MERRIAM, Kan.,
— The AdventHealth Championship announced the winners of the inaugural Grayson Murray Be Kind to One Another Legacy Award: longtime Korn Ferry Tour player Josh Teater is the winner of the player/caddie award, and Susie Gurley the winner of the community award.
Winners were selected from more than 25 nominations for this first-time award. Teater was nominated by several fellow caddies and players for this award that recognizes those who embody the spirit of the late 2023 AdventHealth Championship winner, Grayson Murray. Murray, who was open about his personal experience with anxiety, depression and addiction, tragically took his own life in May 2024 at the young age of 30.
“Day in and day out, Josh Teater has genuine conversations to his peers and the staff of the KF Tour,” said nominator, Chris Erwin. “He makes a conscious effort to have a positive energy level every single day with a goal of sharing that with others through actions and words.”
The professional golf community and international sports world was shocked and saddened by Murray’s passing one year after his triumphant 2023 win in Kansas City. His willingness to speak candidly on these important topics and his personal generosity to help others is the inspiration for this new award.
“This is an honor and total surprise,” said Teater. “It’s a wonderful feeling and deeply meaningful to know I’ve had a positive impact on others.”
The community award was given to Susie Gurley, creator of the “Just a Mom” podcast. Susie became a mental health advocate after her youngest son, Will, emerged as a teen spokesperson about his battle with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. What began as the self- described “darkest period” of her life, became a calling to support other parents of children who struggle with mental illness.
“It’s truly humbling, but it’s not why I do what I do,” said Gurley. “I am a Christian and I think God uniquely positioned me to deliver the stories and move the ball forward a little bit. We are not meant to do this by ourselves. We are not alone, there is hope.”
Both award winners stood out to the selection committee for their selfless, caring nature and willingness to help others. Teater even had a personal connection to Grayson, having played practice rounds of golf with him in the past.
“Josh embodies the spirit of this award through his kindness, humility, and the genuine care he shows to everyone around him,” said the Murrays. “He leads with compassion, treats everyone with respect, and reminds us all of the power of simply being kind.”
“Susie has turned her son’s challenges into purpose, using her voice to raise awareness and remind others they are never alone. Her courage, compassion, and commitment to mental health advocacy reflect the very heart of this award.”
Terry and Eric Murray were in attendance to present the first-annual Grayson Murray Be Kind to One Another Legacy Award during the closing ceremonies of the 2025 AdventHealth Championship on Sunday, May 18, at Blue Hills Country Club.
“We are so proud to highlight someone from Kansas City and someone on Tour who make it part of their personal mission to be on the lookout for the people around them who need a kind word or some encouragement,” said Sam Huenergardt, AdventHealth Mid-America Region president and CEO. “Both Josh and Susie demonstrate that we all have the capacity and time to make a difference for everyone around us.”
For more information about the award, or to nominate a community member or organization, please visit www.adventhealthchampionship.com/grayson-murray-legacy-award
About Korn Ferry Tour
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops golf’s next stars, preparing them to compete and win on the game’s biggest stage. The Korn Ferry Tour, which has served as a path to the PGA TOUR since its inception, annually awards 20 PGA TOUR cards based off its points list, with the No. 1 player earning exemptions into the following year’s PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open. With more than 700 PGA TOUR titles, 32 major championships and eight FedExCup champions, Korn Ferry Tour alumni make up 82 percent of the PGA TOUR’s current membership. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for PGA TOUR cards, visit PGATOUR.COM or follow the Korn Ferry Tour on social media. Ten Korn Ferry Tour events in 2025 are televised on Golf Channel in the United States, with tournament coverage available internationally in more than 170 countries and territories via 23 media partners.
About AdventHealth Championship
The AdventHealth Championship, a PGA TOUR sanctioned event on the Korn Ferry Tour, is conducted annually at Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City, Missouri. This four-day, 72-hole competition features 156 players from around the world vying for a total purse of 1,000,000. As the path to the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour features some of the most talented professional golfers who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. The AdventHealth Championship is quickly becoming a cornerstone Kansas City event, utilizing professional golf to positively impact the KC Heartland and those charities supported. The 2025 AdventHealth Championship will take place May 12-18 at Blue Hills Country Club. For more information about the AdventHealth Championship, please visit www.AdventHealthChampionship.com.
About Grayson Murray Foundation
The Grayson Murray Foundation was founded by Eric and Terry Murray after the heartbreaking loss of their son, Grayson, who sadly took his own life. The Foundation’s mission is to provide awareness and support around mental health and addiction, as well as a commitment to funding innovative services and research. The Foundation aims to create a noticeable impact on mental health and addiction care by supporting innovative research, expanding access to essential services and fostering a culture of understanding inspired by Murray’s legacy of compassion, resilience and hope. The Grayson Murray Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization; for more information please visit www.graysonmurrayfoundation.com. Murray was a standout golfer from his youth and quickly worked his way up to the Korn Ferry Tour, officially turning professional in 2015. He finished No. 2 in the 2016 Korn Ferry Tour standings in his first full season as a professional, earning PGA TOUR membership for the 2016-2017 season. Murray quickly established himself on golf’s biggest stage as a PGA TOUR rookie, winning the 2017 ISCO Championship for the first of his two career victories on TOUR. Murray returned to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 and notched two victories – the AdventHealth Championship in Kansas City, and Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation outside of Nashville – to finish No. 7 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List and secure a return to the PGA TOUR. Murray opened the 2024 season with a playoff victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii for his second PGA TOUR title.
Just a Mom Podcast
Susie Stapp Gurley was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, Dan Gurley, shortly after graduating from TCU with a degree in advertising and public relations. In her first career, Susie worked in college admissions and academic advising. Simultaneously she pursued a master’s degree from The University of Central Missouri in sociology and then worked for the Sedgwick County, KS Department of Aging as a case worker. Susie stepped away from the professional world in 1997 to become a stay-at-home mom. She spent the majority of the last 25 years as a wife, mother and volunteer, primarily in her church and her three children’s schools and activities. Susie became a mental health advocate after her youngest son emerged as a teen spokesperson about his battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In 2018, at the age of 15, Will, founded the You Matter Festival, a musical festival promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Will shared his personal mental health struggles with the 1,000-person crowd, which started his role as a local KC teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, Susie recorded a video #ZeroReasonsWhy (https://zeroreasonswhy.org), a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide in the Johnson County, Kansas area. This video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of the Just A Mom podcast. Susie decided that she needed to follow the brave trail blazed by her son and become and outspoken advocate for parents of children who struggle with mental illness. Susie served as the executive director of the You Mader Festival and on the Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Board. Susie has three grown children, two daughters-in-law and a son-in-law. To learn more, please visit www.JustAMomPodcast.com
