HOUSTON (February 25, 2022) — It was a year where everywhere you looked there was a different story emerging.
The battle between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. A runaway U.S. Ryder Cup win. Phil Mickelson winning the PGA. Tiger Woods heading down his longest road to get back in the game.
Those storylines and more gave writers a lot to work with as Dylan Dethier won two categories and led Golf.com/Golf Magazine to three wins in the 2022 GWAA Writing Contest. Dethier won News stories with a look at Tiger’s press conferences and what they say about the future. He also won Non-Daily Features for a piece on what makes Xander Schauffele tick. He also won two honorable mentions.
Michael Bamberger picked up his eighth win with a Golf Magazine Special Projects piece on ‘’A New Day in Augusta.” He also finished second in Non-Daily Columns.
Golf Digest’s Jerry Tarde picked up his eighth win, this one in Non-Daily Columns with a look at why a caddie bow says so much about us. Shane Ryan gave Golf Digest another win in Daily Columns with his “Call off the dogs Brooksy’’. He also finished third in that category.
Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner earned his first individual win with his Game Story winner on ‘’History-making Mickelson Shines.’’ He also took second in Daily Features, won three honorable mentions and was part of a team honorable mention in Special Projects.
Past GWAA president Gary Van Sickle picked up his third career win with a Daily Feature on how Patrick Reed is losing the battle for integrity. Van Sickle also won two thirds – one in Non-Daily Columns and the other in Game Stories.
The winners will be honored at the 48th ISPS Handa GWAA Annual Awards Dinner April 6.
2022 GWAA CONTEST RESULTS
(There were a total of 304 entries in the contest)
DAILY COLUMNS
1, Shane Ryan, “Call off the dogs, Brooksy,” GolfDigest.com; 2. Alan Shipnuck, “Ryder Cup blowout 7 years in making,” FirePitCollective.com; 3, Shane Ryan, “Phil’s better without a U.S. Open,” GolfDigest.com
Honorable mention — Ryan Lavner, “At Ryder Cup, Bryson finds what’s needed,” GolfChannel.com; James Colgan, “Elder never stopped inspiring,” Golf.com; Dylan Dethier, “The Masters’ new sandwich,” Golf.com; Michael Bamberger, “Just gimme a concession, please,” Golf.com.
NON-DAILY COLUMNS
1, Jerry Tarde, “What the caddie bow says about us,” Golf Digest; 2, Michael Bamberger, “Elder has the honor,” Golf Magazine; 3, Gary Van Sickle, “A day at the Ryder Cup,” Golf Heritage Society Magazine
Honorable mention — Jeff Neuman, “Meta observations,” The Met Golfer; Michael Bamberger, “Why Dick Ferris matters,” Golf Magazine; Max Adler, “A return to swearing,” Golf Digest
SPECIAL PROJECTS
1, Michael Bamberger, “A new day in Augusta,” Golf.com-Golf Magazine; 2, Ron Green Jr. and Scott Michaux, “What the hell just happened?” Global Golf Post; 3, Joel Beall, Daniel Rapaport, and Sam Weinman, “Pro golf and mental health,” GolfDigest.com.
Honorable mention — John Huggan and Daniel Rapaport, “The Ryder Cup file,” Golf Digest; Alan Shipnuck, “Blood, oil and golf,” FirePitCollective.com; Mercer Baggs, Rex Hoggard, Ryan Lavner and Brentley Romine, “The reality of turning pro,” GolfChannel.com.
GAME STORIES
1, Ryan Lavner, “History-making Mickelson shines,” GolfChannel.com; 2, Joel Beall, “How Bryson won Ryder Cup week,” GolfDigest.com; 3, Gary Van Sickle, “Japan’s Masters champ takes a bow,” MorningRead.com
Honorable mention — Daniel Rapaport, “Coffee, meditation and bombs,” GolfDigest.com; Ryan Lavner, “Hideki Matsuyama, mysterious champ,” GolfChannel.com; Dylan Dethier, “Tiger and Charlie at PNC,” Golf.com; Alan Shipnuck, “Rahm wins U.S. Open,” GolfDigest.com,
NEWS STORIES
1, Dylan Dethier, “Tiger’s press conferences point to his future,” Golf.com; 2. Dave Shedloski, “Golf gambling set to explode,” Wall Street Journal; 3, Adam Schupak, “Now on the tee, Mister Lee Elder,” Golfweek.com
Honorable mention — John Steinbreder, “Quickening arms race,” Global Golf Post; Ryan Lavner, “Rory admits Bryson-like chase,” GolfChannel.com; Max Adler, “Casey Martin has leg amputation,” GolfDigest.com
DAILY FEATURES
1, Gary Van Sickle, “Reed keeps losing battle for integrity,” MorningRead.com; 2, Ryan Lavner, “Willie Mack III needs to be heard,” GolfChannel.com. 3, Gary D’Amato, “Stricker’s journey to captain,” Wisconsin.golf.
Honorable mention — Beth Ann Nichols, “Davidson could be LPGA’s 1st transgender,” Golfweek.com; Alex Myers, “Inside story of Tin Cup,” GolfDigest.com; Jeff Babineau, “Remembering Tiger’s early days,” PGATour.com; Ryan Lavner, “Inside Tour shutdown,” GolfChannel.com,
NON-DAILY FEATURES
1, Dylan Dethier, “What makes Schauffele tick?” Golf Magazine; 2, Michael Bamberger, “Whitworth is one of a kind,” Golf Magazine; 3, Adam Schupak, “Rahm’s reign has begun,” Score Magazine.
Honorable mention –Bill Fields, “Gene’s game,” McKellar Magazine; Tom Coyne, “Home is the sailor,” Golfer’s Journal; Joel Beall, “How a tour pro’s autism diagnosis led to my own,” Golf Digest; Matthew Rudy, “The new way to get good,” Golf Digest.