Laconia Country Club’s Jim Cilley has the opportunity to become the first golfer to win the New Hampshire Golf Association’s Thomas J. Leonard Jr. Player of the Year award for three consecutive seasons, a feat that has eluded seven golfers who were in position to achieve it since the award was first presented in 1993.
Golfers accumulate player-of-the-year points based on their finishes in certain NHGA and NEGA events, as well as qualifying for USGA events. Cilley had the points lead entering the New Hampshire Mid-Amateur last year and was able to defend his title against Ryan Kohler, whom he tied with for second place.
The NHGA also recognizes a Women’s Player of the Year, a Junior Player of the Year (male), a Junior Player of the Year (female), and a Senior Player of the Year, with the 2022 winners being Kat Bordeau, Sam Maurice, Julianna Megan, and Craig Steckowych, respectively. Winning one of the big four or five tournaments, such as the State Am, greatly increases a golfer’s chances of winning the Player of the Year award.
