Thomas Lewis
2014 Junior Program Boys Player-of-the-Year
Thomas Lewis, Carmel earned his Player-of-the-Year honor on the strength of winning the two biggest events on the Indiana Junior Golf schedule. In July, Lewis became the 89th Boys State Junior Champion at Bloomington CC. Lewis fired an even par 72-72-144 total in stroke play qualifying to grab the third overall seed for match play. Placed in arguably the toughest bracket, Lewis used his calm, steady style, winning six matches en route to the title. Lewis trailed late in both his semifinal and final match, but won both on the 19th hole of play.
To back up his State Junior victory, Lewis added the prestigious Hoosier Junior Championship title at the end of the season. Facing the deepest Indiana Junior Golf field of the year at Otter Creek GC, Lewis carded a three-under par 36-hole total to win by four shots. After opening with a one-over par 73 and trailing by one, Lewis fired the low round of the tournament, a final round three-under par 68, playing in the final pairing.
The honor is Lewis’ second of his career, as he was named the 2009 Prep Tour Player-of-the Year.
Rachel Johnson
2014 Junior Program Girls Player-of-the-Year
Rachel Johnson, Anderson is a repeat winner of this award, after taking the same honor in 2013. Johnson’s 2014 campaign included two victories, the biggest, being a win at the Indiana Section Junior PGA Championship at Honeywell GC. Johnson’s 73-71-144 total earned her a spot in a playoff, where she outlasted defending champion Morgan Nadaline to win the title. Johnson’s victory qualified her for the National Junior PGA Championship at Miramont CC in Bryan, TX, where she represented the Indiana Section.
In other state championship play, Johnson recorded her second runner-up finish in as many years at the Girls State Junior Championship at Twin Lakes CC, and finished sixth at the Hoosier Junior Championship at Otter Creek GC.
Johnson also added a win at the Southern Junior Masters held at Sultan’s Run GC, as well as top-five finishes at the Northern Junior Masters at Kampen GC and the Central Junior Masters at Bear Slide GC. These finishes helped her secure the Masters Tour Girls Points Championship as well.
Carson Stohler
2014 Junior Tour Boys Player-of-the-Year
Carson Stohler, Ft. Wayne picked up his second Player-of-the-Year award in a row, having earned Prep Tour honors a year ago. Stohler’s tour season included four Junior Tour victories, with wins at Zollner GC, Meshingomesia CC, Maplecrest CC and Black Squirrel GC. He also added a third place finish at the Tour Championship at Harrison Hills G&CC and an additional third place finish at Etna Acres GC. These finishes propelled Stohler to the Boys 13-14 Points Championship as well.
In Championship play, Stohler finished third at the Age Group Championship at Indiana National GC and also qualified for the Boys State Junior Championship at Bloomington CC, where he was the youngest qualifier in the Championship field.
Alexandria Munnicha
2014 Junior Tour Girls Player-of-the-Year
Alexandria Munnicha, Columbus, tied for the Junior Tour lead with four tour wins on the season. Her wins included the Tour Championship at Harrison Hills G&CC, as well as, victories at Kokomo American Legion, Cascades GC, and Foxcliff GC. She added runner-up finishes at Shadowood GC and Dye’s Walk CC and a third place finish at Greensburg CC. Munnicha also was the Girls 13-14 Points Champion and held the lowest scoring average for players in her age division who had at least five rounds.
In Championship play, Munnicha won her division at the Age Group Championship at Indiana National GC and made the cut at the Indiana Section Junior PGA Championship at Honeywell GC.
Satchel Pierce
2014 Prep Tour Boys Player-of-the-Year
Satchel Pierce, Bristol won six of the seven Indiana Junior Golf events he entered in 2014. His Prep Tour victories came at Forest Park GC, Chippendale GC, Plymouth Rock GC, Round Barn GC and Kokomo American Legion. His lone non-victory was a runner-up finish at Tipton GC. Those finishes propelled Pierce to the Boys 10-11 Points Championship. In Championship play, Pierce added another victory in his division at the Age Group Championship at Indiana National GC.
Nathaly Munnicha
2014 Prep Tour Girls Player-of-the-Year
For the second year in a row, Nathaly Munnicha, Columbus has taken the top Prep Tour honor. After beginning her season with a runner-up finish at Forest Park GC, Munnicha won her last five Prep Tour events, including victories at Chippendale GC, Valley Links GC, Cascades GC, AJ Thatcher GC and Tipton GC. These wins lead her to the Girls 10-11 Points Championship. In Championship play, Munnicha won her division at the Age Group Championship at Indiana National GC. Additionally, she finished 32nd of 90 players in the Girls State Junior Championship at Twin Lakes CC, where, at 11 years old, she was the youngest player in the field.