Bearden and Hargett Receive SCGA Player of the Year Honors
Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA) Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year recognizes those competitors who had exceptional individual and team finishes throughout the competition year. The awards are given to the number one golfer based on the SCGA Player of the Year point system as of December 1st in each division. This year, the SCGA is proud to announce Kyle Bearden as the Player of the Year and Eddie Hargett as the Senior Player of the Year.
A three-point advantage would be all Barnwell native Kyle Bearden would need to clinch the 2020 Player of the Year accolade. With a season that began slightly offbeat, the SCGA was still able to conduct safe and successful events where Bearden would capitalize and find success in multiple tournaments.
Competing in just nine events, Bearden excelled on the biggest stage of the SCGA schedule. After three rounds in red numbers, he found himself in the final pairing at the 89th Amateur Championship. Staying in contention through the final round, Bearden would go on to post a final round two-under par (70) and secure his spot in a tie for second place. Competing against some of the best amateur and junior golfers in the state Bearden, a mid-amateur player, truly highlighted what the championship exemplifies - showcasing the battle of youth vs experience.
Bearden also found success during the fall season, continuing his consistency in major events. Firing a second round three-under par (68) at Florence Country Club during the Mid-Amateur Championship, Bearden put himself in position to again add a top finish to his resume. Continuing his 2020 success, he would add another top five finish at the Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Bulls Bay. Even with the final round being cancelled due to weather, Bearden and teammate Blake Austin still finished in a tie for third place. Bearden would then cap off his season with a recent win with playing partner and 2019 SCGA Player of the Year Jordan Sease at the Chanticleer National Four-Ball in Greenville, South Carolina.
When asked to share the highlight of his 2020 season, Bearden said, "Besides winning Player of the Year, it's truly hard to say what the best part of this year would be for me. Looking back, if I had to chose - it would have to be being able to have my Dad and nephew following me every step of the way during the last round of the Amateur Championship at Columbia Country Club. It truly made for a great ending to a special week." Bearden talked about the list of past Player of the Year honorees and expressed what this awards means to him by saying, "When you choose to put in all those hours of practice and in turn make sacrifices in other parts of your life, all in the pursuit of getting better at this great game... sometimes it makes you wonder whether you made the right decision. As golfers, we are naturally competitive. Seeking improvement in each aspect of our game is what we strive for at each event. Having the honor of being named Player of the Year is a different level of validation for me. This achievement lets me know that along the way, I did make the right choices and that it was all worth it. These past awards winners of the Player of the Year are not only great golfers, but they are truly great men and great advocates for the game of golf. Having my name join theirs in the record books, it's going to be something I am very proud of for the rest of my life."
A staple name in SCGA events throughout the years, Eddie Hargett of Blythewood successfully secured back-to-back Senior SCGA Player of the Year honors, again edging out 2016, '17 and '18 Senior Player of the Year Walter Todd, Sr.
Competing in eleven events this season, Hargett compiled an impressive profile in his trek to capturing the Senior Player of the Year recognition. Hargett had one win, seven top-five finishes and two top-20 finishes in his 2020 showing. Starting off the year in the spotlight, he walked away victorious at the SCGA Tournament of Champions and followed that with a top finish at the Sunnehanna Senior Amateur as well as qualifying for the SCGA Amateur Championship at his home course of Columbia Country Club. Hargett would also make noise in another national event, placing in the top-20 at the North and South Senior Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Finishing his season strong, Hargett made a run for the SCGA Senior Championship, and ultimately sealed the solo third place position - capping off another incredible amateur season. "Obviously golf and awards take a back seat this year to the pandemic. Frankly, the highlight was simply being able to even play competitive golf in 2020. The SCGA did a remarkable job adapting and being flexible at each tournament, following the protocols of each golf course. It emphasized what these events mean to us and the competitive camaraderie we all share," expressed Hargett. When asked what this award means to him, being honored for the second year in a row, Hargett elaborated saying, "This is a unique achievement. It's not the results of one event. Golfers are a self-deprecating group and many times we tend to remember the failures and missed opportunities. To me this award is simply an acknowledgment of overall consistency. South Carolina is full of great competitive golfers that have achieved success at every level, so I'm honored to be on that list."
Due to Covid-19, award winners will be recognized individually at a later date as the South Carolina Golf Association and South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame Board have made the decision to postpone Golf Day until 2021. At that time, the SCGA and SC Golf Hall of Fame Board will recognize Hall of Fame inductees Gary Schaal and Sherri Turner.
