TWO of Jersey’s Island Games standouts have taken home Jersey Golf’s men’s and ladies’ player of year awards.
Jacksonville University student and former Hampshire county champion Jo Hacker took home the top men’s accolade, following an incredible individual gold in the Games, held in Guernsey during the summer.
The Islander has recently enjoyed his best college golf finish of fourth individually at his latest event in South Carolina.
Meanwhile, Keites also enjoyed an impressive Island Games, spearheading the women to team gold, while adding a third individual silver to her growing Games tally.
At just 23, the Royal Jersey member has been a mainstay in the Jersey squad for many years and her vast experience shone through at L’Ancresse during the summer.
On winning the award for the second time, Hacker said: “I am very grateful for this award. To be chosen for the second time in the space of three years is a massive honour.
“This season hasn’t just been a success for me on a personal level, there have also been many occasions for Jersey Golf to be proud of as a collective.
“We brought home golds and silvers at the Island Games, as well as wins in the men’s and ladies’ inter-insulars.
“I must thank James and Rob Newton, Juanita Adlington, Christine Mee and Steven Bowen for their hard work behind the scenes, making golf on the Island the best it can be, which is reflected by their nomination in this year’s Jersey Sport awards.”
Keites echoed Hacker’s sentiments of the success of Jersey Golf as a collective, as well as hailing the merger between the men’s and ladies’ golf unions.
“I want to thank the Jersey Golf committee for this award.
“I, like many others, believe 2023 has been a great year for golf in Jersey and the merger of the JLGA and JGU has been so beneficial to both men and ladies.
“This was really felt at the Island Games, which was definitely the highlight of the year for me.
“I was so pleased with an individual silver but more so to be part of winning a ladies’ team gold.
“Every player played their part and supported each other.
“It shows how good a place ladies golf is in and we have some really good talent coming through, so it will be great to see what golf in Jersey looks like in the years to come.”
Elsewhere, Iman Hamid-Wilkinson took home junior player of the year, behind a breakthrough year highlighted by winning the Ladies’ Island Championship.
The 16-year-old became the youngest ever to win the Island crown and the first junior since the turn of the millennium.
Meanwhile, Josh Ozard and Helen Lagadu took their respective order of merit titles, both enjoying a consistent campaign.
Ozard scored 74 points, with three top-four finishes to see off Harrison Carlyon (65) and Matthew Parkman (61) respectively.
Lagadu totalled 60 points, scoring across all counting events in the calendar.
The 2022 Island champion picked up the inaugural Helen Gray trophy to represent the first year the ladies’ order of merit has been competed for.
