PNGA Names 2010 Players of the Year
The 2010 winners include Eugene Wong of North Vancouver, B.C., who received the Men’s award; Christine Wong of Richmond, B.C., received the Women’s award; Chris Maletis of Portland, Ore., received the Senior Men’s award; Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C., received the Senior Women’s award; Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., received the Junior Boys’ award; and Monica Vaughn of Reedsport, Ore., received the Junior Girls’ award.
Eugene Wong, a member of the Canadian National Golf Team, put together a stellar resume in 2010. This year Wong collected two individual victories, five top-5 finishes, and a 9th place individual finish at the NCAA Championship as a member of the University of Oregon golf team. Wong was also named as the Pac-10 Co-Golfer of the Year and NCAA First Team All-American. Perhaps his most significant accomplishment was being named the 2010 NCAA Jack Nicklaus Award Winner, which recognizes the top collegiate player in the country. Wong currently ranks 8th on the Royal & Ancient World Amateur Rankings list.
Christine Wong, a member of the Canadian National Developmental Team, has been awarded the PNGA Women’s Player of the Year honor for her remarkable success this year. Wong’s accomplishments include two individual collegiate victories as well as being named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year as a member of the San Diego State University golf team. Wong also made the round of 32 at the Ladies British Amateur Championship and finished 7th individually at the World Amateur Team Championship in Buenos Aires. Wong’s most impressive finish came in June when she made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont Country Club, finishing in a tie for 55th place.
Chris Maletis solidified his 3rdPNGASenior Player of the Year honor with a notable 2010 season. His accomplishments include winning his 3rd PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur title, a runner-up finish at the Oregon Senior Stroke Play Championship, a 3rd place finish at the Oregon Senior Open, a semifinal appearance at the PNGA Master-40 Championship, and a qualifier for the U.S. Senior Amateur.
Alison Murdoch has claimed her 4th PNGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year award. Murdoch made another strong statement in the senior ranks during her incredible 2010 season in which she won five championships – the Washington State Senior Women’s Amateur, B.C. Super Senior Women’s Amateur, Alberta Senior Ladies Championship, Canadian Super Senior Women’s Amateur, and the Washington State Champion of Champions. Murdoch was also the runner-up at the Canadian Senior Women’s Amateur, a semifinalist at the PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, and finished 18th at the Irish Senior Women’s Open.
Adam Svensson, also a member of the Canadian National Developmental Team, had a year to remember including this year’s PNGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year. In 2010, Svensson notched seven victories including the Callaway Junior World Championship, B.C. Junior Boys’ Championship, and the CN Future Links Pacific Championship. Svensson’s crowning achievement came in July when he became the youngest player, at age 16, to ever win the B.C. Men’s Amateur Championship.
The now 15-year-old Monica Vaughn put together a fantastic season resulting in her first PNGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year award. Vaughn won four titles in 2010, including the Oregon Junior Girls’, PNGA Junior Girls’, and the Oregon Women’s Public Links. She was also runner-up at the Oregon Women’s Stroke Play Championship and finished 3rd place at the Junior Girls’ Cup. Vaughn’s most outstanding performance came in June when she won the 101st Women’s Oregon Amateur Championship becoming the youngest player, at age 15, to ever win the title.
