Ashley Grier Becomes First Female to Win MAPGA Open Player of the Year Award
Schuller, Gross Also Win Player of the Year Honors
Stafford, VA – Ashley Grier made history with her 2022 tournament season. The Assistant PGA Professional at Yinglings Golf Center in Hagerstown, MD became the first female to win the Middle Atlantic PGA ROLEX Open Player of the Year title. Grier played fantastic golf all year long, winning the Pro-Only Division of the MAPGA Pro-Scratch along with four top-20 finishes: T4 in the Northern Chapter Championship, T2 in the Stroke Play Championship #2, T17 in the MAPGA Section Championship, and a quarterfinals finish in the MAPGA Match Play. She also earned a spot in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional and helped Team USA defend their title in the Women’s PGA Cup.
Yong Joo (TopGolf – Loudoun) and Ian McConnell (Robert Trent Jones Golf Club) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Open Division.
Grier also won the ROLEX Women’s Player of the Year honor with 3 wins (Northern Chapter Championship, MAPGA Pro-Scratch, and Stroke Play Championship #2) and 1 top-5 finish (Stroke Play Championship #1). She also finished T2 at the Maryland Women’s Open, contested at Chevy Chase club.
Shannon McKew (TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm) and Paige Church (The Club at Creighton Farms) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Women’s Division.
Senior and Assistant Professional Association (APA) POY Honors
Rick Schuller, a PGA teaching professional at Stonehenge Golf & Country Club, won his second straight ROLEX Senior Player of the Year honor with his stellar play. He had 4 wins (Stroke Play #1, Stroke Play #2, Senior Open of Virginia, and MAPGA Players Cup) and 3 top-10 finishes (Southern Chapter Championship, MAPGA Pro-Scratch, and MAPGA Senior Championship). His biggest win of the year came in the Senior Open of Virginia, where he pulled off a comeback to win by one shot over amateur Steve Serrao.
Brendan McGrath (Trump National Golf Club – D.C.) and David Hutsell (Pine Ridge Golf Club) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Senior Division.
Larkin Gross, a PGA assistant professional at Springfield Golf & Country Club, won his first APA Player of the Year honor with his 2 wins and 1 top-10 in the division. This association is limited to assistant PGA professionals only. His win in the APA Tour Championship at Springfield G&CC narrowly solidified his first-place position over Dustin Moser (Farmington CC).
