
JEFF JOHNSTONE – Vice President of Tournaments
JAGA director, Sawgrass Country Club, since 2021….Co-chairman of both JAGA First Coast Amateur and JAGA Senior Amateur…..Will serve as VP/Tournaments for the fifth year in a row in 2025.…Retired, former Commanding Officer USS Yorktown (CG48) and Senior Vice President, Service Delivery Centurylink Communications….Native of Moline, IL….Graduate of the United States Naval Academy, with a post-graduate degree from Naval Post Graduate School.…Resides in Ponte Vedra Beach.
JIM LOFTIN – Vice President of Administration
JAGA director, The Palencia Club, since 2018….Will serve as VP/Administration for the third year in a row…A resident of St. Augustine since 2016 after relocating from Columbus, Ga….Attended Columbus State University on a golf scholarship, graduating in 1990 with a BA in Finance…Was a member of the school’s 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship team and teammate of Jim “Bones” MacKay.…Is Co-CEO of Cantrell & Morgan, Inc., a North Florida commercial real estate firm.
JOE CRONAUER – Secretary
JAGA director, Sawgrass Country Club, since 2022…Will serve as a JAGA officer for the first time…Retired, career Naval Officer and Engineering/Operations Leader, W.L. Gore and Associates...Graduate of United States Naval Academy ('81, BSNA), and Naval Postgraduate School ('87, MSME)...Dedicates time to multiple volunteer organizations...Native of Summerhill, PA...Resides in Ponte Vedra Beach.
JOHN MILTON – Treasurer
JAGA director since 2015, having represented Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club and now Jax Beach GC.…Retired from CSX after a 37-year career serving its Engineering and Industrial Development groups.…Past Chairman of the Board of First Florida Credit Union….Served as JAGA president (2023), Assistant VP/Tournaments (2018-2021) and Treasurer (April, 2023 – present)....Co-chairman of JAGA First Coast Amateur (2018-present) and JAGA Jacksonville Amateur presented by Pinnacle (2018-2022).…Two-time Captain of winning Underwood Cup Amateur Team (2018 and 2019)….2011 JAGA Senior Amateur champion….Born at Ft. Benning, Ga. and experienced 12 relocations as an army brat and railroader….Clemson University graduate (’77 BSCE)….Resides in Jacksonville.
Editor’s Note: Not all five of the 2026 JAGA officers were in attendance at the December Annual Meeting. A group photo of the five will be taken at next month’s meeting and distributed to JAGA constituents and the media.
ABOUT JAGA
Established in 1954, JAGA celebrates its 72nd year in 2025. It is a not-for-profit corporation of approximately 40-member golf facilities located in Northeast Florida. JAGA’s mission is to promote golf, community and goodwill through tournaments and related events and activities. It conducts or supports 11 tournaments, including six championship events and five others that feature team formats. JAGA has a charitable arm that manages a scholarship program which currently provides college funding for more than 60 area students. Since 1974, the program has generated approximately $2 million in financial aid to approximately 400 students.
Anyone interested in receiving JAGA’s monthly “Northeast Florida Golf News” and announcements about JAGA and its tournaments for free via email may do so by clicking here or going to the JAGA homepage (www.jaxareagolf.org) and the box that reads “Subscribe to JAGA Email”.
-JAGA-
Contact: Jeff Adams
JAGA
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 904-607-6142
“Balancing school, golf, and work while preparing for the GRE has been challenging, and the financial support from JAGA has helped relieve some of that pressure.
