Alberta Golf names 2018 Players of the Year
Pictured above – L to R: Kai Iguchi, Annabelle Ackroyd, Patrick Murphy & Jaclyn Lee
Murphy, Lee, Iguchi and Ackroyd named 2018 Alberta Golf Players of the Year
Alberta Golf is pleased to recognize four athletes for their tremendous accomplishments on the golf course this season.
The following four players competed at a consistently high level over the course of the year leading them to finish as the top Albertan on the Golf Canada National Orders of Merit.
The National Orders of Merit are used to identify and give recognition to top-performing male and female amateur and junior golfers across Canada who have achieved success in the golf season.
The rankings are based on those tournaments that represent an extremely high standard of competition. A point system is used based on tournament scores and results of the players in the approved tournaments to objectively rank each individuals performance.
Not only are these four individuals incredible golfers, they are quality individuals. They have managed to be successful at the highest levels in their chosen sport, all while maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle and having success in their academic endeavors. It is our pleasure to provide well deserved recognition to these individuals.
Patrick Murphy, Mens Amateur
A Senior at The University of Los Angeles California (UCLA), Murphy is majoring in political science with an eye on professional golf upon graduation in 2019. The Crossfield, AB native playing out of the Glencoe Golf & Country Club had a remarkable season, ultimately finishing 6th on the National Order of Merit. He lead a pack of four Albertans inside the top 15. Murphy was a member of the Alberta Willingdon Cup team that finished in second place at the Canadian Amateur. He fired a ten-under par 62 in the opening round of the BC Amateur and tied for 64th in the stroke play portion of the US Amateur, eventually falling short in a 1-for-24 playoff.
California State Fair Amateur – 5th place
NCAA El Macero Classic – Tie for 7th place
USGA US Amateur Qualifier – Medalist
BC Amateur Championship – 6th place
Sun Life Financial Alberta Mens Amateur Championship – 3rd place
Canadian Mens Amateur Championship – Tie for 41st place
Jaclyn Lee, Womens Amateur
A Senior at The Ohio State University, Lee is a finance major and member of Team Canada – Golf Canada’s National Amateur Squad. Lee is from Calgary, AB and plays out of the Glencoe Golf & Country Club. She finished 2nd on the National Order of Merit with two other Albertans inside the top 20. Lee has had to balance a demanding schedule both on and off the golf course in 2018. She was a quarter-finalist in both the US Amateur and Ladies British Open Amateur, and was honored as an Academic All-Big Ten for the last two years. She is currently the top ranked Canadian Amateur in the world and is seeking her LPGA Tour playing status for 2019 at the final stage of Q-Series this week.
NCAA Westbrook Invitational – Champion
NCAA Big Ten Championship – Champion
Ladies British Open Amateur Championship – Quarter Finalist
Canadian Womens Amateur Championship – Tie for 17th place
USGA US Womens Amateur – Quarter Finalist
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWUWQEgA1I/?taken-by=jaclyn_lee
Kai Iguchi, Junior Boys
Iguchi had a break-out year that included a victory at the Future Links Western Championship on home soil at the Highwood in High River. He has added his name to a growing list of magnificent golfers to come out of the Banff Springs Golf Club. Iguchi eventually finished 8th on the National Order of Merit leading a group of four Albertans inside the top 20. He had a solid season highlighted by nearly cracking the top 10 at the Canadian Junior.
Future Links Pacific Championship – Tie for 8th place
Future Links Western Championship – Champion
Alberta Junior Championship – Tie for 15th place
Sun Life Financial Alberta Mens Amateur Championship – Tie for 22nd place
Canadian Junior Boys Championship – Tie for 11th place
Canadian Mens Amateur Championship – Tie for 61st place
Annabelle Ackroyd, Junior Girls
Ackroyd attends high school in Calgary at William Aberhart with plans to enroll at The University of Minnesota on a golf scholarship in the Fall of 2019. The young talent from the Glencoe Golf & Country Club finished 7th on the National Order of Merit. Her season was highlighted by a win at the Alberta Junior and qualifying for both the US Junior Girls and US Womens Amateur Championships.
MJT Alberta Spring Classic – Champion
Future Links Pacific Championship – Tie for 13th place
Future Links Western Championship – Tie for 4th place
USGA US Junior Girls Qualifier – Medalist
USGA US Womens Amateur Qualifier – Tie for 2nd place
Alberta Junior Championship – Champion
Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship – Tie for 6th place
