Ridgemont Hosts Volunteers, Officials for 2016 RDGA Fall Event & Awards Program

Reflecting on a busy season – one that included a schedule of 23 tournaments between May and October – the annual RDGA Fall Event offered District officials the opportunity to present a “state of the RDGA”–type address, followed by the presentation of the District’s Players of the Year Awards for Men, Women and Juniors.

“I wish to thank all the RDGA member clubs who hosted District events this year, as well as all the tournament volunteers, course ratings volunteers, Rules officials – and golfers – who all helped to make the 2016 season a success,” said Dan Overbeck, who completed his second year in office as RDGA President in 2016.

RDGA Tournament Director Michael Sorce next presented the District’s top honors for Players of the Year – including Jim Scorse of Stafford Country Club, who won an unprecedented 14th RDGA Men’s Player of the Year Award in 2016.

Scorse earned 1477 player points throughout the 2016 season, including wins in the RDGA Match Play Championship in May, the New York State Mid Amateur Championship in September, as well as teaming up with Ken Seibold to win the RDGA Two Person Scramble in May and finishing runner-up to Trevor Sluman in the RDGA District Championship in July. Additionally, Scorse was also presented with the inaugural RDGA John Henry Ryan Gentleman of Golf Award this season.

Sluman, who won his third consecutive RDGA District Championship at Ridgemont this year, before playing in the U.S. Amateur and turning professional in August, was the runner-up in Player of the Year points with 807.

Winning the 2016 RDGA Women’s Player of the Year Award  for a second consecutive year was Brook-Lea Country Club’s Jenna Hoecker, who also earned her second RDGA Women’s Championship this year, as well as a runner-up finish in the RDGA Women’s Open in August. Hoecker earned 605 player points this year, finishing ahead of runner-up Sara Eichelberger, who earned 375 points.

And winning the 2016 RDGA Junior Player of the Year Award was Christian Chapman of Ravenwood Golf Club. Chapman, a senior on the Victor High School Boys Golf Team this year, won 282 player points during a season in which he won individual titles for the Monroe County League and the  Section V Boys Golf Championship. He also qualified for the New York State High School Championship and was named a first-team All-Star for Monroe County.

Providing an overview of the size and reach of the RDGA by the numbers, RDGA President Dan Overbeck listed that in 2016, the RDGA included more than 13,000 men, women and junior members – each of whom are registered for official USGA GHIN handicaps through the District. Throughout an active 2015 tournament schedule, the RDGA also enlisted the help of 210 volunteers, who assisted 12 RDGA Rules officials and the District staff in running the 23 different tournaments offered for both adults and juniors, as well as 5 USGA Regional Qualifiers that were held in the area this season and several other top events, such as the NCAA Division III Championships at Midvale and Mendon; the Symetra Tour event at Brook-Lea, the Williams Best Ball at Oak Hill – and many others.

Following the year-end player awards, Overbeck announced that the slate of District officers that will serve for the upcoming season had been approved in online voting by RDGA Club Delegates. In 2017, the RDGA Board of Directors will include returning members:

Joining the RDGA Board in 2017 will be the organization’s newest Board member, Dave Uhazie, from Midvale Country Club.