Lafayette, LA | November 14, 2023
The Louisiana Golf Association is pleased to award its 2023 Player of the Year to Kyle Bennett of Zachary, 2023 Women’s Player of the Year to Sarah Hodson of Raceland, 2023 Senior Player of the Year to Eric Lavespere of Monroe, and 2023 Senior Women’s Player of the Year to Julie Harrison of Baton Rouge.
Kyle Bennett of Zachary won the closest race we have ever seen for Louisiana Player of the Year. Just 2.5 points separated Bennett from 2022 Louisiana Player of the Year Greg Berthelot of Baton Rouge. Kyle started off the year with a victory at the 40th Louisiana Four-Ball Championship playing alongside his brother Brady. Kyle competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship sectional qualifier conducted by the LGA at his home course, Beaver Creek in Zachary. He shot 7-under par 135 in 36 holes to punch his ticket to the 123rd U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, which earned him 25 crucial points. Before Bennett had to report back to The University of New Orleans to start his junior season on the golf team, he finished solo 4th in the 104th Louisiana Amateur Championship at Southern Trace Country Club. Bennett fired the low round of the Championship with a 7 under par 65 on Sunday.
Eric Lavespere of Monroe played incredibly from start to finish in 2023 to win his first Louisiana Senior Player of the Year award. Lavespere beat out Billy Joe Tolliver of Saint Gabriel by 21.6 points across 5 events. Lavespere started his season off with a bang by winning the Louisiana Senior Amateur Championship by three strokes over Tolliver at Tamahka Trails. Lavespere then went on to make the cut at both the Louisiana Amateur Championship and the Louisiana Mid-Amateur Championship. He ended his season with a pair of top 10 finishes at the Louisiana Net Amateur Championship and the Senior Four-Ball Championship.
Sarah Hodson of Raceland captured her first LGA Women’s Player of the Year by 45 points over Julie Harrison of Baton Rouge. Hodson had an incredible run at the 95th Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship at Ellendale Country Club. Hodson finished runner-up after the Championship match against Emma Smithers went 21 holes. Hodson bounced back with a win at the 22nd Louisiana Women’s Four-Ball Championship with her partner and cousin Catherine Hodson. Hodson will return to Mississippi College to finish her senior year on the women’s golf team.
Julie Harrison of Baton Rouge won the Women’s Senior Player of the Year title by 105 points over Kay Daniel of Covington after a strong season. Harrison started her season by making it to the semi-finals of the 95th Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship. Harrison also finished in second place at the Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Harrison also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Harrison qualified for match play as the 41st seed and won her first match before losing in the round of 32. A great showing and Harrison represented Louisiana well on the national stage.
It was an outstanding 2023 season for all of our Players of the Year. Congratulations to these players!
Click here to view final LGA & Senior Player of the Year points.
Click here to view final LGA Women’s & Senior Women’s Player of the Year points.