NJ Golf Announces 2026 Players of the Year Presented by Donnelly Industries

KENILWORTH, N.J. –– New Jersey Golf is proud to announce its 2026 Players of the Year presented by Donnelly Industries, recognizing top performances from across the Garden State for their outstanding accomplishments throughout the season.

This year’s honorees include Troy Vannucci (Little Mill Country Club) as the Robert Housen Men’s Player of the Year, Grace Lu (Metuchen Golf & Country Club) as the Women’s Player of the Year, Jamie Slonis (Tavistock Country Club) as the Senior Player of the Year, Rayhao Feng (Fiddler’s Elbow) as the Junior Boys Player of the Year, and Jessica Kim (NJ Golf E-Club) as the Junior Girls Player of the Year.

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Robert Housen Men’s Player of the Year –– Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club
For the fourth consecutive year, Troy Vannucci has captured NJ Golf’s top men’s honor –– capping off another historic championship season, and becoming the only player to win the award four or more times since its inception in 2002.

Vannucci kickstarted his season on home turf, teaming up with Brian Hollins to claim the 94th New Jersey Four-Ball Championship at Little Mill Country Club. He carried that momentum through the summer, finishing as runner-up at the 43rd Mid-Amateur Championship at Alpine Country Club before adding another second-place finish at the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club, anchored by a final-round 5-under 65 on the Lower Course. To cap off his stellar year, Vannucci represented the Garden State on the national stage at the 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Lido at Sand Valley Resort.

“When you look at the players who have come before us and the rich history of golf here in New Jersey, it makes this award even more special. It’s truly an honor, and something I’ll appreciate for years to come.”
 

Women’s Player of the Year –– Grace Lu, Metuchen Golf & Country Club
For the second consecutive year, Rutgers University standout Grace Lu earns the NJ Golf Women’s Player of the Year award following another season marked by remarkable consistency and poise. Now in her final year of eligibility as a graduate student, Lu highlighted her campaign by qualifying for the 126th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship –– becoming the first Scarlet Knight to earn a spot in the field since 2022 after shooting a 3-under-par 69 for co-medalist honors at Copper Hill Country Club. On the state level, she secured the No. 1 seed at the NJ Women’s Amateur Championship with a career-low 7-under-par 66 at Essex Fells Country Club before advancing to the semifinals. Lu also finished as the runner-up and low amateur at the Women’s MET Open Championship at Spring Brook Country Club, shooting a 36-hole total of 5-over par.

“New Jersey has so many talented golfers, and I look up to a lot of them. To be able to join them on the list of Player of the Year, not once but twice, I feel very honored and also very grateful for this award.”


Senior Player of the Year –– Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
Jamie Slonis earns his first Senior Player of the Year nod following a remarkable summer highlighted by two state titles. Slonis kicked off his championship campaign at Rumson Country Club, where he teamed up with long-time friend Tom Gramigna to capture their second consecutive Senior Four-Ball Championship. He carried that momentum into individual competition, finishing runner-up at the 38th New Jersey Senior Open Championship with a 2-under-par total (70-70, 140) at Suburban Golf Club.

On the national stage, Slonis fought through as an alternate to advance to match play at the 71st U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Baltimore Country Club as the No. 40 seed. He capped off his season with back-to-back standout performances, winning the 68th New Jersey Senior Amateur Championship at Suneagles Golf Club by a single stroke over Gramigna, followed just a week later by a T-3 finish at the GAP Senior Amateur Championship at Blue Bell Country Club.

“It’s a tremendous honor. New Jersey has such a rich history of golf and so many great players who have received this recognition. To add my name to that list is truly special.”


Junior Boys Player of the Year –– Rayhao Feng, Fiddler’s Elbow
Rayhao Feng, a standout talent from the Class of 2028 at The Pingry School, put together a highly successful 2026 season that earned him Junior Boys Player of the Year honors. Competing against the nation’s best, Feng established himself as a top-ranked player on the AJGA Tour. He captured his first career AJGA title at the 2026 Vista Idaho Junior Championship and followed it up with a runner-up finish at the 2026 K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship. Feng was equally impressive in the Garden State, winning the prestigious 2026 Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club with a 4-under par 139. He also claimed the Inaugural Cronheim Cup at Watchung Valley Golf Club, finishing at 8-under par 205 after opening the week with a tournament-record 10-under par 61.


Junior Girls Player of the Year –– Jessica Kim, NJ Golf E-Club
At just thirteen years old, Jessica Kim made a powerful statement this season with a series of standout performances across New Jersey and beyond. The Class of 2030 standout kicked off a dominant stretch by earning medalist honors with a 4-under par 68 at the U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier at Haworth Country Club. Just a week later, she set the pace at the New Jersey Girls’ Junior Championship at Weequahic Golf Course, claiming medalist honors and the top seed after firing an impressive 2-under par 68. Kim continued her winning momentum by capturing the inaugural Cronheim Cup at Watchung Valley Golf Club, alongside strong national showings that included a runner-up finish at the AJGA Junior All-Star at York and a victory at the AJGA Pacific Links Korea Junior Championship this past August.

The Players of the Year will be recognized during the NJPGA/NJ Golf Celebration of Golf, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J.

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