Virginia Golfer Nov / Dec 2018 | Page 24

S V A G 2018 GOLFERS OF THE YEAR VSGA SENIOR WOMEN’S GOLFER OF THE YEAR Natalie Easterly HOME CLUB: Country Club of Virginia 2018 HIGHLIGHTS » Won her first VSGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship since 2008, navigating a loaded bracket and defeating Lindsay Wortham, Boodie McGurn, Shelley Savage and Mimi Hoffman on her way to the title at The Homestead’s Old Course. “I’ve felt inspired to do something with that. I felt the same way when my dad died. Get a little help from the other side, I guess? It’s not often that I’ve won something, and I haven’t been able to call my mom and say, ‘Guess what? I won.” —After winning the Senior Women’s Amateur, Easterly on how the death of her mother shaped her play in 2018 » Tied for second at the VSGA Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship. » For the third straight year, teamed with Amy Ellertson to win the senior title at the VSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship, which expanded to two rounds for the first time in 2018. » Teamed with Ellertson in the winter to win the Women’s Trans National Golf Association Senior Four-Ball title in Arizona. » Member of the Virginias roster at the Women’s Virginias- Carolinas Matches in Hilton Head, S.C. VSGA SENIOR MEN’S GOLFER OF THE YEAR Buck Brittain HOME CLUB: The Virginian Golf Club 2018 HIGHLIGHTS » Oh hello. You again? Brittain is the first player in VSGA history to earn both the Men’s Golfer and Senior Men’s Golfer of the Year awards in the same year. » Won the Senior Open of Virginia for the second straight year, another first in VSGA history. » Was stroke-play medalist and reached the semifinals at the VSGA Senior Amateur, falling to Cam Young in a sensational match in which the players were a combined 13 under par. » Tied for runner-up honors at the VSGA Senior Stroke Play Championship. » Finished No. 2 in the VSGA Senior Player Rankings behind Dave Pulk despite only playing in four events as a senior. “You play VSGA golf, you know all of the guys … and to do one thing in the VSGA that Keith (Decker) hasn’t done, that’s cool. I’m at least one up on him on something. I can’t get him on anything else.” –Brittain on being the only player to win back-to-back Senior Opens 22 V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 18 vsga.org