Steve Hudson was recently named the Alabama Golf Association’s Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and the third time overall.
This honor is determined by finishes in golf events across the state, and sometimes nationally, for the calendar year.
Hudson, 52, has been a top player in the state for many years and he joins Will Swift as the only other three time winner.
“It’s especially gratifying to be able to compete at this level as I get a little older. It’s neat that I can compete with guys a lot younger than me.”
Hudson grew up in the game as his father, Travis, was the head pro at Musgrove CC in Jasper for almost 30 years. His older brother Tab is a fine player in his own right having won the 1980 Alabama Open and the 1990 State Mid-Amateur. They both played golf for the University of Alabama, but at different times as Tab is 56 and thus they just missed being on the same team.
Steve came close in the Alabama Open himself, losing in a playoff to Jim Moodie in 1985.
Younger brother Philip, 45, played college golf instead for Auburn, despite Coach Bear Bryant calling him to ask him to come to the Capstone, while sisters Pam and Susan also went to Alabama, but not to play golf.
The Hudsons lost both their parents in 2004.
“Golf was such a big part of our lives growing up and when mom and dad passed away it made me think even more about how important it was to the Hudson family.”
Coincidentally Steve was also Player of the Year in 2004 and he said that golf, plus the enduring support of his wife Karen and daughter Caitlin, became even more important at that time.
The highlight of Hudson’s year was winning his first AGA title. He captured the State Mid-Amateur Championship at Wynlakes Golf & Country Club in Montgomery. He has been trying to do so for 40 years as he first played in an AGA championship as a 12-year-old in the State Junior.
He must have played in hundreds of state titles over the years, with numerous close calls, and finally got it done.
It didn’t come easy as he went extra holes with Jeff Taylor in a multi-hole cumulative playoff, before Hudson dropped a 60 foot putt on the final green for a birdie three and the title.
Hudson was overcome with emotion as he accepted the trophy; a sign of how much his first state title meant to him.
“I’ve always come up a little short in state championships before,”
Hudson said. “It is fun to still compete and I’ve been close many times before. I really wanted to win one and knew I had a lot of people pulling for me.”
Hudson has a financial services business, Hudson, Steed and Windle, which keeps him busy, but does allow some flexibility, particularly in the summer, for him to compete in statewide golf tournaments.
The points list was very close as he pipped former Auburn golfer Glenn Northcutt by just 12 points. Hudson had 875 points and his year included wins at the Selma and Musgrove invitationals, as well as the Mid-Amateur, plus five other top tens. Another definite highlight was qualifying for, and then making the cut in, the U.S. Senior Open.
Kathy Hartwiger tops women’s list
The women’s winner was Kathy Hartwiger in a landslide. She tallied 935 points, with Karlin Beck second on 395.
Hartwiger won the State Amateur for a record eighth time, plus the State Four Ball with Lea Green, was low individual in the State Club Team representing Hoover Country Club, and won the Willow Point Invitational. She was second in the State Stroke Play and made match play in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.
All in all, another standout year for a stellar player.
