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BEAUMONT —  Lincoln Parks stands alone.

The star Orangefield High School student-athlete was named the 2024 Boys Player of the Year this week at the 14th Annual Babe Zaharias High School Junior Golf Awards at 5 Under Golf Center.

Parks was recognized among many of the area’s top high school golfers.

However, another local golfer was not outdone as Ashley Hale of Bridge City High School earned a tie for Girls Character Award Winner.

Babe Zaharias Foundation Board Member Austin Williams said Tuesday evening’s event and turnout represented one of the most impressive, talented classes of golfers.

“We’re proud and we cannot wait to see what’s ahead for them … and we’re thankful for the coaches and families who continue to impact golf in Southeast Texas,” he said.

He said it’s important to have distinguished figures like the event’s guest NCAA D-1 coaches inspire the talented young men and women.

“Their experience, influence and insights surely made a lasting impression,” Williams added.

The 2024 winners are below

Girls Character Award Winner: (TIE) Ashley Hale of Bridge City and Hallie Westfall of Hardin-Jefferson

Girls Underclassmen Character Award: Grace Dai – Monsignor Kelly Catholic

Girls Underclassmen Player of the Year: Erin Eaves – Monsignor Kelly Catholic

Girls Player of the Year: Annie Whitehead of Lumberton High School.

Boys Character Award: Drew Turley – Monsignor Kelly Catholic

Boys Underclassmen Character Award: (TIE) Drake Andrepont – Hardin-Jefferson and Reece Williams – Monsignor Kelly Catholic

Boys Underclassmen Player of the Year: (TIE) Foster Cecka – Port Neches-Groves and Chase Ion – Hardin-Jefferson

Boys Player of the Year: Lincoln Parks of Orangefield High School

The Boys Golf Coach of the Year is David Wallace, of PNG, and it’s a tie for Girls Coach of the Year — Ashlee Broussard of Orangefield and Darrell Westfall of Hardin-Jefferson.

The awards evening included a presentation of the honorees, stories from special guests and speeches from a panel of collegiate golf coaches: University of Louisiana’s Men’s Golf Coach Theo Sliman and both mens’ and women’s Lamar golf coaches Jessie Mudd and Janelle Howland O’Connor.

The Babe Zaharias Awards began as a way to honor and nurture generations of golf in the local area.

Recipients of the award are historically high school junior golfers who have overcome adversity on and off the course, impacted the game in a positive way, displayed integrity and sportsmanship in all aspects of life and who embody the spirit of the game with success.

This marks the third year that 5 Under Golf Center has hosted the banquet, and organizers stress it’s a joy to have some of the greatest golfers of multiple generations walk through these doors and connect the greater Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange area to the golf world.