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 2018 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 from over 200 events conducted over the past twelve months. The South Carolina Golf Junior Golf Association and the Heritage Classic Foundation are proud to announce Jonathan Griz as the Jay Haas Player of the Year and Abigail Schimpf 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 PGA TOUR member Kyle Thompson captured back-to-back awards. History is being made this year as ninth grader Jonathan Griz (Bluffton) will be the youngest male player to win the award since the inaugural year. Griz found his way atop the standings back in October and hasn’t looked back. Griz’s 2018 season included 16 top 10 finishes and four national/regional tournament victories (Bobby Chapman Invitational conducted by the SCJGA, the Harvey Brock Orange Jacket Classic, The Carolinas Junior PGA Championship and the Hilton Head Island Amateur).
Griz, stepped into the national spotlight over the summer by qualifying for the US Junior Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. Griz also qualified for match-play and advanced to the round of 32. Ending his season with a 72.4 scoring average, Griz has the opportunity to make history in his junior career, receiving the award as a 9th grader and opening the window to capture the award over the next three years. The awards presentation will take place at Thornblade Club on January 2nd at 1pm, as Jay Haas will present the coveted distinction.
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. Abigail Schimpf (Daniel Island) found herself at the top spot in September and hasn’t wavered.
Her dominant play included 12 top 10 finishes in 2018, clinching victories at the SCJGA Fall Challenge and the WSCGA Foundation Championship. Schimpf found herself in contention at numerous events, finishing runner-up in 2017 Donald Ross Junior Girls, SCJGA The Blade Junior Classic and CGA Twin States Girls’.
Schimpf, a verbal commit to the University of South Carolina, also stepped into the national spotlight by qualifying for the Women’s US Amateur. Adding to her resumé, Schimpf was named to the Mid-Atlantic Girls Team, the GA/SC Girls Junior Team and most recently recognized by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour as the Girls 13-18 National Player of the Year. Schimpf will be honored by Beth Daniel at the Country Club of Charleston on December 27th at 2:00 pm.
All media, supporters of junior golf, and family members are welcome to attend the awards presentations. Please contact Justin Fleming, Senior Director of the SCJGA, should you have any questions about either event.
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 $39 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.
