VSGA Golfers of the Year
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Hearp says most golfers who want more
distance tend to get out of sequence with
their swing, leading to errant shots. Over the
past year, she has been working on developing
better tempo by moving her shoulders and
hips at a consistent rate. The result has been
improved distance control and more solidlystruck shots, particularly with her irons.
“I’ve been able to develop and handle a
more grown-up swing and I’ve been more
consistent,” says Hearp, who is taught by
Steve Prater, the PGA director of instruction
at Roanoke Country Club. “I try not to work
on too many changes at one time—just one
key or two swing thoughts.”
IN HER OWN WORDS
Hearp admits that having her name on a
VSGA trophy was on her golf bucket list
before her prep career concluded, and taking
the Junior Girls’ title fulfilled a dream.
She birdied six of the final seven holes to own
a two-stroke advantage following the opening
round. Hearp displayed uncanny steadiness on
the final day, going bogey-free over the last 11
holes and playing that stretch in one under par.
“I really wanted to win. I’d been so close, so
coming into the 2014 tournament, I thought I
had a good chance at it,” Hearp says. “I think I
played one of my best tournaments of the year
and am very excited about the win.”
Hearp says that controlling her emotions
was instrumental in posting the wire-towire victory.
“Coming off 2013, I struggled with getting
upset on the golf course more than I should
have,” says Hearp, who is bound for Virginia
Tech on a golf scholarship in the fall of 2016.
“I learned from that and it helped me play a
lot better and more controlled in 2014.”
OFF THE COURSE
Hearp is a range rat and loves working on
her game. Away from the course, she has
undertaken a workout regimen with the
help of Ryan Crush, a Titleist Performance
Institute-certified instructor.
22
Palmer Re-Elected
VSGA President
Gib Palmer of Midlothian, Va., was elected
to a second term as the 35th president of
the VSGA. Palmer will continue to lead the
VSGA’s professional staff, committees and volunteers who serve nearly 75,000 golfers
in Virginia and more than 325 VSGA member clubs in the commonwealth.
Palmer began serving on the VSGA board of directors in 2005. He served as the
association’s treasurer from 2008-09, secretary from 2010-11 and vice president from
2012-13 prior to his election as president.
As a golf administrator, Palmer has served on the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
Committee since 1996 and has been a Rules official at the event for 16 of the past 18
years. He has also officiated three U.S. Senior Opens, the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Amateur
championships, and was a forward observer at the 2013 Presidents Cup conducted at
Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Palmer officiates at VSGA championships and events as well as being an on-site
administrator and Rules official at USGA qualifying rounds conducted throughout the
commonwealth and beyond.
VSGA Award Winners
VSGA PRESIDENT’S MEDAL AWARD
(recognizes contributions and service to the
game and the VSGA)
VSGA CO-VOLUNTEER
OF THE YEAR AWARD (meritorious
service to the game as a volunteer)
Virginia Beach, Va.
Fleming joined the
VSGA Women’s Division
Board in 1990 and was
president from 1994-95.
When her presidency
concluded, the Women’s
Division had grown from three events to
10. She is a longtime member of Cavalier
Golf and Yacht Club in Virginia Beach.
Fleming was on the founding board of The
First Tee of Hampton Roads and serves as
chairperson of the Cavalier Women’s Golf
Association.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Barbara Fleming
VSGA SERVICE TO GOLF AWARD
(recognizes selfless service to the game
and the VSGA)
Ned Baber
Roanoke, Va.
Baber, a VSGA
member at Roanoke
Country Club, has
been a mainstay on
the Roanoke Valley
Hall of Fame stage. He
is the longtime executive director of the
Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fam K