Columbia, S.C. – The December issue of the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings is the final issue of the year and the source of awarding the 2019 South Carolina Junior Golf Association Players of the Year. The Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings are based on overall finishes in tournaments across South Carolina and nationwide. Points are compiled and awarded based on tournament finishes from over 200 events conducted over the past twelve months. The South Carolina Junior Golf Association and the Heritage Classic Foundation are proud to announce Gene Zeigler as the Jay Haas Player of the Year and Mary Kathryn “MK” Talledo as the Beth Daniel Player of the Year.
Champions Tour Player Jay Haas has an award in his honor dating back to 1996 when Gamecock standout and former PGA TOUR member Kyle Thompson captured back-to-back honors.
Keeping in the Gamecock family, 2021 graduate and University of South Carolina men’s golf commit Gene Zeigler of Florence has captured the 2019 Player of the Year honor in impressive style. In his 2019 season, Zeigler compiled 11 top 10 finishes and two top 20 finishes in amateur events – one being the South Carolina Golf Association Amateur Championship conducted at Thornblade Club where he was the low junior amateur posting rounds of 70-70-72-67 to finish in the top fifteen.
Zeigler would step into the winner’s circle on two occasions this season. First at the Anderson Brother’s Bank High School Invitational and then just recently at the South Carolina Junior Golf Association Fall Challenge at Cheraw State Park. A junior at Trinity Byrnes Collegiate School, Zeigler also led his team to a SCISA 3A title, making it the school’s second in three years. Zeigler not only performed well in the states, but also took his talents across the pond – as he competed in the R&A Boys British Amateur Championship at Saunton Golf Club in Devon England this past August, one of the most prestigious golf events in the world. The international event attracts the best junior male players from around the globe and is played annually in Great Britain and Ireland. When asked what this honor means to him, Zeigler expressed, “It means a lot to me to be named Player of the Year. It’s an honor to win this award in the best state for junior golf and join a long list of elite names that have received this recognition. There is no better feeling than seeing hard work pay off.”
LPGA Hall of Fame Member Beth Daniel also has an award in her honor that recognizes the top female player from the SCJGA Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings. Mary Kathryn “MK” Talledo of Spartanburg found herself atop the rankings in the early fall and maintained that position to secure the Player of the Year honor.
A 2021 graduate and College of Charleston commit, Talledo compiled a stellar 2019 season on her trek to the top of the rankings. Hoisting the winner’s trophy and impressive six times, Talledo was a familiar face atop numerous leaderboards. Talledo would follow those wins with 20 top 10s – four of those being runner-up finishes, adding to an already incredible season.
Talledo’s standout victories came at the Morgan Lucas Championship at Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer Course, Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tour Spring Invitational and rounded out the season by capturing the 5A State Championship individual title with scores of 74-77.
Finishing up the Nike Junior where she played her way into a 6th place finish, Talledo would again make a name for herself in a national event, firing a final round 73 at the North & South Junior conducted at Pinehurst Resort, placing her into the top 15. Talledo spoke on what this accomplishment and honor means to her by saying, “Winning the Beth Daniel Player of the Year award is the highest achievement as a South Carolina junior golfer I could ever receive. My swing coach Kevin Britt and my trainer Robbie Stephens have helped me so much in becoming a better golfer and person everyday. I couldn’t have accomplished this without them. At the beginning of the year we set up goals of what we wanted to accomplish in 2019. Stepping back to look at all the hours spent working and improving – this award is a great honor to me and a testament to my hard work and dedication.“
The South Carolina Junior Golf Association welcome all media, supporters of junior golf, and family members to attend the Player of the Year awards presentations. Please contact Justin Fleming, Senior Director of the SCJGA, should you have any questions about event details.
The mission of the Heritage Classic Foundation is to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of South Carolina through outstanding golf events. As the general sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, millions of dollars generated from ticket sales and sponsorship dollars are distributed to charitable organizations that improve the lives of others. Since it was founded as a 501 (c)(3) in 1987, the Foundation has distributed over to $43 million in donations through scholarships and charitable programs including Heritage Champions Fore Charity, Birdies for Charity and the South Carolina License Plate Program. For more information, call (843) 671-2448, visit www.heritageclassicfoundation.com, and like Heritage Classic Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.
