2014 Player of the Year

Chaz Shugars has been named the 2014 Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.

Shugars, a recent graduate of Galesburg-Augusta High School, is currently attending Ferris State University where he is studying Professional Golf Management.

He won the Sauganash event and had four other top-5 finishes during the JGA season, punctuating a career that showed consistency and steady improvement each year.   “Chaz is the kid everyone wants to be paired with” JGA Director Dean Marks said. “He always has a great attitude and encourages his fellow-competitors. He evens volunteers his time to help teach the younger kids in our instructional program. The JGA couldn’t have a better representative as Player of the Year.”

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.  Shugars’ name will be added to the JGA Player of the Year trophy on display at Milham Park Golf Club.

“Involvement in the Junior Golf Association of Southwest Michigan has been a major highlight of my golf career” Shugars said. “The high levels of competition and camaraderie found in the JGA were beneficial to my development as a golfer. It is a great honor to be selected as the JGA Player of the Year. I am excited to join such an elite group of individuals.”

There was plenty of competition this year in the 16-18 division with eight different winners of the nine events in both the boys and girls divisions. Logan Haight and Cydney Martell were the only multiple winners. Julia Ryan and Tanner Franklin won the season ending two-day JGA Championship.

The JGA had another great season with 340 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 61 scholarships totaling $85,000 to graduating seniors since 1997. The JGA is headquartered at Milham Park Golf Club. For more information, call 269-344-7639, or go 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.

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.

JGA Player of the Year winners: