First Published by AmateurGolf.com
From national championships, course records, outstanding performances and improbable shots, there was no shortage of memorable moments in 2022; in fact we had to create another Top 10 list!
The Second 10
Two aces get Parker Coody through U.S. Open Qualifying
Making a hole in one in a round is incredible, yet the odds are estimated at a “reasonable” 5,000 to 1. The odds of making two aces in one in a single round, however, are a mind-blowing 67 million-to-1. No problem for Parker Coody, as the Texas Longhorn made two aces in the same round in 18-hole U.S. Open local qualifying at Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock, Texas. The rare feat helped Coody avoid a 7-for-3 playoff by a single shot.
Kynadie Adams concession worth $4,000 to spring professional
One of the feel-good stories of the year took place at the Lake Jovita Women’s Championship, a East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour event in Dade City, Fla., where Kynadie Adams, now a freshman at Alabama, shot a final-round 67 to force a playoff with 21-year-old Therese Warner, a former University of Arizona golfer who turned professional a month earlier. To the shock of Warner and everyone else, Adams then conceded the playoff, giving Warner her first professional win. Importantly, it also allowed Warner to keep the entire $10,000 first-place prize. Had Adams won the playoff, Warner would have earned around $6,000.
Clemente Monday-qualifies for three straight LPGA events
Gianna Clemente knows how to make the most of her Mondays. The high school freshman earned her way into three consecutive LPGA events held in her home state of Ohio, becoming the youngest player ever to accomplish the feat. Only one other person has successfully Monday qualified for three consecutive events on Tour: Hee-Won Han in 2001, at the LPGA Takefuji Classic, Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open and Welch’s-Circle K Championship.
Record-setting title defense for Menante at Northeast Amateur In one of the most dominating performances of the year, Dylan Menante won the 60th Northeast Amateur with a 19-under 257 at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, R.I. When he birdied his last hole for a final round 67, Menante had established a new 72-hole scoring record at 19-under par to win his second consecutive Northeast Amateur title by nine strokes over Karl Vilips of Stanford, shattering the previous 72-hole record of 15 under which was reached by Oklahoma State University’s Peter Uihlein (2011) and the University of Southern California’s Justin Suh (2018).
Holy Cross teammates accomplish rare feat; two albatrosses on the same hole
What Holy Cross teammates Christian Emmerich and Owen Egan accomplished during a practice round at Blackstone National in Sutton, Mass. was a feat that may have been a first in golf — and one that will likely not be repeated anytime soon — as both players made double eagles on successive shots on the par-5, 494-yard eighth hole.
Aaron Jarvis LAAC wins the Latin America Amateur for Cayman Islands
With a comeback victory at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, Aaron Jarvis instantly became a national hero and a trailblazer for the tiny island nation of Cayman Islands. The UNLV freshman won the Latin America Amateur Championship to become the first player in history from the Cayman Islands to play in The Masters and Open Championship. Pretty remarkable considering that the population of the country is just 66,000 and it has just one golf course.
Caleb Surratt wins the inaugural Elite Amateur Series Cup
Caleb Surratt posted four top-five finishes in seven Elite Amateur Series events, including the Sunnehanna (T4), Northeast Am (3), Southern Amateur (T4) and the Pacific Coast Amateur (T2). He also reached the final 16 of the North & South Amateur. Though he did not reach the match play portion of the Western Amateur. Surratt’s play earned him 75.5607 points, well ahead of second-place finisher Jiri Zuska (59.5319 pts).
Related: VIDEO: Making their mark at the Elite Amateur Golf Series
After beating cancer, Ian Gilligan wins the NCGA Amateur
Following his freshman year in high school, Ian Gilligan was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. He’d end up spending 50 days in a hospital and lost over 50 pounds. Four years later and cancer-free, Gilligan defeated 33-year-old Bobby Bucey 3 and 1 to win the 119th Northern California Golf Association Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill.
U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur tackles the Last Frontier
While she wasn’t the most recognizable name in the field, Pamela Chesla made history when she struck the opening tee shot at the 60th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur on July 30th at Anchorage Golf Club. With her opening drive, the state of Alaska officially became the 50th state to have the honor of hosting a USGA championship, fulfilling former USGA CEO Mike Davis’ long-held vision. Shelly Stouffer defeated Sue Wooster, 4 and 3, in the 18-hole final to become the fourth Canadian to win the title.
David Ford lights up Seminole with eight consecutive birdies
North Carolina freshman David Ford accomplished a feat that perhaps had never been seen before in the long and distinguished history of Seminole Golf Club. Ford reeled off eight consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 9-16 en route to carding a 10-under 62 in the second round of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup played at the esteemed course in Juno Beach, Fla.
