NJSGA Adds Woman And Senior Player Of Year Awards

The New Jersey State Golf Association is instituting two new Player of the Year Awards, joining the annual men’s Player of the Year, which has been awarded since 2002.

The new POY awards are Women’s Player of the Year and men’s Senior Player of the Year. All three awards recognize the state’s top amateur performers. All three POY Awards are sponsored by Donnelly Construction of Wayne, N.J.

“We are an all-encompassing golf organization and we felt it was necessary to recognize the top players in their respective areas,” said Mike McAneny, NJSGA Tournament Director. “It made sense to recognize the top woman and senior to join the top men’s Player of the Year award.”

All three of the NJSGA Player of the Year awards will be presented on October 23 at the association’s annual Celebration of Golf Dinner at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

“Both the senior events and the women’s event have grown in popularity. These Player of the Year awards promote interest and competition,” McAneny stated.

The Player of the Year Points System is structured to award points to players based on their finish in local, state, regional, national, and international golf championships.

In 2013, Pat Wilson of Panther Valley, who won the 111th Met Amateur Championship , was the NJSGA Player of the Year.

For the 2013 season, Wilson compiled 891.67 points. Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake, winner of the 112th State Amateur Championship and Player of the Year in 2011, was runner-up with 610 points.

The 2012 Player of the Year, Ryan McCormick of Suburban, was third with 571.67 points, followed by Mid-Amateur champion Trevor Randolph of Arcola with 492.5 points and Peter Barron of Stone Harbor with 480 points.

Besides his Met Amateur championships, Wilson, a recent graduate of St. John’s University, placed seventh in both the State Amateur and in the 93rd State Open, and was also seventh in the Ike Championship.

He teamed with his brother Cory, a sophomore at Seton Hall University, for a semifinal finish in the Four-Ball Championship.