BIRMINGHAM, AL (January 12, 2017) -- Three first-timers and one previous winner have been named 2016 Alabama Amateur Players of the Year by the Alabama Golf Association (AGA).
|
Men: Patrick Martin (Birmingham) |
Women: Elaine Wood (Spanish Fort) |
|
Senior Men: Steve Hudson (Birmingham) |
Senior Women: Susan West (Tuscaloosa) |
The Men’s Players of the Year Award was created in 1994 to honor Alabama amateur golfers who had exceptional individual tournament performances over the preceding year. The Awards have been expanded to include Women (2010), Senior Men (2016) and Senior Women (2016).
The awards are given to the number one golfer based on the AGA amateur rankings at the end of the calendar year. Seven Alabama Men's Players of the Year have competed on the PGA or Senior PGA Tour. Notable past award winners include: Garrett Osborn (2000), Patton Kizzire (2003), Bobby Wyatt (2011-2012), Michael Johnson (2013), Robby Shelton IV (2015). Will Swift (2002, 2005-2006) and Steve Hudson (2004, 2009-2010) have the most awards with three each.
2016 Alabama Amateur Player of the Year Award Winners
MEN
Patrick Martin of Birmingham, claims his first Alabama Men's Player of the Year award. Martin, a sophomore, plays for the number one ranked (Golfstat) Vanderbilt Men’s golf team and is ranked 53rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Martin is second on the team this year with a 70.40 scoring average. His notable finishes included T3 at the SunTrust Gator Invitational, T4 at the Carmel Cup @ Pebble Beach Golf Links and T6 at the East Lake Cup. Martin was named to the All-SEC 2nd Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team. In AGA play, Martin has finished in second place at the Alabama State Amateur Championship for two consecutive years and was the 2015 Alabama State Match Play champion. Martin finished T2 at both the Players Amateur and Northeast Amateur.
WOMEN
Elaine Wood of Spanish Fort, captures her first AGA Women’s Player of the Year award by virtue of her second Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship title in the last three years. In her third year at the University of Montevallo, Wood was named a first team NCAA Division II All-American, a first team NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region selection, the Peach Belt Conference Golfer of the Year, a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection and finished in a tie for 15th place individually at the NCAA Division II National Championship. Wood posted eight top-10 finishes, six top-5 finishes, won two individual tournament titles, posted a team-best seven rounds under par and a team-best 74.08 stroke average. Wood has claimed three AGA titles: Women’s State Stroke Play Championship (2015), Women’s State Amateur Championship (2014, 2016).
SENIOR MEN
Steve Hudson of Birmingham, wins his first Senior Men’s Player of the Year award to go along with three Men’s Player of the Year Awards (2004, 2009-2010) by virtue of his excellent performance on the national stage. Hudson won the Society of Seniors Senior Masters, took second at the George C. Thomas Invitational and finished in a tie for sixth at the Senior North & South Amateur Championship. Hudson teamed with Robert Nelson to win the Alabama State Four-Ball Championship last year to go along with a T6 in the State Mid-Amateur Championship. Hudson has 5 AGA titles to his credit.
SENIOR WOMEN
Susan West of Tuscaloosa, earns her first AGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor after winning the Women’s State Senior Championship for the second consecutive year. West was a semi-finalist at the Jones/Doherty Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, quarter-finalist at the Women’s Southern Mid-Amateur Championship, and also made it to the Round of 64 at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship for the second straight year. In stroke play events, she finished in 6th place at the Women’s Southern Senior Amateur Championship and 10th at the Senior Women’s North & South Championship.
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
Senior Men
2016 - Steve Hudson
Women
2010 - Kathy Hartwiger
2011 - Kathy Hartwiger
2012 - Kathy Hartwiger
2013 - Cammie Gray
2014 - Virginia Green
2015 - Kathy Hartwiger
2016 - Elaine Wood
Senior Women
2016 – Susan West
|
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 12 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. |
