The Kentucky Golf Association is pleased to announce the 2024 KGA Players of the Year. These incredible golfers have strung together impressive perfomances throughout the year in events ranging from the KGA Amateur Series and Kentucky Open to national USGA events. You can view the final KGA Player of the Year standings HERE!

The KGA would like to thank everyone who competed in our events this season as well as our many amazing sponsors who supported us throughout the year. The KGA would also like to thank each and every staff member at our host clubs that played a massive role in our success this season. We appreciate your hard work and dedication to creating a wonderful championship environment, and we look forward to another amazing season in 2025!

John C. Owens (Overall) & Herb McGuire (Mid-Amateur) Player of the Year - Joshua Rhodes (Paducah, KY)

Joshua Rhodes competed in four KGA events this season and finished in the top-five in every event. Rhodes season was highlighted by a T2 finish at the 2024 Kentucky Open where he also shared low-amateur honors. Rhodes also finished T5 in the 2024 Kentucky Mid-Amateur Championship at Griffin Gate Golf Club in September. After finding great success in the state of Kentucky, Rhodes qualified and competed in the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Virginia. 

Tom Musselman Senior Player of the Year - Davis Boland (Louisville, KY)

Davis Boland's season was highlighted by a victory at the 2024 Kentucky Senior Open after a two-round score of 141(-1). Boland claimed another victory at the KGA Senior Match Play Championship at Heritage Hill Golf Course. 

Dale Barnstable Masters Player of the Year - Greg Engle (Lexington, KY)

Greg Engle competed in eight KGA events in 2024, finishing in the top-five in every event. Engle lone victory in the Masters division came at the KGA Team Championship at Wildwood Country Club, and he also claimed a runner-up finish at the 2024 Kentucky Clark's Pump-N-Shop Senior Amateur Championship. Engle put together a solid performance in the season-long KGA Amateur Series, finishing T4 or better in every event. 

Don Smith Legends Player of the Year - Dennis Long (Shelbyville, KY)

Dennis Long topped the Legends divison seven times in ten events in 2024. Long claimed five victories in the KGA Amateur Series to go along with low-Legends honors at the 2024 Clark's Pump-N-Shop Senior Amateur Championship and KGA Senior Team Championship. 
 

Marion Miley (Overall) & Louise Wilson (Mid-Amateur) Player of the Year - Taryn Walker (Prospect, KY)

Taryn Walker's return to amateur golf was capped with a victory at the 2024 Kentucky Women's Open. Walker also reached the semifinals of the 2024 Kentucky Women's Amateur before competing on the national stage at the 2024 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship in Massachusetts where she reached the Round of 16. 

Anne Combs Senior Player of the Year - Melba Kindervater (Elizabethtown, KY)

Melba Kindervater competed in five KGA-sanctioned events in 2024. Her season was highlighed by a runner-up finish in the senior bracket at the 2024 Kentucky Women's State Amateur followed by a fourth place finish at the 2024 Kentucky Women's Senior Amateur Championship. Kindervater also clamed a fourth place finish at the KGA Women's Team Championship where she joined forces with Cindy Summers.

Bettie Lou Evans Super-Senior Player of the Year - Joan Waldrop (Elizabethtown, KY)

Joan Waldrop earned Player of the Year honors after finishing at the top of the Super-Senior division at the 2024 Kentucky Women's Senior Amateur with a two-round 156(+12). Waldrop also competed in the KGA Women's Team championship where she finished T3.