In 1994, the Men’s Player of the Year Award was established. Throughout time, the award expanded to include Women (2010), Senior Men and Senior Women (2016), and Junior Boys and Junior Girls (2017).
Notable past men’s award winners include Garrett Osborn (2000), Patton Kizzire (2003), Bobby Wyatt (2011-2012), Michael Johnson (2013), Robby Shelton IV (2015) and Nick Dunlap (2023-2024). Will Swift (2002, 2005, 2006), Steve Hudson (2004, 2009, 2010), and Gordon Sargent (2020-2022) are tied for the most awards with three apiece.
Notable past women’s award winners include Kathy Hartwiger (2010-2012, 2015), Elaine Wood (2016-2017) and Scarlett Schremmer (2024-2025). Kathy Hartwiger (2010-2012, 2015) holds the most awards with four, as well as the overall record for most state tournaments won.
Complete Alabama Amateur Player Rankings are available on the Alabama Golf Association website here.
2025 Alabama Amateur Player of the Year Award Winners
Men’s & Junior Boys
Tyler Watts of Huntsville has been named the 2025 Alabama Men’s Player of the Year and for the third consecutive year the Alabama Junior Boys Player of the Year, following a remarkable season on the national amateur stage.
Watts captured the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur Championship, breaking the tournament’s course record and becoming the youngest champion in event history. A University of Tennessee commit, Watts recorded impressive finishes against elite competition, including a finalist performance at the North & South Amateur, a fifth-place finish at the Team TaylorMade Invitational, sixth at the Junior Invitational, and a top-25 showing at the Terra Cotta Invitational. As a result of Watts’s success in the Elite Amateur Golf Series, he was named the 2025 Men’s Elite Amateur Cup Champion leading to two PGA Tour sponsors exemptions, competing in both the Procore Championship and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, making the cut in both events. Watts is currently the 29th ranked player in the Official World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“I am honored to be named the 2025 Alabama Junior Boys’ Player of the Year and the Men’s Player of the Year,” Watts said. “The state of Alabama has so many amazing golfers at every level and to achieve this accomplishment truly means so much.”
The Alabama Junior Players of the Year awards are based on Alabama State Junior Golf Rankings. The points accumulated from September 1 thru August 31 of the current year are taken into consideration. The top Boy and Girl in the current year rankings, as of August 31, will be awarded the Alabama State Junior Player of the Year.
Women’s & Junior Girls
Scarlett Schremmer of Birmingham earned her second Alabama Women’s Player of the Year award and third consecutive Alabama Junior Girls Player of the Year honor following another outstanding season of elite competition. Schremmer posted a runner-up finish at the South American Women’s Amateur and competed at the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur, continuing to represent Alabama on one of golf’s biggest amateur stages. Schremmer continued to represent Alabama as a member of the United States National Development Team for the second year in a row.
After rounds of 68-69-69, Schremmer was forced into a sudden-death playoff, where she defeated her opponent on the fourth playoff hole to claim the 93rd Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship title. She also recorded a fifth-place finish at the Junior Invitational against one of the strongest fields in junior golf. Schremmer is currently ranked the 59th Player in the Official Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“I am honored to be the Alabama Golf Association Junior Girls and Women’s Player of the Year,” Schremmer said. “I am proud to represent Alabama Golf in each tournament that I play. Rounding out my junior career in 2025, it was special to win the Alabama State Amateur with my mom as my caddie. As I go into college golf, I am excited to keep cheering on all of my Alabama golf friends and I’m especially grateful for the experience and friendships I’ve gained thanks to Alabama Golf!”
The Alabama Junior Players of the Year awards are based on Alabama State Junior Golf Rankings. The points accumulated from September 1 thru August 31 of the current year are taken into consideration. The top Boy and Girl in the current year rankings, as of August 31, will be awarded the Alabama State Junior Player of the Year.
