COLUMBIA, SC (Dec. 21, 2022) – The December issue of the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings is the final issue of the year and the source of awarding the 2022 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 Andrew Gregory of Inman as the Jay Haas Player of the Year and Madison Messimer of Myrtle Beach as the Beth Daniel Player of the Year.
Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings: Boys Rankings | Girls Rankings
Dating back to 1995, the SCJGA boys Player of the Year has been named in honor of former PGA Tour member, standout player and current Champions Tour member, Jay Haas.
Claiming four SCJGA Major titles this year, 2022 was undoubtably a year filled with success for Andrew Gregory. Gregory began the season with a first-place finish at the SCJGA Morgan Lucas Championship, went on to claim the 24th Blade Junior Classic boys title and rounded out the year with back-to-back first place finishes at the Cheraw Boys Fall Challenge and The Players Championship. As a member of South Carolina’s 2022 Watson Cup team, a high point of Gregory’s season certainly includes team South Carolina’s 27-24 point victory over the East Lothian / Edinburgh team in Scotland. The 2023 graduate will finish the year with a 72.73 scoring average and plans to attend Liberty University and play on the men’s golf team.
“I worked hard this year,” said Gregory. “I’m excited and I’m grateful to be the Jay Haas Player of the Year. I wouldn’t say it was my goal to get Player of the Year, but I saw my name climbing in the rankings and knew I had a chance, so I think that motivated me. I’ve kind of struggled with consistency when I play in tournaments, so this year I tried to focus on playing smart golf which was a different mindset for sure, but it worked out. I owe a lot of my success to my dad. He does a lot for me and keeps me in the game and adding my name to this list and receiving this award from Jay Haas means a lot and gives me confidence in myself and my game.”
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.
Claiming the 96th Carolinas Women’s Amateur title, Madison Messimer had a season full of achievement. The 2025 graduate competed in 18 events this year of which she enjoyed 10 impressive finishes in the top-five and 15 finishes inside the top-10. High points of Messimer’s season certainly include her victory at the Carolinas Women’s Amateur, as well as her first-place finish at the WSCGA Junior Championship. She also finished fourth in this year’s Beth Daniel Junior Azalea. Messimer will finish the 2022 season with a scoring average of 72.72 and is ranked #73 overall in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
“It’s an honor to receive this award and add my name to the list of players who have won Beth Daniel Player of the Year,” said Messimer. “I set goals for myself at the beginning of the year and one of my goals was to become the number one female player in South Carolina which I achieved. I started working on my short game and putting and I gained more confidence this year which has helped me so much. I look up to Beth Daniel as golfer, so to receive this award from her means a lot to me. I want to thank my parents and my coach. They have all supported me and worked hard to help me become a better player and I know they are proud.”
The Jay Haas boys Player of the Year will be awarded on Monday, January 2, 2023 at Thornblade Club in Greer, SC. The Beth Daniel girls Player of the Year will be awarded on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at The Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, SC.
About the South Carolina Junior Golf Association
The purpose of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association is to continue the history and traditions of the ancient game of golf through its members and an active outreach to the youth of our state. Established in 1990 by community leaders with a love for the game and a commitment to passing on golf’s heritage to the youth of South Carolina, the SCJGA is committed to meeting the needs of all young people in the state and providing playing opportunities to boys and girls that might not otherwise have the chance to experience golf and its many benefits. Through affordable opportunities of play, instruction and competition, juniors of all ages, walks of life and skill levels will be touched by the character of the game. It helps to teach them honor, sportsmanship and respect and makes them better prepared to face the challenges ahead in life.
For more information about the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, visit www.scjga.org
