Katelyn Dambaugh of Goose Creek, S.C. captures her first CGA Women’s Player of the Year award by virtue of her excellent performance on the national stage.

In her third year at the University of South Carolina, Dambaugh set the program record for single- season stroke average (71.62) and totaled the most top-five finishes (6) by a junior. She won the 2016 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional with a school record 207 (-9), finished T-11 at the NCAA Championship, and earned First-Team All-America honors from the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and Golfweek. In the summer, Dambaugh earned runner-up honors at the North & South Women’s Amateur then advanced to the Round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Chosen as one of three women to represent the United States at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Dambaugh’s final round 69 contributed to a sixth place team finish.

Dambaugh is currently listed at No. 8 in the Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., an iconic golfer in the Carolinas for over 25 years, wins his eighth Senior Men’s Player of the Year award, a CGA record. To earn this honor for the first time since 2012, Simson defended his titles at both the North Carolina Senior Amateur and the Senior Men's North & South Amateur. Now with six North & South Senior wins, Simson became the all-time winningest golfer at Pinehurst Resort with eight total Putter Boy trophies.

Simson also claimed victory in the Durham Senior Amateur, advanced to the Round of 16 at the U.S. Senior Amateur, and placed T-10 at the British Senior Amateur. He was selected to represent the United States the Copa 70 Años in Columbia. At age 65, Simson now has Super Senior status for CGA events. Competing in his first North Carolina Super Senior, Simson captured his 31st overall CGA championship by a ten stroke margin.

In his career, Simson has won over 200 titles, two U.S. Senior Amateurs (2010, '12) and claimed three Seniors Amateur titles (2006, '08, '10), conducted by The R&A. Simson is also a two-time CGA Men's Player of the Year winner (2005 & 2008).

Kim Briele of New Bern, N.C., earns her first CGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor, edging four- time winner Pat Brogden. Briele began her 2016 campaign by finishing T-6 while in search of a title defense at the North Carolina Senior Women’s Amateur.

Briele broke through at the Carolinas Senior Women’s Championship, winning her second individual CGA title. “That particular event allowed me to complete a year of many highs and low’s culminating in the most satisfying finish I have ever experienced,” said Briele. “As a golfer, it is nice to accumulate points but nothing can replace a “W” in the win column. So just knowing that I could finish probably was the best rewarding moment of 2016.”

Playing with Patty Moore, the duo claimed the Senior Division at the Carolinas Women’s Four-Ball. After finishing T-13 at the North & South Senior Women’s Amateur, Briele qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

Trent Phillips of Inman, S.C., adds Carolinas Junior Boys’ Player of the Year to his list of accomplishments. In 2016 Phillips tallied an impressive list of wins including the South Carolina Junior Amateur, the Joe Cheves, the Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational, the Cheraw Fall Challenge and Players Championship. Before this past summer and fall, Phillips had helped his high school team to their third straight South Carolina AAAA championship. He already owned two individual state AAAA championships before this year.

Perhaps his most impressive victory of 2016 came at the Palmetto Amateur, where the future Georgia Bulldog became the youngest player to win the nationally recognized amateur championship.

For the second consecutive year, Phillips was recognized as the South Carolina Junior Golf Association's Boys' Player of the Year.

Emily Hawkins of Lexington, NC became just the third player in history to capture both the North Carolina Junior Girls' and Carolinas Junior Girls' titles in the same year. "The NC Junior Girls was such a big moment for me this summer," said Hawkins. "First, match play was a new format for me. I had been close to winning some big tournaments earlier this year and winning this tournament gave me confidence and helped kick- start my year."

Hawkins added a victory at the AJGA Girls’ Championship and finished second at the 50th Twin States Junior Girls. Topping off her year, the high school junior qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. "My goal going in to 2016 was to achieve top 5 in the state, have a scoring average of 75 or better, and win 3 tournaments. I am excited to have achieved each goal this year."

The 16-year-old was quick to extend gratitude to others. "I would like to thank my high school coach Hugh Quinn and my swing coach from Precision Golf School Chris Haarlow for helping me to achieve my goals," added Hawkins. "I'm so happy to have received this award. It is something I never dreamed of achieving at the start of the year."

Eight Carolinas Men's Players of the Year are current or former PGA Tour members while five Carolinas Women's Players of the Year have competed on the LPGA tour. Notable past Tufts award winners include: Jonathan Byrd (1999, PGA Tour), Beth Bauer (1999, LPGA), D.J. Trahan (2000-2002, PGA Tour), Marcy Newton Hart (2000, LPGA), Brandi Jackson (2002, LPGA), Bill Haas (2003, PGA Tour), Webb Simpson (2006, PGA Tour), Dustin Johnson (2007, PGA Tour), Cydney Clanton (2009-10, LPGA), Mark Anderson (2009, PGA Tour), and Austin Ernst (2011, LPGA).