Senior Men’s
Shaw Pritchett of Montgomery put together an impressive season to earn recognition among Alabama’s top senior players. Pritchett captured the Alabama State Senior Match Play Championship and the State Senior Four-Ball Championship with his partner Jeff Taylor of Montgomery. Pritchett also finished as runner-up at the Alabama State Senior Amateur. He served as captain of the winning Alabama–Georgia team at the U.S. Senior Challenge and recorded multiple top-10 finishes at Golfweek’s Player of the Year Classic and Senior Amateur. He was also a member of the winning Team Alabama at the 20th Southeastern Challenge Match. At the national level, Pritchett advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Amateur and added a third-place finish at the Jones Cup Senior Invitational, highlighting his consistency and leadership throughout the year.
“I am incredibly honored to have earned my third Alabama Senior Player of the Year award,” Pritchett said. “The competition in senior golf in Alabama is fierce and I am proud that my play in 2025 has distinguished me. Thanks to the Alabama Golf Association for creating a first-class competitive experience for players in the state that allows members like myself to pursue our dreams and goals.”
Senior Women’s
Linda Jeffery of Prattville has been named the Alabama Senior Women’s Player of the Year for the second time following another highly successful season in senior competition. Jeffery finished second at the Alabama State Senior Amateur and advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, showcasing her ability to compete at both the state and national levels. She also earned runner-up honors at the Women’s Southern Golf Association Senior Amateur. In team play, Jeffery captured the Alabama Women’s Senior Four-Ball Championship alongside partner Lea Green, marking a three-peat for the duo after back-to-back-to-back titles in 2023, 2024 and now 2025. Her career accomplishments include winning the 2023 Women’s State Senior Amateur and the 2011 Alabama Women’s Four-Ball Championship, further underscoring her sustained excellence and impact in Alabama women’s golf.
“The state of Alabama has tremendous senior women players, and I am lucky to be friends with many of them both on and off the golf course,” Jeffrey said. “I am honored and grateful to be the AGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year and to have achieved one of my major goals to once again earn this award.”
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
2019 - William Buhl
2020 - Gordon Sargent
2021 - Gordon Sargent
2022 - Gordon Sargent
2023 - Nick Dunlap
2024 - Nick Dunlap
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
2019 - Anna Claire Little
2020 - Mychael O’Berry
2021 - Molly Brown Davidson
2022 - Michaela Morard
2023 - Taylor Trible
2024 - Scarlett Schremmer
Senior Men
2016 - Steve Hudson
2017 - Steve Hudson
2018 - Claud Cooper
2019 - Robert Nelson
2020 - John Wright
2021 - John Wright
2022 - Shaw Pritchett
2023 - Shaw Pritchett
2024 - Robert Nelson
Senior Women
2016 - Susan West
2017 - Susan West
2018 - Susan West
2019 - Susan West
2020 - Susan West
2021 - Kathy Hartwiger
2022 - Kathy Hartwiger
2023 – Linda Jeffery
2024 - Theresa Mahlik
Junior Boys
2017 - Ethan Hagood
2018 - Nick Dunlap
2019 - Gordon Sargent
2020 - Gordon Sargent
2021 - Nick Dunlap
2022 - Nick Dunlap
2023 - Tyler Watts
2024 - Tyler Watts
Junior Girls
2017 - Michaela Morard
2018 - Michaela Morard
2019 - Michaela Morard
2020 - Michaela Morard
2021 - Molly Brown Davidson
2022 - Molly Brown Davidson
2023 - Scarlett Schremmer
2024 - Scarlett Schremmer
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 122 member clubs represented by over 33,000 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. A full-time professional staff of seven individuals handles day-to-day activities.
Based in Hoover, the AGA is the USGA's Allied Golf Association in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the World Handicap System including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating, and Rules of Golf & Handicapping education. The AGA annually conducts 24 championships; team match competitions for men, women, junior and seniors. The AGA manages the Junior Golf Alabama program that is a joint venture between the AGA and Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section.
In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Scholarship Fund through the Alabama Golf Foundation that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education. Additionally, the Alabama Golf Foundation supports the Youth on Course Alabama program providing facility access to junior golfers and provides funding for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. In 2016, the AGA earned the Gold Tee Award for “Outstanding Tournament Operations – Small Association” by the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).
Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the historic Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the SGA Board of Directors.
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.
Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-803-6524
alison@alabamagolf.org
