Carolinas Golf Association Announces 2025 Richard S. Tufts Players of the Year 

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (January 12, 2026) – The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Richard S. Tufts Players of the Year Awards, recognizing seven amateur golfers who distinguished themselves through performance and consistency across the 2025 season. 

The Tufts Awards honor the top amateur golfers in the Carolinas based on results in CGA, state, regional, national, and international competitions. Rankings are determined by points earned in eligible events throughout the calendar year, with emphasis placed on championship performance and competitive strength of field. 

The 2025 recipients represent a wide range of competitive pathways, including junior, collegiate, mid-amateur, senior, and super senior golf. Several winners earned points in a limited number of starts, while others compiled results across full seasonal schedules, underscoring the depth and diversity of competitive excellence within the Carolinas. 

2025 Richard S. Tufts Players of the Year 

Carolinas Junior Girls’ Player of the Year: Riley Grimm – Pinehurst, N.C. 

Carolinas Junior Boys’ Player of the Year: Preston Hage – Raleigh, N.C. 

Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year: Emilia Doran – Charlotte, N.C. 

Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year: Michael La Sasso – Raleigh, N.C. 

Carolinas Senior Women’s Player of the Year: Dawn Woodard – Greer, S.C. 

Carolinas Senior Men’s Player of the Year: Joe Jaspers – Huntersville, N.C. 

Carolinas Super Senior Men’s Player of the Year: Dr. James Pearson – Charlotte, N.C. 

Carolinas Junior Girls’ Player of the Year – Riley Grimm 

Hometown: Pinehurst, N.C. 

Graduation Year: 2028 

Riley Grimm finished the 2025 season ranked No. 1 in the Carolinas Junior Girls’ Rankings after competing in a demanding schedule of CGA championships, national junior events and The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour events. Grimm consistently earned points in highly competitive championships while also securing multiple victories against elite fields. 

Her most significant performance came at the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf National Championship, where she captured the title and earned one of the highest single-event point totals in the Junior Girls’ race. Grimm closed the year with a win at the Peggy Kirk Bell Junior Championship at Pine Needles and recorded multiple top-five finishes in CGA majors. Grimm was named to the inaugural 2026 Team North Carolina roster as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program. 

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Junior Boys’ Player of the Year – Preston Hage 

Hometown: Raleigh, N.C. 

School: Broughton High School 

2026 College Commitment: University of North Carolina 

Preston Hage claimed the top spot in the Carolinas Junior Boys’ Rankings following a season defined by consistency across elite junior, amateur, and high school competition. Competing in 20 events, Hage maintained a scoring average of 70.74 while testing his game against some of the toughest fields in amateur golf.  

Hage earned medalist honors at the North State High School Challenge, firing 5-under to lead Broughton High School to the team championship by 12 shots. He also finished tied for third at the 111th Carolinas Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 7 and captured a victory at the AJGA PING Invitational. Hage was also named to the inaugural 2026 Team North Carolina roster as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program. 

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year – Emilia Doran 

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. 

Emilia Doran earned Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year honors while balancing elite amateur competition with a national broadcast schedule as a golf television analyst and reporter. Most notably, during the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes, Doran competed in the championship while also contributing to on-air coverage of the event. 

Doran advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and followed that performance with a quarterfinal finish at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. She also captured the Donna Andrews Invitational and, alongside playing partner Colleen Estes, finished runner-up at the 2025 Carolinas Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year – Michael La Sasso 

Hometown: Raleigh, N.C. 

College: University of Mississippi (Senior) 

Michael La Sasso secured Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year honors following an impactful 2025 season that included success at the collegiate, national, and professional levels.  

The defining result of his season came at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, where he captured the individual national title. He also earned points through participation in the U.S. Open and multiple PGA Tour events, along with qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship. 

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Senior Women’s Player of the Year – Dawn Woodard 

Hometown: Greer, S.C. 

Dawn Woodard delivered one of the most accomplished senior women’s seasons in recent CGA history, earning Senior Women’s Player of the Year honors after capturing multiple major titles at the regional and national levels. 

Woodard’s season was highlighted by a victory at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and a win at the Carolinas Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. She also recorded victories at the South Carolina Senior Women’s Amateur and the Doherty Senior Women’s Amateur and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. 

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Senior Men’s Player of the Year – Joe Jaspers 

Hometown: Huntersville, N.C. 

Joe Jaspers earned Senior Men’s Player of the Year honors following a consistent 2025 season that featured strong finishes in CGA, state and national senior championships. 

Jaspers finished runner-up at the Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship and advanced to the Round of 64 at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. He also captured a victory at the North Carolina Senior Four-Ball Championship with his playing partner, Jim Aughtry and qualified for the U.S. Senior Open. 

Top 2025 Performances 

Carolinas Super Senior Men’s Player of the Year – Dr. James Pearson 

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. 

Dr. James Pearson claimed Carolinas Super Senior Men’s Player of the Year honors following a dominant 2025 season, finishing more than 500 points clear of the field in the final Super Senior rankings. 

Pearson recorded multiple victories across Society of Seniors competitions and state-level championships, consistently earning points throughout the season. His success included wins in Super Senior divisions and strong finishes in Senior championships. 

Top 2025 Performances 

About the Richard S. Tufts Awards 

The Richard S. Tufts Awards were established in 1997 to honor Carolinas amateur golfers who demonstrate exceptional performance over the course of a calendar year. Tufts served on the CGA Executive Committee from 1926 to 1964 and as President from 1931–33. The awards are based on the CGA amateur rankings in seven categories: Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Women, Men, Senior Women, Senior Men, and Super Senior Men.