GCSAA announces 2025 Dr. James Watson Fellows

Michael Battaglia, Mikerly Joseph and Zachary Newsome are the 2025 Dr. James Watson Fellows from the GCSAA, and each will receive a $5,000 scholarship and attend the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. The Watson Fellowship is supported by The Toro Company and is administered by the GCSAA Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GCSAA.

The Watson Fellowship, started in 1998, is named in honor of the late James R. Watson, Ph.D., a pioneer and visionary in turfgrass research and vice president at The Toro Company. The fellowship recognizes students in postgraduate degree programs who have been identified as scientists that will go on to be leaders in turfgrass management.

“The future of  golf and its sustainability efforts rely on innovative turfgrass research, and its thanks to researchers like the 2025 Watson Fellowship Program winners that the game of golf continues to thrive,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “We thank The Toro Company for its ongoing support for the Watson Fellowship Program. Congratulations to Mikerly, Michael and Zachary for this honor.”

Battaglia recently began his Ph.D. program in turfgrass pathology at the University of Arkansas, where he received his master’s degree in horticulture. His masters’ research work includes the development of a cooling degree-day model to optimize fungicide applications against spring dead spot (SDS) and examining strategies for improving SDS management in non-irrigated turfgrass.

He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in agronomy with a focus on turfgrass weed science at the University of Florida. His doctoral research integrates turfgrass and weed sciences in cutting-edge, artificial intelligence-based solutions to develop and optimize a turfgrass-specific ground-bases targeted herbicide application system.

Newsome is working toward a master’s degree in agricultural and environmental plant science at Penn State University after receiving his bachelor’s degree in turfgrass science, also from Penn State. His postgraduate research examines how soil moisture influences the behavior, fitness and control of the annual bluegrass weevil.

“At The Toro Company, our philanthropic mission is rooted in advancing education and research that strengthen the future of the industries we serve,” The Toro Company president Marnie K. Wells said. “The Watson Fellowship embodies that commitment by supporting students whose work is driving meaningful progress in turfgrass science. Through this investment, we help promote sustainable practices, elevate course conditions, and ensure the long-term vitality of the game of golf.”

Watson was a visionary and leading authority on turfgrass. He was vice president for customer relations and chief agronomist for The Toro Company. His passion for educating and developing the next generation of turf scientists was a key reason for the establishment of this fellowship.

Dr. Watson’s leadership and contribution was recognized in many ways. He was the winner of the USGA Green Section Award in 1976 and the 1977 Agronomic Service Award by the American Society of Agronomy. Following these achievements, Watson was named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America in 1979. He also won the 1991 Harry Gill Memorial Award from the Sports Turf Managers Association; the Old Tom Morris Award, a special GCSAA honor, in 1995; and the Donald Rossi Award from the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA).

Over the course of more than five decades at The Toro Company, Watson collaborated with the scientific community and customers. He conducted research on water conservation, the adaptability of turfgrasses, fertilization practices, snow mold prevention techniques for the winter protection of turfgrasses, and more. He also authored more than 400 articles on turfgrass management.