PGA Names Alexander and Stevens Valspar Players of the Year

Minnesota

By Chris Rocheford, Minnesota PGA Section

COON RAPIDS Minn. (Aug. 18, 2017) — Molly Stevens, of Northfield, Minn., and Luke Alexander, of Rochester, Minn., were named the 2017 Valspar Players Tour Players of the Year in the Girls' and Boys' divisions, respectively. Player of the Year honors are awarded to the girl and boy who accumulate the most points throughout the season during the Minnesota Junior PGA’s five Players Tour Series Events, Match Play Championship and final Tournament of Champions. The awards are given out to each player following the conclusion of the Tournament of Champions.

Stevens, who will be starting her junior year at Northfield High School, had a great summer winning three of the five Players Tour Series events and had top-10 finishes at both the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship and Tournament of Champions to end the season. 

“I didn't really think I had a chance at the beginning of the season,” said Stevens.
“After winning a few of those Players Tour Series events, I started to feel there was a real chance of me of winning this award.”

She finished the year with a total of 840 points to win this year’s award beating out Isabella McCauley, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., who finished second with 755 points. 

“I'm very excited to receive this award and to be recognized for my play this summer. There are a lot of great players; it's really a tremendous honor,” she emphasized. “I want to thank my parents and brother for all their support as well as my coach Brent Snyder.”

Alexander, also entering his junior eyar at Rochester's Lourdes High School, had a stellar summer with victories in two of the Players Tour Series events and an enormous win at the Players Tour Match Play Championship earlier this month.

“At the beginning of the summer, I never dreamed of winning Player of the Year. I just hoped to play well at each event,” said Alexander, sharing a similar sentiment to Stevens. “I would like to thank my mom for getting up early and driving me to the events, and my swing coach, Tom Gees, who has been with me since I was 6 years old. He helped a lot this summer with my swing.”

Finishing the season with 1,085 points, Alexander earned 300 points more than the next closest player, Walker Reyes, of Mankato, Minn., at 702.88 points.

To view the girls' division standings, click here; boys', click here.