BOISE, Idaho—As the 2022 season has come to a close, the Idaho Golf Association is excited to announce the names of the individuals who have earned their respected Player of the Year Award. With two brand new categories being introduced this year (Men’s Master-40 and Women’s Mid-Am), the following have been crowned:
MEN
-Seth Jones (Men’s POY)
-Jesse Hibler (Men’s Master-40 POY)
-Scott Masingill (Senior Men’s POY)
WOMEN
-Kelli Ann Strand (Women’s POY)
-Lori Ruiz (Women’s Mid-Am POY)
-Kris Fenwick (Senior Women’s POY)
The IGA would like to congratulate these individuals for an amazing year of golf and all they have accomplished on the course this season.
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: SETH JONES
Emerging as an upcoming star on the IGA circuit, Seth Jones put together a list of impressive outings during his inaugural IGA season. Having played in four events—never finishing outside the top 10—Jones demonstrated that one can both “drive for show, and putt for dough.”
Seth Jones playing alongside State Am winner, Jeffrey Anderson, at Idaho Fall Country Club.
No matter the format, Jones always seemed to find himself in contention at each tournament he played. Starting off the season with an impressive showing, Jones finished tied for fifth at the U.S. Open Local Qualifier, which was held at Banbury Golf Course in Eagle, Idaho.
He followed up that performance with his first and only victory of the year at the IGA Match Play Championship. Jones then finished the year with good showings at the State Amateur (T8) and Tournament of Champions (T3).
”Seth has worked very hard on his game over the last few years to get ready for collegiate golf and it shows in his play this summer,” said Nicole Bird, Manager of Rules and Competitions for the IGA. “He started with a strong win at the IGA Match Play Championship… and was in contention at the IGA State Amateur until the last hole when an unfortunate bounce from a cart path sent his ball out of bounds…He wanted to win the honor of Player of the Year, so he was able to come to the IGA [TOC] and obtain those final points he needed to win the title.”
Jones has arrived.
MEN’S MASTER-40 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JESSE HIBLER
Though late to the scene, Jesse Hibler made the most out of his limited appearances this season. Always being in contention, Hibler showed consistency and fight in each tournament—never finishing lower than sixth in each of his four showings. Hibler won the award by a mere 12 points over runner-up, Chris Boquette.
Jesse Hibler hitting his second shot into the par-4 17th at Jug Mountain Ranch during the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship.
Starting his season with a tie for sixth at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier held at Falcon Crest Golf Course, Hibler rattled off a second-place finish at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship, and two victories at the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s Master-40 Amateur and the IGA’s Tournament of Champions — all three occurring within four weeks of each other in August and September.
Bird said this about Hibler’s play this season: “Jesse was only able to play in a few events this year, but he made the most of it for sure! He started strong with a second-place finish at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Jug Mountain Ranch that went down to the last hole…That experience prepared him well for the following week when he played Jug Mountain Ranch—one of the hardest courses around—again but this time for the PNGA Master-40 championship, which he won for the second year in a row. Finally, he was able to cap off his season with a win at the IGA TOC in some tough, rainy conditions to earn the first-ever title of IGA Men’s Master-40 Player of the Year.”
SENIOR MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: SCOTT MASINGILL
The G.O.A.T of men’s golf in the state of Idaho doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. With some fabulous play, including two victories this season, Scott Masingill continues to drink from the bottomless Fountain of Youth. Playing in both regular and senior events, Masingill showed he’s still got it—even beyond the age of 70.
In his six events this tournament season, Masingill, as the young bucks say, “balled out.” Here are his finishes at this year’s events:
Scott Masingill rolls in the winning putt on the second playoff hole at Jerome Country Club.
-PNGA Senior (2)
-IGA Match Play Championship (T9)
-IGA State Amateur (T11)
-IGA Senior Amateur (1)
-PNGA Master-40 Amateur (Match Play)
-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (1)
"The name Scott Masingill rings a bell with many, and he is no stranger to the Player of the Year honor in Idaho,” Bird said. “[Scott] played lots of golf this summer and earned points in everything! One of the big highlights came in the final round of the IGA State Amateur at Idaho Falls Country Club when he beat his age in competition for the first time since his birthday, shooting 69 on the day. Just a few weeks later, he did it again at the IGA Senior Amateur Championship at Jerome Country Club in the 2nd round!… Scott had an outstanding year and is very deserving of this award.”
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KELLI ANN STRAND
By taking the award for the second year in a row, Kelli Ann Strand showed her fellow competitors once again why she is repeatedly at the top of the leaderboard at every event she plays in. Her length off the tee was the biggest advantage she had over her competitors—constantly having scoring clubs in hand while others did not.
