Virginia Golfer Nov / Dec 2020 | Page 26

V S G A
VSGA SENIOR GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Buck Brittain

HOME CLUB : The Virginian Golf Club
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT : Winning the Senior Amateur was big for me . To win the amateur , you have to play seven good rounds in a row . Westwood was a great course this year with a very deep field . There were a lot of guys who could have won this year . To make it to the end and be the last one still standing is awesome .
BEST CLUB IN YOUR BAG : That would have to be my putter . In any tournament , I am not the longest guy in the field or probably the best ball striker , but I pick up a lot of strokes when I am putting well . When I am playing well , I feel like a make a lot of important putts .
2020 HIGHLIGHTS
• Won 73rd VSGA Senior Amateur Championship , defeating Bowen Sargent 2 and 1
• Tied for 2nd at Senior Open of Virginia
• Finished third in VSGA Senior Player Rankings points and was second in points per event ( 108 ) to Matt Sughrue
• Won the Senior Valentine Invitational at Hermitage CC
• Tied for second at the Senior Fox Puss Invitational at Boonsboro CC
VSGA SENIOR WOMEN ’ S GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Joan Gardner

HOME CLUB : Mount Vernon Country Club
BEST COURSES YOU ’ VE PLAYED : That is hard to choose , because I have been lucky to get to play a lot of great courses . My favorite is probably Austin Country Club . I got the opportunity to play in the Harvey Penick Invitational one year at Austin Country Club . I played well which always helps , but the layout was fun and the course was in great shape .
BIGGEST GOAL FOR 2021 : For me it is to be in contention as much as possible . I am very fortunate to get the opportunity to play as much as I do . My wife , Carrie , makes it easy for me to find time to practice and get away to tournaments . Without her , I would not have had the success I have had over the last few years .
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT : Golfer of the Year was quite a surprise and a great honor , especially in my first year of Medicare eligibility and Super Senior status ! I simply wanted to play as well this year as last , and defend some titles along the way . But then with the onset of COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions , the year-long highlight was just to get out and play and stay healthy . Early-on the management and staff at Mount Vernon CC went above and beyond to provide a safe environment for our practice and play . With an active , competitive membership , particularly among our women ’ s groups , we didn ’ t miss a beat playing like crazy while following all the protocol . I ’ m also grateful to the VSGA for working hard to get state tournaments up and
CHRIS LANG
24 V IRGINIA G OLFER | N OVEMBER / D ECEMBER 2020 vsga . org