2013 Amateur Players of the Year

2013 was another phenomenal year for the competitive amateur game. There were remarkable team and individual performances, spirited play from two of the world's rising stars and, of course, who can forget the Walker Cup at the picturesque National Golf Links of America. As we close the book on the 2013 season, here's a look at the top moments, players and stories of the year.

U.S. Player of the Year: Michael Weaver

Perhaps the most important characteristic a golfer can possess is consistency. And, for more than a year now, Cal Bears senior Michael Weaver has proven to be one of the world's most consistent golfers. For starters, Weaver was a key component to Cal's memorable 2012-2013 season. He helped the Bears win 12 of 14 stroke-play tournaments, setting a modern-day NCAA single-season record. He also found his way into the U.S. Open field by way of his 2012 U.S. Amateur runner-up finish. In 2013, Weaver also tied for medalist at the NCAA West Regional, placed second at The Players Amateur, took sixth at the Western Amateur, logged a top 10 at the Northeast Amateur and took 14th at the Southern Amateur. His efforts, of course, landed him a spot on the victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad, for which he went 1-3-0.

Worl d Player of the Year:Brady Watt

Brady Watt, the Australian phenom who recently turned professional, simply outpaced the competition with top finish, after top finish all over the world. Watt, who tied for third at the prestigious Porter Cup and took 10th place finishes at the Southern Amateur and Sahalee Players also did a lot of damage in international events. He won the Riversdale Cup and took runner- up at the Australian Master of the Amateurs. He was fourth at the South African Stroke Play and tied for eighth at the Asia-Pacific Open Amateur.Perhaps his most-documented finish, however, came at The Country Club in Brookline where he reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur before falling to fellow Australian Oliver Goss

National Senior Player of the Year: Doug Hanzel

Was there any other option this year? From Savannah, Georgia, Doug Hanzel catapulted to the top of the senior golfing world with wins this year at the U.S. Senior Amateur, Society of Seniors Dale Morey Championship and Dixie Senior.

He added Top 10s at the Coleman Invitational and Oglethorpe Invitational and took low amateur honors at the U.S. Senior Open.

 

National Women's Player of the Year: Ashlan Ramsey

This one wasn't even close. Ramsey, a freshman golfer at Clemson University, won the Women's Eastern Amateur and placed second at the Trans National Amateur. She added Top 5s at the Harder Hall, Sally and played deep into the Women's North & South Amateur (quarterfinals) and the Jones/Doherty Women's Amateur (Semifinals).

 

Calif. Player of the Year: Michael Weaver

The U.S. Player of the Year, Michael Weaver, was by default the top player in his home state of California. Weaver outlasted fellow Cal teammates Max Homa (now professional) and Michael Kim for the top prize. Cory McElyea, who reached the U.S. Open, placed fourth just ahead of Cal Bears' Brandon Hagy. To view the complete California Player-of-the-Year points list, click here>

 

Texas Player of the Year: Cory Whitsett

Capped off by terrific play at the Walker Cup, Cory Whitsett's 2013 earned him top honors in our Texas rankings. Whitsett stormed out of nowhere for perhaps the year's most impressive win at the Northeast Amateur, closing with a 63. He also took runner-up finishes at the Sunnehanna and Jones Cup, along with Top 20s at the NCAA Championship and Southern Amateur.

amateurgolf.com Tour Player of the Year: Cody Robinson

Cody Robinson, a senior at Saint Mary's, won the California Medal Play Championship and logged Top 15s in the four other amateurgolf.com Tour events he played in. He placed eighth at the Silicon Valley Amateur, presented by CHAMP Spikes, tied for 12th at the Wine Country Cup and Diablo Valley Amateur and placed 14th at the San Diego County Amateur. The victory that keyed his run to the top of the AGC Tour rankings was thanks to a final-round 70 at the Medal Play Championship. After a first-round 75, Robinson trailed leader Nick Moore by three shots only to surge in the final round for a come-from- behind victory that ultimately sealed his Player of the Year crown over Moore, who finished second in the rankings.

amateurgolf.com Tour Senior Player of the Year: Mark Miller

Mark Miller, a dentist who resides in Brentwood, California, vaulted past Senior amateurgolf.com Tour points leader Ron Johnson of Walnut Creek, Calif., with a 50 point victory at the amateurgolf.com Christmas Classic in Monterey. Miller has been the most decorated amateurgolf.com Senior Tour player ever, with an amazing 14 tournament wins. That's just for amateurgolf.com events! That record has resulted in Miller winning the Senior POY title the last three years and 5 of the 7 years since we've been keeping track. Always looking for a competitive edge by taking lessons, using the best equipment, and practicing, Miller knows how to get the job done under pressure.

 

amateurgolf.com Tour Player of the Year: Vincent Steele

Talk about consistency. Steele hasn't finished outside the Top 10 in more than a year! After a second-place finish at last year's Diablo Valley Amateur, he went on to win the 2013 Diablo event, tied for first at the Monterey County Four-Ball, tied for third at the California Medal Play Championship and took eighth at the 2013 Christmas Classic.