Golf Journalists Association Of Canada Names 2017 Players Of The Year
Abbotsford, B.C.'s Adam Hadwin Was Selected As Both The Male Professional Player Of The Year And The Canadian Golf Story Of The Year For 2017 By The Golf Journalists Association Of Canada (GJAC) - Image Courtesy Kelly Murray
TORONTO – Adam Hadwin had a career year in 2017, and as the calendar changed, he added two more honours.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Hadwin, Josh Whalen, Judith Kyrinis, and Brooke Henderson as the 2017 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Hadwin’s magical season where he notched his first PGA TOUR victory, shot 59, and played on the Presidents Cup team was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.
“GJAC is happy to honour these golfers and their accomplishments in 2017,” said Robert Thompson, GJAC president. “The accomplishments of the winners – and each of the nominees – show how strong Canadian golf is right now. GJAC wishes the best of luck to all in the year ahead.”
Hadwin’s first PGA TOUR victory came in March after a thrilling Sunday at the Valspar Championship, where he won by one over Patrick Cantlay. In January, Hadwin became the eighth golfer in PGA TOUR history to shoot a sub-60 round.
Just weeks after his win, Hadwin got married and closed on his first home to cap a whirlwind start to 2017. He ascended to inside the Top 50 in the world (becoming Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer in the process), played all four majors, and participated in the Presidents Cup in September.
Henderson continued her impressive start to her LPGA Tour career, winning twice – at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open – and nearly defending her title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished sixth on the LPGA Tour’s 2017 money list, earning just over $1.5 million in 30 events (the most on Tour).
She was the only unanimous choice out of the four winners.
Kyrinis had a stellar 2017 campaign capped off with a victory in an all-Canadian final at the U.S. Senior Amateur. She also won the Ontario Women’s Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships, along with finishing runner-up at the prestigious North and South Senior Women’s Amateur, and fifth at the Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur.
Whalen finished No. 1 on the Golf Canada Amateur Order of Merit for his fine campaign in 2017. He finished third at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and notched six top-20 finishes during his senior year at Kent State University.
About the Golf Journalists Association of Canada:
Established in 2006, the purpose of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is to encourage and promote golf journalism in Canada, recognize excellence in Canadian golf and golf journalism through annual awards, bring together golf journalists from across the country to share ideas and common interests, and help develop better media relations between the Association's membership and various golf associations, sponsors, and golf companies across Canada. You can now follow GJAC on Twitter at @GJ_AC
For more information contact:
Robert Thompson, President
Robertthompson8@sympatico.ca