The South Carolina Golf Association, South Carolina Junior Golf Association and the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association all have announced their players of the year for 2025.
The SCGA honors goes to West Columbia’s Sam Jackson, who became the first golfer to earn the honor four consecutive years. Eddie Hargett of Okatie won his fifth SCGA Senior Player of the Year award.
Jackson turned in top-five finishes in every tournament he entered. He won the SCGA Amateur Championship, finished fourth in the SCGA Mid-Amateur, had second-place finishes in the SCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball and Players Four-Ball, a second in the Lefty-Righty Championship, a third-place finish in the Partners Four-Ball, a fourth-place finish in the Palmetto Amateur and tied for fifth in the Azalea Invitational.
Hargett won the SCGA Senior Amateur and SCGA Senior Four-Ball, finished fourth in the Low Country Senior Amateur, tied for 14th in the Jones Cup Senior, tied for 16th at the Carolinas Senior Amateur and tied for fourth in the Carolinas Senior Four-Ball.
Bennett Scaletta and his sister, Marissa Scaletta, of Belton won the top honors for the South Carolina Junior Golf Association.
Bennett Scaletta was named the Jay Haas Boys Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He competed in 10 SCJGA events, winning the Jackie Seawell Junior and finishing runner-up in the Harvey Brock Orange Jacket Classic and the SCJGA Junior.
Marissa Scaletta was the Beth Daniel Girls Player of the Year. She won the Players Championship and Jackie Seawell Girls Fall Challenge and finished second in the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea.
Sophia Burnett of Bluffton is the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association Player of the year. She won the WSCGA Amateur and also finished first in the South Carolina Women’s Open.
Lea Venable of Simpsonville is the WSCGA Senior Player of the Year. She won the WSCGA Team Championship and tied for second in the Senior South Carolina Women’s Open. Dawn Woodard of Greer was the winner of the WSCGA’s Spirit of Golf Award.
First Tee Pathfinder Registration
Applications are being accepted for current fifth graders through Feb. 27 for the First Tee Greater Charleston’s (firstteegreatercharleston.org) Pathfinder Immersion Program. The Pathfinder Immersion Program provides impactful year-round experiences for students on the brink of success. Participants enter the program the summer before 6th grade and continue through high school. They meet Monday-Friday during the summer and on Saturdays during the school year for golf, mentoring, and STEM enrichment activities. Participants also receive healthy meals, transportation, and support from dedicated instructors Emil Lerone@FirstTeeCHS.org to request a paper application.
Aces
Mark Paton-Ash, Dec. 4, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 11, 149 yards, 6-iron. Witness: Hunter Schwartz.
Manny Vardakas, Dec. 10, Dunes West Golf & River Club, No. 6, 142 yards, 9-iron. Witnesses: Daniel Walker, Michael Cragg, Chris Levontis.
Jonathan May, Dec. 13, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 14, 121 yards, 9-iron. Witness: Kenny Beemer.
A hole-in-one should be reported by the golf course. Please email aces to braswellsports@hotmail.com and to sportsdesk@postandcourier.com.
