HOOVER, AL (November 21, 2023) – Junior Golf Alabama (JGA) has announced the 2023 JGA Players of the Year after a successful inaugural season of the JGA Tour, the competitive component of Junior Golf Alabama’s programming.
To honor junior golfers who performed exceptionally in the JGA Tour, JGA identifies award recipients as the top-ranked golfer within their respective Age Division, based on the season-long JGA Tour Points Race.
The Age Divisions include Boys 14-18, Girls 14-18, Boys 12-13, Boys 9-11, Girls 12-13, Boys 6-8, and Girls 6-8.
2023 Junior Golf Alabama Player of the Year Award Winners
Boys 14-18 Age Division
Jake Monk of Birmingham attends Hoover High School and plays golf at Hoover Country Club. He earned three first-place finishes on the JGA Tour within his Age Division: The Hudson Junior Amateur, the Burningtree Junior Amateur, and the Birmingham City Junior Amateur. He has been playing golf for six years now, and his favorite club is his 3 wood.
“I loved competing and getting the opportunity to play golf at nice courses around the state,” said Jake.” “I think it is really cool to have won player of the year in the first season of the tour. I look forward to playing next season and seeing how the JGA Tour will grow and evolve in the next couple of years!”
Girls 14-18 Age Division
Julie Waldo lives in Prattville, Ala. Of the four JGA Tour events she competed in, Julie earned two first-place finishes–the Hoover Junior Amateur and the Burningtree Junior Amateur–and two second-place finishes.
Boys 12-13 Age Division
Alex Foster of Mobile currently attends Causey Middle School and plays on the Baker High School golf team. Alex earned two first-place finishes on the JGA Tour within his Age Division: The Beach Junior Amateur and the Mobile Junior Amateur. He has been playing golf competitively since he was six years old; his favorite club right now is his 6 iron.
“Receiving this award is a reminder that the practice time I put in does pay off,” said Alex. “I am looking forward to playing in the JGA Tour in 2024!”
Girls 12-13 Age Division
Merritt Daniel of Trussville attends Hewitt Trussville Middle School. She earned one first-place finish on the JGA Tour within her Age Division: The JGA Tour Final Presented by Smylie Kaufman. Merritt plays golf at Greystone Golf & Country Club and her favorite club is her driver.
“I enjoyed all aspects of the tour from the quality of the courses to the staff that ran the tournaments,” said Merritt. “It is a great honor to be recognized as the 2023 JGA Tour Girls 12-13 Player of the Year. I look forward to playing on the tour again in 2024.”
Boys 9-11 Age Division
Grady Rutledge of Gurley attends Hampton Cove Middle School and plays at Valley Hill Country Club. Rutledge earned two first-place finishes on the JGA Tour within his Age Division: The Hoover Junior Amateur and the Burningtree Junior Amateur. He began taking lessons when he was four years old, and his favorite club is his 56 degree.
“I enjoyed playing with my friends across the state of Alabama,” said Grady. “The JGA Tour was so organized and the staff was also very encouraging to the players.”
Boys 6-8 Age Division
Tristan Cook of Birmingham attends Rocky Ridge Elementary School. He earned three first-place finishes on the JGA Tour within his Age Division: The Hudson Junior Amateur, The Beach Junior Amateur, and the Hoover Junior Amateur. He plays golf at Greystone Golf & Country Club. Tristan’s favorite club right now is his driver.
“I love the JGA tour and a few things I like about the JGA tour are all the friends I have made and how well it’s ran,” said Tristan. “Getting Player of the Year makes me feel overjoyed and proud. I’m excited to work hard and play in more tournaments next year!”
Girls 6-8 Age Division
Cameran Cancienne of Fairhope, Ala. and Elliott Willis of Birmingham, Ala. are co-recipients of the Girls 6-8 Age Division Player of the Year Award. Cameran and Elliott both won one JGA Tour event this year (Junior Golf Alabama Kickoff, JGA Tour Final Presented by Smylie Kaufman, respectively) to end their seasons with 200 points each.
Cameran attends Bayside Academy and plays golf at Lakewood Golf Club. Her favorite club is her 8 iron. Cameran won the JGA Tour Kickoff at her home course this year.
“It means a lot to me receiving this award for playing my favorite sport, golf,” said Cameran. “I am so happy and grateful and couldn’t have done this without my awesome golf coach, Jim Geram and my family. I can’t wait to get back on the course for the next JGA tournament.”
Elliott attends Rocky Ridge Elementary School and has been playing golf for two years now. She plays golf at Inverness Country Club. Her favorite club in her bag is her driver.
When asked what she enjoyed the most about the JGA Tour, Elliott replied, “Having my Papa caddie for me.”
The 2024 JGA Tour schedule will be announced in early 2024.
About Junior Golf Alabama (JGA)
Established in 2022, Junior Golf Alabama (JGA) is a joint initiative by the Alabama Golf Association and the Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section to serve as a collaboration focused on junior golf for kids, parents, coaches, golf administrators, and PGA Professionals. By creating new educational, instructional, and playing opportunities, JGA streamlines the junior golf roadmap while bridging existing programs to further the development of junior golf in Alabama and NW Florida.
JGA is operated by a team of staff from both the Alabama Golf Association and the Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section. By combining the junior golf initiatives of both the Alabama Golf Association and Alabama - NW Florida PGA Section into one collaborative organization, Junior Golf Alabama can present prospective junior golfers with a robust set of resources and a supportive player pathway that guarantees success.
For more information about Junior Golf Alabama, please visit www.juniorgolfalabama.org.
Media Contact:
Savannah Russo
Director of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-803-6524
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