STEVEN ANDERSON said it was ‘humbling’ to be named 2022 Renzo Martin Player of the Year at the annual Jersey Golf Union awards.
The 28-year-old finished the season top of the Order of Merit with a record 113 points and won the Jersey Amateur Championships in August, after beating last year’s Player of the Year, Jo Hacker by a margin of 1up.
Anderson also beat former multiple champions Matthew Parkman and Jason Stokes in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
‘It means an awful lot to me to receive this award,’ said Anderson.
‘To be selected among my peers is certainly one of my proudest accolades to date.
‘Jo rightly won last year after an incredible year and just to be mentioned alongside the players that have received the award before me is very humbling.’
‘I have had good years in the past and struggled to maintain that level of form into the next year.
‘But to retain the Order of Merit with a record number of points was better than I could have hoped for.’
Anderson admitted that there was a time when he questioned whether he wanted to continue playing competitive golf.
He took time out of the sport to reflect, which he said was beneficial for his current form.
‘Golf is a very fickle game. I nearly called it a day through the pandemic as I was really struggling,’ he said.
‘That break from competition was a godsend and allowed me to find the fun back in the sport and I think that has played a big part in my results on the course over the past couple of years.’
Meanwhile, another Jersey champion, Helen Lagadu, was named Women’s Player of the Year.
The Royal Jersey member won the Championships for the first time after beating Hannah Scriven 1up.
She had previously lost to Scriven in the 2017 final, as well as to Jenny Deeley in 2015.
Lagadu would then go to Guernsey to secure a 4&3 victory over Kay Mapley to claim the CI Women’s crown, before helping the Jersey Women to a resounding home success in the inter-insular.
‘To be honest, I am shocked and delighted,’ said Lagadu.
‘In my mind, my golf hasn’t been the best this year.
‘I had to battle injury, which was tough to get through, but I dug deep and came back stronger, which helped me win the Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship and then the CI title.
‘I held onto that form and played well at the Royal Jersey against Guernsey in the inter-insular, which capped off a great year.
‘It means a lot to me and is an honour to win such a prestigious award, especially when ladies’ golf on the Island is so strong at the moment.’
Anabelle Lucas-Villar won the 2022 Junior Player of the Year award.
She was in exceptional form during 2022, capped off by claiming a new women’s course record at La Moye Golf Club with 69, beating the previous record by three strokes.
She also reduced her handicap to one and was part of the victorious women’s inter-insular team.
