HOOVER, AL (January 8, 2019) -- Three first-timers and three previous winners have been named 2018 Alabama Amateur Players of the Year by the Alabama Golf Association (AGA).
The Alabama Amateur Player of the Year awards are presented to the number one ranked individual in each of six categories at the end of the calendar year based on the AGA’s state amateur ranking system except for the two junior awards that utilize a September-August calendar year. The Men’s Player of the Year Award was first created in 1994 to honor Alabama amateur golfers who had exceptional individual tournament performances during the year. Since then, the awards have been expanded to include Women (2010), Senior Men (2016), Senior Women (2016), Junior Boys (2017), and Junior Girls (2017).
Seven Alabama Men's Players of the Year have competed on the PGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions. Notable past award winners include: Garrett Osborn (2000), Patton Kizzire (2003), Bobby Wyatt (2011-2012), Michael Johnson (2013), and Robby Shelton IV (2015). Will Swift (2002, 2005, 2006) and Steve Hudson (2004, 2009, 2010) are tied for the most awards with three apiece.
Winners will be honored at the AGA Awards Luncheon on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Old Overton Club in Birmingham.
Complete rankings are available on the Alabama Golf Association website at www.alabamagolf.org.
2018 Alabama Amateur Player of the Year Award Winners
MEN
Clay Guerin, of Hoover, claims his first Alabama Men's Player of the Year award after winning the State Four-Ball Championship held at Indian Hills Country Club with partner Will Swift and the National Invitational Tournament at The Country Club of Birmingham. Guerin reached the Round of 16 at the Alabama State Match Play Championship contested at Burningtree Country Club, had a top 3 finish at the Alabama State Mid-Amateur played at Willow Point Golf & Country Club, and finished in the top 15 at the Alabama State Amateur hosted by Pine Tree Country Club. Guerin has two career AGA titles: State Four-Ball Championship (2018 with Will Swift), State Mid-Amateur Championship (2016).
WOMEN
Cammie Bentley, of Tuscaloosa, captures her second Alabama Women’s Player of the Year award (2013) by virtue of winning her second Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship title that was played at The Country Club of Birmingham. Bentley also finished tied for fourth place at the Women’s Stroke Play Championship and advanced to the Round of 32 at the Women’s Southern Amateur Championship. In May, Bentley along with partner Alison Hovatter, advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship held at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, FL. Bentley has claimed five AGA titles: Women’s State Amateur Championship (2013,2018), Women’s State Stroke Play Championship (2012, 2013, 2017).
SENIOR MEN
Claud Cooper, of Birmingham, wins his first Alabama Senior Men’s Player of the Year award after capturing a one stroke victory at the State Senior Amateur Championship held at Moore’s Mill Club in Auburn. Cooper finished second at the State Senior Four-Ball Championship with partner Steve Hudson and qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship held at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, OR, where he advanced to the Round of 64. The 2018 State Senior Amateur was Cooper’s first AGA title.
SENIOR WOMEN
Susan West, of Tuscaloosa, earns her third consecutive Alabama Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor boosted by a victory at the Women’s Southern Mid-Amateur Championship held at her home club - NorthRiver Yacht Club. West qualified for two USGA championships – the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship at Chicago Golf Club and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach, FL where she advanced to the Round of 64. West was also a quarterfinalist at the Jones/Doherty Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and finished in fourth place at the Senior Women’s North & South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, NC. West has three career AGA titles: Women’s State Senior Amateur Championship (2015-2017).
JUNIOR BOYS
Nick Dunlap, of Birmingham and class of 2022, wins his first Alabama Junior Boys Player of the Year award highlighted by a five shot victory at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship held at GlenLakes Golf Club in Foley. He finished fourth at the Southern Junior Championship at Squire Creek Country Club in Louisiana, fifth at the AHSAA 7A State Championship, qualified for the Alabama Men’s State Amateur Championship, and has multiple AJGA top-10 performances to his credit. A high school freshman, Dunlap and his family relocated to South Carolina prior to the 2018-19 school year.
JUNIOR GIRLS
Michaela Morard, of Huntsville and class of 2020, is a junior at Randolph School in Huntsville. She won two AGA state titles in 2018 – Alabama Girls State Junior Championship at Montgomery Country Club and Alabama Women’s Stroke Play at Canebrake Club in Athens, where she shattered her own scoring record with a blistering 21-under (63-66-66) clearing second place by 11 shots. She finished second at the AHSAA 4A/5A State Championship, fourth individually at the 2017 USGA Women’s State Team Championship in New Mexico and was a member of the victorious Team Alabama at the 2018 Southern Junior Cup at Old Kinderhook in Missouri. Morard has six career AGA titles: Alabama Girls State Junior Championship (2015, 2017, 2018), Alabama Women’s Stroke Play Championship (2016, 2018), Alabama Women’s Four-Ball Championship (2015 with Ally Williams). She has verbally committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Alabama.
Past Alabama Players of the Year Award Winners
Men
1994 - Eric Hamilton
1995 - Patrick Levio
1996 - John Coles
1997 - Eric Hamilton
1998 - Scott Weatherly
1999 - Joey Holley
2000 - Joey Holley
2001 - Talbert Griffin
2002 - Will Swift
2003 - Patton Kizzire
2004 - Steve Hudson
2005 - Will Swift
2006 - Will Swift
2007 - Garrett Osborn
2008 - Talbert Griffin
2009 - Steve Hudson
2010 - Steve Hudson
2011 - Bobby Wyatt
2012 - Bobby Wyatt
2013 - Michael Johnson
2014 - Stewart Jolly
2015 - Robby Shelton IV
2016 - Patrick Martin
2017 - Matt Gourgeot
2018 - Clay Guerin
Women
2010 - Kathy Hartwiger
2011 - Kathy Hartwiger
2012 - Kathy Hartwiger
2013 - Cammie Gray
2014 - Virginia Green
2015 - Kathy Hartwiger
2016 - Elaine Wood
2017 - Elaine Wood
2018 - Cammie Bentley
Senior Men
2016 - Steve Hudson
2017 - Steve Hudson
2018 - Claud Cooper
Senior Women
2016 - Susan West
2017 - Susan West
2018 - Susan West
Junior Boys
2017 - Ethan Hagood
2018 - Nick Dunlap
Junior Girls
2017 - Michaela Morard
2018 - Michaela Morard
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About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of over 130 member clubs represented by nearly 18,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. AGA is the USGA's liaison for golf in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the USGA Handicap system including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating and education. The AGA annually conducts 19 championships and team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. The AGA also conducts Alabama high school golf championships and assists with many collegiate events including the SEC Men's Golf Championship. In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Women's Scholarship Fund that is dedicated to assisting young female golfers in higher education and supports the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org. |
