Shirley Wins Tommy Barnes Award

MARIETTA, Ga. – In a year that included many dominating performances, Margaret Shirley of Atlanta was selected as the Tommy Barnes Award winner, signifying the Georgia State Golf Association’s overall player of the year for 2014. Shirley was honored at the GSGA’s Player of the Year Luncheon, held at Cherokee Town Club in Atlanta on January 17, 2015.

This past year, how Shirley performed on the golf course will be remembered forever. She became a national champion by winning the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, played at Harbour Trees Golf Club in Noblesville, Ind., in September. After she finished runner-up at this event in 2013, she fought back in 2014 to win the final match 5 and 3, over the same competitor she lost to in 2013. 

Shirley, who played golf at Auburn University and now works with the Atlanta Junior Golf Association, also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. She finished sixth at the Georgia Women’s Open, which was played at Brookfield Country Club in Roswell.

The award’s namesake, Tommy Barnes of Atlanta, was one of Georgia’s legendary amateur golfers. Among his many accomplishments, Barnes captured the 1941 Georgia Amateur Championship, won the 1947 and ’49 Southern Amateur titles, qualified for 16 consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships and played in the 1950 Masters Tournament. In 1989, at age 73, Barnes shot 62 to break Bobby Jones’ 67-year-old record at his home course, East Lake Golf Club. He also had a long history of service to the GSGA and other golf associations, and was a member of numerous Halls of Fame. Barnes passed away in 2007 at age 91. 

In honor of this special gentleman, the GSGA established the Tommy Barnes Award in 1983-84 to recognize its Men’s Player of the Year. Beginning in 1998, the Tommy Barnes Award was given to the annual overall player of the year. 

Seven other golfers received GSGA Player of the Year distinction and were honored during the luncheon. Players of the Year are annually awarded in six categories: Men, Women, Junior, Girls’, Senior Men and Senior Women.

Co-Men’s Players of the Year: Kelby Burton, Evans; Robert Mize, Columbus; David Noll, Jr., Dalton

Three individuals stood out among all others on the golf course in 2014 and therefore share GSGA Men’s Player of the Year honors – Kelby Burton of Evans, Robert Mize of Columbus and David Noll, Jr., of Dalton.

Burton wins a share of the GSGA Men’s Player of the Year award for the first time after having a successful year. He finished in a tie for runner-up honors at the Georgia Amateur Championship, held at Idle Hour Club in Macon in July. Burton, who plays golf at Kennesaw State University, also finished tied for third at the Georgia Open.

Mize earned a share of the Men’s Player of the Year award by winning his first Georgia Amateur Championship. Mize trailed by four strokes entering the final round, but closed with a final-round 67 to win by four strokes. 

Noll claims a share of his ninth Men’s Player of the Year honor. In 2014, he won his third Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee in Eatonton in May. Noll also was selected to represent the GSGA in two team competitions – the USGA State Team Championship and the Billy Peters Cup Matches.  

Junior Player of the Year: Will Chandler, Atlanta

The year 2014 saw a competitor finish atop the points list to claim GSGA Junior Player of the Year distinction – Will Chandler of Atlanta. 

Chandler earned his first Junior Player of the Year award in 2014. The Atlanta native tied for runner-up honors at the Georgia Amateur Championship. He finished in a tie for ninth at the Georgia Junior Championship, which was played at Brunswick Country Club. 

Girls’ Player of the Year: Janet Mao, Johns Creek

This individual enjoyed a successful year on the course in 2014 – Janet Mao of Johns Creek.

Mao earned her first Girls’ Player of the Year award after an exceptional year on the golf course. She began the year winning the Georgia Women’s Match Play Championship at Canongate-on-White Oak in Newnan. Mao finished in a tie for fourth at the Georgia Girls’ Championship, played at The Standard Club in Johns Creek, and followed that up with a fifth-place showing at the Georgia Top 60 Women’s Classic at Rivermont Country Club in Johns Creek. She was also a member of Team Georgia at the Women’s Southeastern Challenge Match, held at Reynolds Plantation-Great Waters in Eatonton. 

Mao won the Georgia PGA Girls’ Championship at Dunwoody Country Club. On the national stage, she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship. 

Senior Men’s of the Year: Doug Hanzel of Savannah

This past year, one competitor stood out among the senior men field to win GSGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year distinction – Doug Hanzel of Savannah. 

Hanzel notched a memorable season on the golf course, and therefore claims his third-straight Senior Men’s Player of the Year award. Hanzel’s year was highlighted by winning the Georgia Senior Championship at Doublegate Country Club in Albany for the second time. On the national circuit, he advanced to the round of 32 at the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, and also qualified for the U.S. Senior Open Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. 

Senior Women’s Player of the Year: Brenda Pictor, Marietta

In 2014, Brenda Pictor of Marietta continued her dominance in the Senior Women’s division. Since sharing the GSGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year title with Darlene Werhnyak of Lawrenceville in 2007, Pictor has claimed the award outright for the last seven years, and does so again in 2014.

Pictor once again logged a successful year on the Senior Women’s circuit. She won the Georgia Senior Women’s Match Play Championship at Sunset Hills Country Club in Carrollton for the third time. She then won her second title at the Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship, and finished with runner-up honors at the Georgia Senior Women’s Championship, played at Big Canoe Golf Club.

Nationally, Pictor advanced to the round of 64 at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, which will be played this summer.