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2019 GOLFERS
OF THE YEAR
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HE VIRGINIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION crowned a number of new cham-
pions in 2019, but in the end, it was a cast of mostly familiar faces taking home
the organization’s Golfer of the Year Awards.
For the second straight year, one player earned two awards, with Michael Brennan’s
VSGA Amateur victory paired with his continued dominance in the Middle Atlantic
Amateur giving him Men’s Golfer of the Year honors. He was also named Junior Boys’
Golfer of the Year after a run to the round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur and a run-
ner-up finish at the VSGA’s Junior Stroke Play Championship.
Boosted by another strong year on the national stage and two VSGA titles, Lauren
Greenlief won her record fifth VSGA Women’s Golfer of the Year award, moving her past
four-time winner Donna Andrews. Dave Pulk won his second Senior Men’s Golfer of the
Year Award, and Amy Ellertson claimed her second Golfer of the Year honor, this time
in the Senior Women’s ranks. She won Women’s Player of the Year in 1995.
First-time winners Becca DiNunzio (Junior Girls’) and Tim Vigotsky (Super Senior Men’s)
round out the group. Read on to find out more about this year’s winners.
VSGA MEN’S AND JUNIOR BOYS’ GOLFER
OF THE YEAR
Michael Brennan
HOME CLUB: River Creek Club
WHAT WAS YOUR PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR?
My personal highlight for this year was the State Amateur. Having
finished well in medal rounds the previous two years but coming
up short in match play definitely hurt a little, so coming into this
year I was really determined to make it deeper. I could not be
happier with the way it ended. I had some really great matches and
that made it even better.
WHAT’S ONE UNIQUE ITEM IN YOUR BAG?
I don’t think I have anything super unique in my golf bag. The
most unique club would be my 4-iron, it is a driving iron. This
last summer it was the Titleist TMB. I put this into play because
it helped gap my 5i and hybrid/3i. It launched higher and carried
further than the AP2 4i that matches the rest of my irons.
WHAT’S A DREAM GOLF DESTINATION FOR YOU?
I always wanted to go play at Pebble Beach when I was younger
because of the views over the cliffs and history on that golf course.
Being able to play it in the U.S. Amateur in 2018 was truly a dream
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experience. After Pebble Beach, I would love to be able to play
Augusta National or Pine Valley. These two courses are so famous
and exclusive it will make it hard to play, but hopefully I’ll be able
to play them in my future.
WHAT’S ONE TIP YOU RECEIVED IN 2019 THAT REALLY
HELPED YOU SUCCEED?
My golf coach, Adam Harrell, has helped my golf game develop
more than anyone. However, my future coach at Wake Forest,
Aaron O’Callaghan, gave me great advice later in the year. It was
about my mental approach to the game and each shot. He told
me to say to myself after every shot, “what should I be thinking?”
This allows me to forget most of the negative thoughts and focus
on what I need to do. I am still working on saying this after every
shot and it’s difficult to be super consistent with it, but I think this
will help me immensely in the future.
2019 HIGHLIGHTS
» Won VSGA Amateur Championship, defeating Christopher Zhang
1-up in the 36-hole title match.
» Became the first player to ever win three straight Middle Atlantic Golf
Association Amateur Championships.
» Advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur
Championship. Participated in the U.S. Amateur and U.S.
Amateur Four-Ball Championships, along with the British Amateur
Championship.
» Runner-up at the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.
» Finished No. 2 in the VSGA Men’s Player Rankings.
» Committed to play at Wake Forest starting next fall.
vsga.org
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