PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA recently bestowed certifications on seven more members.

Steve Atherton of Centennial, Colo.; Thomas Ham of Hudsonville, Mich.; Peter Huber of Tucson, Ariz.; Mark Lammi of Bogart, Ga.; William Madonna of Orlando, Fla.; Alan Ochiai of Santa Ana, Calif.; and Matthew O'Keefe of Simpsonville, Ky., have earned Specialty Certification and Master Professional status after fulfilling advanced education requirements.

Atherton, Huber, Madonna, Ochiai and O'Keefe earned Specialty Certification in Instruction; while Ham received certification in General Management and Lammi earned certification in Golf Operations.

Elected to PGA membership in 2000, Atherton, 30, is vice president of instruction at GolfTEC Headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colo. Huber, 43, is a PGA Teaching Professional at Ventana Canyon Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz., and was elected to PGA membership in 1989.

Madonna, 60, is director of instruction at the Bill Madonna Golf Academy at Hawk's Landing Golf Club at the Orlando (Fla.) World Center Marriott. He was elected to PGA membership in 1974.

Ochiai, 47, is a PGA teaching professional at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, Calif., and was elected to PGA membership in 1989. O'Keefe, 41, is director of instruction at Lindsey Golf Course in Fort Knox, Ky., and was elected to PGA membership in 1999.

Ham, 43, is general manager and PGA head professional at Gleneagle Golf Club in Hudsonville, Mich., and was elected to PGA membership in 1995.

Lammi, 28, is PGA Head Professional at Reynolds Plantation/Great Waters Golf Club in Eatonton, Ga. He was elected to PGA membership in 2000.

The seven PGA Professionals are among 157 Certified PGA Professionals, who comprise seven specialty areas: Golf Car Fleet Management, Tournament Operations, Teaching, Merchandising, General Management, Rules and Golf Operations. The 157 Certified PGA Professionals hold a combined 181 certifications and join a list of 339 PGA Master Professionals in six career paths including Golf Operations, General Management, Ownership/Leasing, Retail, Instruction and Executive Management.

PGA Specialty Certification is designed to assist PGA Professionals in their quest for excellence within the golf industry. They are recognized for their expertise in a specific area and exceeding Professional standards in an evolving and competitive marketplace.

A minimum of eight years combined experience and education, and successful completion of checkpoint activities, are required to receive certification.

The checkpoint activities include an objective knowledge test, an oral presentation before a certification panel, a live lesson requirement for teaching certification and an outdoor simulation exam for Rules certification.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2006, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.