Six of the state’s top talents have been named as finalists for the Outstanding Achievement in Golf Award at next month’s WA Golf Industry Awards.
The award recognises an individual as The Western Australian Golfer of the Year for their golfing achievements in 2023, with organisers spoilt for choice after numerous WA players produced standout years.
While superstar siblings Minjee and Min Woo Lee are the headline names, they are joined in the list by four more worthy contenders from the professional and amateur ranks, highlighting the strength in depth of golf in the state.
Alongside the Lees, the other finalists are LPGA Tour winner Hannah Green, DP World Tour rookie Haydn Barron and two rising stars from the women’s amateur game in Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Abbie Teasdale. Brief bios of all the finalists – and their 2023 achievements – can be read below.
In announcing the finalists, Gary Thomas, Chief Executive of GolfWA and Chair of the WA Golf Industry Gala Dinner Organising Committee, said: “We all know that WA punches above its weight when it comes to producing exceptional golfers, but 2023 was an outstanding year by anyone’s reckoning.
“As well as the multiple titles won by Minjee, Min Woo and Hannah at the top of the global game, we saw Haydn Barron win the PGA Tour of Australasia Rookie of the Year before going on to earn his DP World Tour card in incredible circumstances in November.
“In the amateur game, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard achieved just about all there is to achieve in US college golf last year, while Abbie Teasdale won several significant titles both at home and abroad. Both are very worthy finalists.”
Such was the collective strength of the WA golfing year, Thomas added that several emerging talents had narrowly missed out on the awards shortlist.
“We had a number of players who, in a different year, would have certainly been in contention,” he said. “Josiah Edwards won the Australian Boys Order of Merit for 2023, for example, while Ollie Marsh became one of the youngest-ever winners of the Men’s State Amateur Championship. Both can feel very proud of their year’s work.”
The overall winner is decided upon by an expert panel of WA golf industry representatives. Minjee Lee has won the award in each of the past three years.
WA Golfer of the Year finalists
From left, Haydn Barron, Hannah Green, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Minjee Lee, Min Woo Lee, Abbie Teasdale
Haydn Barron: The Western Australian Golf Club member won Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour of Australasia standings for the 2022-23 season and made his Open Championship debut at Royal Liverpool. He earned fully exempt status on the DP World Tour for 2024 with a top-10 finish at the six-round final stage of Qualifying School.
Hannah Green: Mount Lawley’s Hannah Green won the JM Eagle LA Championship in a sudden-death playoff in April to earn her third title on the LPGA Tour. She also represented Australia in the International Crown team event and achieved five further top-20 finishes around the world.
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard: The Gosnells golfer excelled in US college golf for Oklahoma State University, winning the individual title at the Big 12 Championship in Dallas and finishing T4th at the season-ending NCAA Women’s Championship. She represented the International Team in the Palmer Cup and Australia in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship. In addition, Maddison qualified for the US Women’s Open and secured her playing rights on the 2024 Epson Tour.
Minjee Lee: The two-time Major champion won two LPGA Tour events at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September and the BMW Ladies Championship a month later. She accrued five more top-10 finishes, including a playoff loss at the Cognizant Founders Cup, and T6th at the Evian Championship. Finished the year in 5th place in the Rolex Rankings.
Min Woo Lee: Won the Asian Tour’s Macau Open before a thrilling victory at The Australian PGA Championship in November. Achieved eight top-10 finishes in PGA Tour and DP World Tour events, including runner-up at the Abu Dhabi Championship; T6th at The Players Championship; T3rd at the Australian Open and T5th at the US Open – his best finish in a Major.
Abbie Teasdale: The Royal Fremantle member won the prestigious Concord Cup in February before making her Australian debut at March’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific. She subsequently claimed the Women’s Amateur Championship of WA for the second time and won the English Women’s Under 25 Open Amateur Strokeplay and English Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship titles in August.
A celebration of WA golf
The Outstanding Achievement in Golf Award is one of more than a dozen accolades that will be presented at the WA Golf Industry Awards Gala Dinner on Friday, March 22 at Crown Perth.
A joint initiative between GolfWA and the WA divisions of the Professional Golfers Association, The Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Golf Management Association, the ceremony features an extensive array of award categories that recognise excellence in all areas of WA golf. These include the PGA Professional of the Year, Distinguished Service to Golf, Course Superintendent of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Employee of the Year.
Awards are also presented to Regional and Metropolitan Golf Clubs and Facilities that have achieved success against a range of criteria, including membership growth, financial performance and contribution to their communities.
The WA Golf Industry Awards will take place at Crown Grand Ballroom on Friday, March 22, with more than 500 attendees expected. Full details of the event can be found here. Tickets for the Awards Gala Dinner can be purchased here.
Image credits: Getty Images/Oklahoma State University
