TROPHY TALK
TROPHY TALK
SCHWARZSCHILD BROTHERS TROPHY EVENT: VSGA Amateur Championship CHAMPIONS OF NOTE: Vinny Giles( 7), Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Chandler Harper, Wynsol Spencer, Wayne Jackson, Tom McKnight, Keith Decker, David Partridge, John Rollins, Steve Marino, Jay Woodson, Pat Tallent, Billy Hurley III, Brinson Paolini, Michael Brennan. THE STORY: In 1897, William Harry Schwarzschild acquired the Richmond-area franchise for Hamilton Watches and established the Old Dominion Watch Company. Five years later, younger brother Gustav joined the business, and it was renamed Schwarzschild Brothers Watchmakers and Jewelers. Soon after, younger brothers Solomon and Henry joined the business. The company donated the trophy to the VSGA in 1923, and it has served as the perpetual trophy ever since.
ROBBYE KING UNGER TROPHY EVENT: Women’ s Open of Virginia NAMES OF NOTE: Kennedy Swedick, Michelle Cox, Kaylyn Noh. THE STORY: The VSGA’ s newest named perpetual trophy honors Unger, one of the most decorated female competitors in Virginia golf history. A member of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, Unger won six VSGA
Robbye Unger presents the trophy with her name on it to 2025 Women’ s Open of
Virginia champion Kennedy Swedick.
Women’ s Amateurs and one VSGA Senior Women’ s Stroke Play titles. She helped create the VSGA Junior Girls’ Championship and was a past president of the VSGA Women’ s Division. To this day, she’ s a fierce advocate and ambassador for women’ s golf in Virginia, and she was on hand to present the trophy at Farmington Country Club to Swedick, the 2025 champion.
FARMINGTON CUP, FRITZ SOUD- ER TROPHY, LYN LUCK TROPHY EVENT: State Open of Virginia NAMES OF NOTE: Too many to list, though seven players have won at least two State Opens in the merged era— Jay Woodson, Faber Jamerson, Keith Decker, Woody FitzHugh, Robert Wrenn, Roger Newsom, and Evan Beck. Prior to that, names like Sam Snead, Chandler Harper, and Lanny Wadkins won titles. THE STORY: With amateurs and professionals involved, the State Open features three perpetual trophies: Farmington( winner), Souder( low amateur), and Luck( low professional). The Farmington Cup is a nod to the historical significance of Farmington Country Club to golf in Virginia. Souder was one of the VSGA’ s earliest administrators, serving with W. P. Wood and F. J. D. Mackay to run the association from the 1920s through World War II. Luck was the MAPGA’ s David Wortman Citizen of the Year in 1987.
Keith Decker with the Farmington Cup.
The names of Mark Lawrence Jr., left, and Mark Lawrence Sr. both adorn the
Schwarzschild Brothers trophy.
M. W.“ DYKE” PEEBLES TROPHY EVENT: VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship NAMES OF NOTE: Keith Decker( 7), Matt Chandler, David Partridge, Jon Hurst, Evan Beck, Wayne Jackson, J. P. Leigh, Tom McKnight. THE STORY: Peebles was VSGA president from 1977 – 78. Under Peebles’ watch, the VSGA launched a Mid-Amateur Championship for players ages 25 and up, the first of its kind nationwide.
28 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2026 vsga. org