”Kelli Ann is a repeat winner of this award, and it is well deserved,” said Bird. “Her junior and amateur career with the IGA has been full of victories at several tournaments.”
Kelli Ann Strands hits her tee shot on the par-3 ninth hole with fellow competitor, Sheryl Scott, looking on.
En route to her lone victory this year, Strand posted a women’s course record of 64 at The River Club in Boise during the stroke-play portion of the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship. She had every facet of her game dialed in for competition that week. Strand proved she is near impossible to beat when everything is running like a well-oiled machine.
Later in the season, Strand took eventual Women’s State Amateur winner, Carly Carter, to the wire where she fell just short of winning her second event of the year. With that finish, Strand secured the Women’s POY award by just three points over Carter.
“I think the pivotal moment to her winning the IGA Women’s Player of the Year this year came on the back-nine of the stroke-play portion of the IGA Match Play Championship at The River Club,” Bird said. “[Kelli Ann] made the turn at even par and was in the mix of several players to earn the #1 seed heading into the match-play portion. However, she made birdie after birdie on the back-nine, shooting an unbelievable 28 for a score of 64. The event was her first experience at match play, but she handled it like a pro and earned the honor this year.”
Now playing college golf at the University of Nebraska, Strand looks to keep trending upwards.
WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LORI RUIZ
Lori Ruiz played some exceptional, consistent golf during the 2022 tournament season. Taking both the medalist position at the USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier held at Falcon Crest GC and first place at the IGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Ruiz set herself up nicely to take home the first Women’s Mid-Amateur POY Award.
Lori Ruiz hits her approach shot into the par-4 sixth hole at Elkhorn Golf Club in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Bird stated: “Being unable to attend the USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Florida due to a scheduling conflict, [Lori] traveled to Jug Mountain Ranch a week later for the IGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Down by two strokes after the second round, [Lori] had her best round in the final round of very steady golf, shooting 74 for the victory.”
Relying on her good ball striking and a dependable flat stick proved to be the trick for Ruiz this summer. Having played several tracks that demanded its participants to hit it straight and on point, Ruiz’s game set up nicely for her at those courses. Knowing how to win events, Ruiz held strong while her competition faltered around her.
Along with her two wins, Ruiz also received POY points for her performance at the 2021 PGA National Club Championship and for making it to the semi-finals of the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship.
SENIOR WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KRIS FENWICK
The IGA couldn’t think of a more well-deserving recipient for the 2022 Senior Women’s Player of the Year than Kris Fenwick. As someone who has shown pure dedication to this craft, Fenwick’s hard work showed on multiple occasions throughout the year. Owning a swing that almost every golfer around would covet, Fenwick had her game ready to go, no matter who her opponents were.
”The Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor has long been a goal of Kris Fenwick’s,” Bird explained. “This season started with a putting lesson and a new putter that led to some much-needed confidence on the greens.”
Kris Fenwick stripes a tee shot on the par-4 fourth hole at the IGA Senior Women’s Amateur held at Jerome Country Club.
Bird went on to further explain: “This new assurance is what led her to take [Kelli Ann] to the 15th hole of the IGA Match Play Finals. It was an exciting match to watch. Her hot putter carried over to her third-place finish at the IGA Women’s Senior Amateur, as well as her second-place finish at the IGA Women’s Mid-Amateur. This event included a final-round score of 69 on one of the hardest courses out there! She capped off a fantastic season of golf with her first victory of the year at the IGA Senior Women’s Tournament of Champions.”
Here is how she placed in the seven events, which doesn’t include her Four-Ball victory with Karen Darrington at the beginning of the tournament season:
-2021 PGA National Club Champ (2)
-PNGA Women's Senior & Super Senior (T13)
-2022 IGA Match Play Championship (2)
-2022 IGA Senior Am (T3)
-2022 IGA Mid-Am (2)
-IGA Senior TOC (1)
FINISHING THOUGHTS
The IGA would like to personally thank each individual who played in a tournament run by the IGA this year. There was some phenomenal golf played and a lot of great competition. The IGA is looking forward to another great season next year and would like to encourage future participation by any interested in playing against the best in the state of Idaho.
Congratulations again to Seth Jones, Jesse Hibler, Scott Masingill, Kelli Ann Strand, Lori Ruiz and Kris Fenwick on their amazing accomplishments this season and wish them the best of luck next year!
For a complete look at the total point breakdown of each division, click HERE!