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2008-2009 Players of the Year and All Americans
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA
The fifteenth annual Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst concluded its season today at the Donald Ross masterpiece, Pinehurst No. 2. Over one hundred and seventy-five high school boys and girls were members during the 2008-2009 season. The Winternationals, a seven tournament series, has been based in Pinehurst since its inception and conducts championships on seven of the eight Pinehurst Championship layouts. Competition is held in three separate divisions, Junior/Senior Boys, Freshman/Sophomore Boys, and Girls.
In the Junior/Senior Division, Michael McGowan of Southern Pines, NC claimed Player of the Year honors with three event wins and two second place-finishes. McGowan, presently a senior at The O’Neal School in Pinehurst, has signed to play with the University of North Carolina Golf Team in the fall. Beau Cutts of Henderson, NC, finished behind McGowan in the points race, having defeated McGowan in Event Number Five in a playoff on Pinehurst Centennial No. 8. Cutts also received the fourth annual Bud Shulby Memorial Sportsmanship Award. The late Bud Shulby, former ten-year rules official for the Winternational Junior Series and husband to current fifteen-year rules official, Ellen Shulby, displayed morals and ethics intertwined in the game of golf. Cutt’s attitude and demeanor during competition this season demonstrated the qualities exemplified by this award.
In the Freshman/Sophomore Division, David Kostyal II capped off the season with divisional Player of the Year honors. Kostyal, who played five of the seven Winternational events, won twice to beat Tyler Hashimoto of Marvin, NC, second in the points race. Kostyal, a sophomore at Top Sail High School in Wilmington, NC finished fourth in the final event to cap off his season, which gave him the maximum number of points.
Sarah Almond of Albemarle, NC was declared the Girl’s Division Player of the Year, winning six of the seven Winternational events. A junior at Gray Stone Day School, Almond’s only loss was to Katie Kirk of Davidson, NC in Event Number Seven, played on Pinehurst’s oldest courses, No. 1 and No. 2.
The Series also named its Fifteenth Annual Winternational Junior Series All-American team. Thirteen high school boys and girls were awarded All-American status because of their tournament results for the seven events. The point system is based on the three highest point totals for each individual across the 7 event series. The Winternational All-Americans, their hometown and year of school are listed below:
| Michael McGowan |
Southern Pines, NC |
Senior |
| Quent Mather |
Charlotte, NC |
Senior |
| Keri Muse |
Sterling, VA |
Senior |
| Steve Johnson |
Raleigh, NC |
Senior |
| Sarah Almond |
Albemarle, NC |
Junior |
| Beau Cutts |
Henderson, NC |
Junior |
| Sam Packard |
Pinehurst, NC |
Junior |
| David Kostyal II |
Wilmington, NC |
Sophomore |
| Tyler Hashimoto |
Marvin, NC |
Sophomore |
| Charles Valuzzo |
Mt. Pleasant, SC |
Sophomore |
| Katie Kirk |
Davidson, NC |
Sophomore |
| Ben O’Geary |
Henderson, NC |
Freshman |
| Jonathan DiIanni |
Kernersville, NC |
Freshman |
PHOTO GALLERY
Beau Cutts, recipient of the Bud Shulby Memorial Sportsmanship Award with Ellen Shulby
2008-2009 Winternational Junior/Senior All Americans with Series Founder & Chairman, Peter deYoung. L to R: Quent Mather, Sam Packard, Michael McGowan, and Beau Cutts. Not pictured: Steve Johnson.
 2008-2009 Winternational Girls Division All-Americans: Player of the Year, Sarah Almond, Katie Kirk, and Keri Muse.
2008-2008 Winternational Players of the Year: David Kostyal, Sarah Almond, and Michael McGowan.
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