BOISE, Idaho — With the tournament season now in the books, the Idaho Golf Association would like to officially announce the recipients of the 2023 Players of the Year Award:
MEN
-Trevor Garus (Men’s)
-Burke Spensky (Men’s Master-40)
-Darren Kuhn (Men’s Senior)
WOMEN
-Maddie Montoya (Women’s)
-Kris Fenwick, Melinda Howard & Sadie Fisher (Women’s Mid-Am)
-Karen Darrington (Women’s Senior)
The IGA would like to congratulate each golfer on their successful year on the golf course and for the impact they’ve had on golf in the great state of Idaho.
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TREVOR GARUS
Garus, an upcoming golf star in Idaho and a commit to the UCLA Men’s Golf Team, showed this season why he is a force to be reckoned with in future IGA Championships and beyond. His ability to hit the ball a mile while having a soft touch around the greens helped lead him to some stellar finishes, including a victory at the 95th State Amateur at Jug Mountain Ranch — a course that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:
Trevor Garus hits an iron off the tee on the 1st hole at Jug Mountain Ranch during State Amateur
-IGA State Amateur Championship (1st)
@Jug Mountain Ranch
-IGA Match Play Championship (2nd)
@Jerome CC
-U.S. Amateur (Qualified)
@Warm Springs GC
-IGA Tournament of Champions (T-4)
@Falcon Crest GC
Nicole Bird, Manager of Rules and Competitions at the IGA, stated: “Winning the Player of the Year Award just caps off an amazing season for [Trevor]. He played so well in every event from finishing runner-up at the Match Play to becoming the IGA State Am Champion. It sure has been a fascinating journey to watch. [He] is definitely worthy of being player of the year for the men in 2023!”
MEN’S MASTER-40 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: BURKE SPENSKY
After being out for the 2022 season, Spenksy returned in style and dominance in all Master-40 events this golf season. With consistency as one of his greatest strengths, Spensky always found himself at or near the top of every leaderboard. Having a solid flat stick and great ball striking, Spensky rarely shot himself out of an event. His top finish this season was as a runner-up at the Mid-Amateur Championship.
Burke Spensky tries to chip it close on the long par-3 16th at Pinecrest GC.
Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:
-IGA Mid-Amateur Championship (T1)
@Pinecrest GC
-IGA State Amateur Championship (7th)
@Jug Mountain Ranch
-IGA Tournament of Champions (6th)
@Falcon Crest GC
“[Burke] had an outstanding year,” Bird said. “We were thrilled to have him back competing in 2023 after being out due to injury in 2022. He had several top finishes at IGA Championships, and due to some great golf, he definitely deserves this award!”
MEN’S SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DARREN KUHN
If there was an event, Kuhn was there. He didn’t just show up to play in almost every event, he showed up to compete and battle his fellow competitors for each event’s shiny hardware. No stranger to big events and competitive fields, Kuhn let his game do the talking this season — using a somewhat unconventional swing and solid mental game to get him there. ‘Mr. Steady’ would be a great nickname for Kuhn, despite having a zero in the win column this season.
Darren Kuhn hits his tee shot off an elevated tee box on the 16th at TimberStone GC during Senior Amateur.
Here are his finishes for the 2023 season:
-IGA Match Play Championship – Men’s Senior Division (2nd)
@Jerome CC
-IGA Senior Amateur Championship (T-3)
@TimberStone GC
-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (T-4)
@Falcon Crest GC
-PNGA Senior Amateur (T-11)
@Canterwood G&CC (WA)
-IGA Mid-Amateur Championship – Master-40 Division (T-13)
@Pinecrest GC
“[Darren] played in a number of IGA events this year and finished well in all of them,” Bird mentioned. “He finished runner-up at the Senior Match Play and continued his strong play all the way through the Senior TOC, never missing a beat! Congratulations to [Darren] on winning the Senior Men's Player of the Year.”
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MADDIE MONTOYA
In what is a talented core of young female golfers in the IGA, a single player separated herself from the rest of that cluster with a win at the biggest women’s championship of the year. Montoya, a sophomore on the Montana State Women’s Golf Team, claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award with what may have been the round of the year in women’s golf throughout Idaho.
Maddie Montoya embraces Women’s State Am trophy following comeback victory.
She snuck up on then-leader Emily Cadwell during the final round of the Women’s State Amateur to win the tournament in a playoff after trailing by five strokes to begin the final round — etching her name in the history books and on the trophy that bears the name of Idaho great Jean Smith.
Here are her finishes for the 2023 season:
-IGA Women’s State Amateur Championship (T1)
@Jug Mountain Ranch
Referring to Montoya’s play this year, the IGA’s Manager of Rules and Competitions said: “[Maddie] played really well at the Women's State Amateur and is deserving of this award. I fully expect big things to come for her in future IGA Championships!”
WOMEN’S MID-AM PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: KRIS FENWICK, MELINDA HOWARD & SADIE FISHER
For what might be a first in IGA history, the award for the Women’s Mid-Am Player of the Year will be shared between three individuals: Fenwick and Howard are two familiar faces within women’s golf in Idaho, and Fisher, on the other hand, is an occasional participant in IGA Championships who simply balls out when she does. Each competitor gets to claim a piece of the pie — playing the game in their own way and style.
Here are their finishes for the 2023 season:
-Kris Fenwick finished T-2 at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship
@Pinecrest GC
-Melinda Howard finished T-2 at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship
@Pinecrest GC
Kris Fenwick (top left), Melinda Howard (bottom left) & Sadie Fisher (right)
-Sadie Fisher finished as the runner-up at the IGA Match Play Championship
@Jerome CC
“Congratulations to all three ladies on their co-Player of the Year honors; they all had an outstanding season and are very deserving of this honor,” Bird said.
WOMEN’S SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: KAREN DARRINGTON
Darrington continued to show dominance in 2023 just as she has over the last couple of decades — getting the luxury of adding several new trophies to her already overflowing collection. Darrington known as a crowd favorite amongst peers, showed humility and respect in both victory and defeat this season.
For those who are entrenched in sport’s lore, agreeance would be had that Darrington has that “It Factor,” and it is something that roots its head at each event. Some would even say it is the very reason why Darrington has been so difficult to beat for the long list of gals who have played in IGA Championships for the last 20-plus years.
Here are her finishes for the 2023 season:
-IGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship (1st)
@TimberStone GC
-IGA Women’s Match Play Championship – Senior (1st)
@Jerome CC
-IGA Senior Tournament of Champions (2nd)
@Falcon Crest GC
-PNGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur (6th)
@Twin Lakes G&CC (WA)
Karen Darrington watches her tee shot off the 1st hole at Blue Lakes CC during the 2023 PNGA Lamey Cup.
“While [Karen] is no stranger to this award, she is definitely worthy this year!” said Bird while describing Darrington’s 2023 season. “She won two events as well as picking up several top finishes in other events. She played really well in 2023 and will be extremely missed during the 2024 season.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
It was an impressive year of golf within the IGA. Golfers were treated to some fabulous venues and weather, well, at least when the thunderstorms stayed away. The competition level in each division raised the quality of play, which proved to be a true testament to the players who registered for them.
Now putting the 2023 season in the past, the IGA couldn’t be more excited about 2024 and all that is in store! Be sure to stay tuned for next year’s schedule! We can’t wait to see you at an IGA event!
CLICK HERE for a complete look at each division’s standings.