New tourney chief at the Alabama Golf Association
When the AJGA released its Rolex Junior All-America teams, it came as no surprise that Huntsville’s Tyler Watts and Birmingham’s Scarlett Schremmer were first-team selections.
Both junior players – Watts a high school junior and Schremmer a high school senior – enjoyed outstanding seasons.
Watts recently committed to the University of Tennessee, while Schremmer signed to play at Texas A&M.
Both players are two-time Rolex Junior All-Americans.
Two of the biggest highlights for Watts were being named to the U.S. National Junior Development team and a runner-up finish in the U.S. Junior Am. He also had a second-place finish at the Myakoba Invitational, a third-place finish at the Dustin Johnson World Junior and a T16 at the Junior Players.
He was a member of the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team.
Schremmer was tapped as the No. 1 American golfer by College Golf Commits and the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class by the Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking.
The 2024 Rolex Junior First Team All-American was named to the inaugural U.S. National Junior Team, which was a milestone for the U.S. National Development Program.
Schremmer helped Team USA defeat Team Europe at the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup where she added 2.0 points for the Americans. Schremmer won the 2023 Alabama Junior Amateur and the 2024 Dye Junior Invitational. She also advanced to the round of 16 at the 75th U.S. Girls Junior Championship and the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Birmingham’s Chase Kyes, a Tennessee signee, was a second-team selection. The two-time AJGA Rolex All-American registered a second-place finish at the Western Junior Championship and also advanced to the round of 64 at the 2024 U.S. Amateur. Additionally, Kyes made it to the Round of 32 at the 2023 U.S. Amateur.
Enterprise’s Jon Ed Steed and Cullman’s Bailey Sutter were honorable mention selections.
Blades Brown and Gianna Clemente were named the boys and girls players of the year.
New AGA Golf Operations, Championships chief
The Alabama Golf Association hired Hall Upshaw as the Director of Golf Operations and Championships.
Upshaw, a Memphis, Tennessee native, will manage the day-to-day operations of the Golf Operations and Championships department, assist with administration of the Southern Junior and Southern Amateur Championships, serve as the official in charge at select AGA championships and USGA Qualifiers as well as manage sponsorship development.
Upshaw gained tournament administration experience through internships with the Tennessee Golf Foundation and AJGA. At the conclusion of his internship with the AJGA, Upshaw was hired full-time as a tournament director where he was responsible for managing a nationwide competition schedule.
“The Alabama Golf Association is extremely excited to add Hall to our team and comes highly recommended from the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA),” said Jeremy Gardner, AGA executive director.
“With his education and previous experience with the AJGA he brings the necessary skill set to expand our services and deliver increased value for our volunteers and members. Throughout the process it was clear that Hall was the right fit and I look forward to watching him thrive in this role,” Gardner said.
Upshaw graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Public Relations in May of 2023.
“I am excited to join the Alabama Golf Association as the Director of Golf Operations and Championships,” Upshaw said. “I look forward to bringing the knowledge and skills I have gained to enhance our programs and deliver the highest quality service to our members and staff.”
Eshleman elected PGA of America secretary
Eric Eshleman, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Birmingham, and a member of the Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section was elected the new PGA of America Secretary.
A PGA of America member for nearly 30 years, Eshleman has held numerous leadership roles within the PGA of America, serving most recently as the District 3 Director (2021-24), overseeing the Alabama-NW Florida, Gulf States and Tennessee sections. He served two-year terms as Secretary, Vice President, President and then Honorary President for the Alabama-NW PGA Section (2012-19).
In 2019, Eshleman received the national PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Award, the highest annual honor given to a PGA of America Member.
Well known as a teaching professional for students such as Graeme McDowell, Patton Kizzire, Paul Dunne and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Eshleman was honored by the Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section on several occasions. He received the section’s PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award (2010, ‘17), the Teacher of the Year Award (2000, ‘04), the Bill Strausbaugh Award (2011) and Youth Player Development Award (2014).
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email gregg@alabamagolfnews.com
Featured image of Tyler Watts courtesy of the Alabama Golf Association
