Dakota Carpenter received the 2024 Larry Martin Sportsman of the Year Award from the West Virginia Golf Association (WVGA), as voted on by his peers and Tour administrators. This award is named after Larry Martin, known as “The Old Pro,” who founded the West Virginia Golf Association’s (WVGA) Junior Tour 41 years ago. Award eligibility is open to a boy or girl 18 and under who is a member of the 2024 CJRT, demonstrates good sportsmanship on and off the golf course, embodies what it means to be a “good sport” and shows class at every golf course and demonstrates what it means to be a member of the Junior Tour. Carpenter, from Camden on Gauley, plays in the Boys 17-18 Division.
WVGA Director of Junior Golf and Core Services Lucas Ware said, “Dakota has displayed nothing but selflessness since I began working on the Callaway Junior Tour. He has always been honest and respectful in any conversation. I applaud him for his efforts and congratulate him on winning this award!”
At the end of the Callaway Junior Tour, Players of the Year were named in each category based on points earned during the season. The 2024 Players of the Year are:
- Boys 12 & Under: Bentley Shirkey of Barboursville played in 13 events, placing first eight times, second four times and third once for a total of 350 points. He had two Low Rounds of the Day for Boys.
- Boys 13-14: Blaine Morgan of Bluefield played in 13 events, winning once, placing second twice and third three times for a total of 184 points.
- Boys 15-16: Cameron Fallon of Parkersburg played in 10 events, winning four times, placing second twice and third three times for a total of 222.5 points. He had three Low Rounds of the Day for Boys.
- Boys 17-18: Caleb Young of Fairmont played in 12 events, winning nine events and placing second or third one time each for a total of 300.84 points. He had three Low Rounds of the Day for Boys.
- Girls 10-14: Valentina Aguilar of Elkins played in 11 events, placing first six times, second three times and third twice for a total of 280 points.
- Girls 15-18: Kerri-Anne Cook of Oceana played in 10 events, winning all 10, for a total of 315 points. She had 10 wins and 10 Low Rounds of the Day for Girls.
“The WVGA would like to thank all players, parents and spectators who participated in the 41st Callaway Junior Tour season,” Ware said. “We would like to thank our partners, Callaway Golf and Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal, for their continued and invaluable support of junior golf here in West Virginia.”
For more information, please visit wvga.org.
Boys 12 & Under Boys 13-14 Boys 15-16
Bentley Shirkey Blaine Morgan Cameron Fallon
Barboursville Bluefield Parkersburg
Boys 17-18 Girls 10-14 Girls 15-18
Caleb Young Valentina Aguilar Kerri-Anne Cook
Fairmont Elkins Oceana