The JGA Player of the Year is awarded to the individual who has shown outstanding abilities based on the following criteria: participation in events, scoring average, order of finish in each event, competitive spirit and sportsmanship.
Luke Tindall has been named the 2012 JGA Player of the Year. Tindall graduated from Vicksburg High School and is currently attending Calvin College, where he plays on the varsity golf team. Luke was steady all season finishing with a 76.5 scoring average in his 8 JGA rounds. “Luke has played in the JGA for 10 years” says JGA Director Dean Marks. “He won the JGA championship in 2010 and is a 2012 JGA Scholarship recipient. He has a great balance of athletics, academics, and attitude.”
Tindall’s name will be added to the JGA Player of the Year trophy on display at Milham Park Golf Club. “The JGA is an awesome program because it not only allows for great golf competition on quality courses, but it also makes it affordable to play in tournaments and teaches great sportsmanship as well” says Tindall. He also remembers the camaraderie of playing in JGA events. “I remember when I played in a JGA tournament at Eastern Hills when I was 11. I shot 45 and finished 3rd. The other top 4 players ended up being on my high school team at Vicksburg. Our fifth player was home sick or we could have all been top 5.”
Other player’s also had strong showings this year in the 16-18 age group. Matt Garland won 3 events, including the 2-day Championship with scores of 70-73. Logan Haight won two events shooting 73 at The Prairies and 74 at Eastern Hills. Jessica Heimonen, 2011 JGA Player of the Year, also won two events while Holly Hines won the girls JGA Championship shooting 77-81.
The JGA had another great season of participation with 440 participants divided into 4 age groups and participating in 35 total events at 21 different courses. The JGA was established in 1987 with the purpose of providing quality golf experiences for area juniors at affordable rates. The JGA has awarded 53 scholarships totaling $73,000 to graduating seniors since 1997. The JGA is headquartered at Milham Park Golf Club, 344-7639, and has information available online at www.kalamazoojuniorgolf.org.
The JGA would like to thank all host courses for their support which allows the organization to be so successful.
JGA Player of the Year winners:
| Year | Player of the Year |
| 2012 | Luke Tindall |
| 2011 | Jessica Heimonen |
| 2010 | Brittany Haight |
| 2009 | Sheldon Keyte |
| 2008 | Sheldon Keyte |
| 2007 | Laura Eberhard |
| 2006 | Sheldon Keyte |
| 2005 | Lee Keselowski |
| 2004 | Nick Carbary |
| 2003 | Patricia Monroe |
| 2002 | Nick Muszunski |
| 2001 | Dan Kucab |
| 2000 | Amanda Wilson |
| 1999 | Kevin Kremer |
| 1998 | Matt Doherty |
| 1997 | Scott Evans & Chad Scott |
| 1996 | Brian Rosenbaum |
| 1995 | Jon Cavanaugh & Matt Eldred |
| 1994 | Dan Meersman |
| 1993 | Paul Walker |
| 1992 | Kelly Wilcox |
| 1991 | Doug Biro |
| 1990 | Derek Haines |
| 1989 | Lisa Stover |