VandenBerg, Pearson, Weston and Robinson named 2025 Players of the Year

FINAL 2025 PLAYER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

Senior Division Player of the Year – Kevin VandenBerg

A season defined by consistency, composure, and championship-caliber golf earned Kevin VandenBerg of Pulaski, New York the honor of The Society of Seniors 2025 Senior Division Player of the Year.

VandenBerg captured the award with a commanding 845 points, finishing ahead of runner-up David Glabicki of Cary, North Carolina, who totaled 430 points. Despite the decisive margin, VandenBerg said the accolade was never something he set out to chase.

“It was not a goal to be player of the year for the SOS this year,” VandenBerg said. “I try to focus on shorter goals like shot by shot, hole by hole, and then a tournament-by-tournament basis, and let the long-term result take care of itself. It’s about staying in the present and not worrying about down the road.”

The steady approach paid off. VandenBerg’s 2025 campaign was highlighted by a victory at the 10th Founders Cup, complemented by runner-up finishes at the 43rd Dale Morey Championship and the 42nd Ralph Bogart Tournament, along with strong performances at the Senior Masters and Spring Classic. His consistency made him a fixture on leaderboards throughout the season.

Winning the Player of the Year award carries special meaning for VandenBerg, particularly given how close he came in the past.

“It’s a great honor to win the Society of Seniors Player of the Year for the first time,” he said. “I think I was close last year, but just fell short. I feel it shows long-term performance and the ability to stay healthy and perform over a long period of time. I’ve been very fortunate to remain healthy enough to play as much as I do.”

For most that know him, to say that VandenBerg plays a lot of golf would be the understatement of the century.  That ability to stay healthy and competitive is no accident. VandenBerg stays sharp through preparation, especially during the winter months when travel slows but training does not.

“I try to keep active when I go back north during the winter,” he explained. “I have a TrackMan in my garage that I use to stay tuned up and work on my yardages, especially with my irons and wedges. If I give my body too much of a rest from golf, it doesn’t work well with my back. It really helps to keep swinging at least every other day when I’m not playing competitively.”

While the 2025 season stood out statistically, VandenBerg was equally pleased with the overall quality of his game. Equipment changes and a refined approach have played a key role.

“I was very pleased with my game in 2025, for the most part,” he said. “Switching to the Callaway Apex Ti-Fusion irons and the Callaway Elyte line of woods really helped. I’ve slowed my swing down since becoming a senior to narrow my dispersion, and it’s helped, even though I’ve probably lost about 30 yards over the last four years. Because of that, I’ve worked very hard on the other end of my game and rely heavily on my short game and putting. Those two things were very good for me in ’25.”

Beyond the numbers, VandenBerg’s Player of the Year season adds another chapter to a distinguished amateur career that includes multiple Hall of Fame recognitions and decades of success at the state, regional, and national levels. Known for his professionalism and sportsmanship, he has remained a dedicated amateur and a respected competitor throughout his career.

To close, VandenBerg added, “I appreciate everything the Society does as I know it’s a lot of work to put on events and everyone does such a great job in making each of them special.”

What’s in the bag?

Callaway Elyte Driver

Callaway Elyte 3+

Callaway Elyte 3HL

Callaway Apex Ti Fusion 5-PW, A wedge

52 degree, 60 degree Opus Chrome wedge

Callaway hi toe 68 degree wedge

Ogden Putter

Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond ball

 

Super Senior Division Player of the Year – James Pearson

James Pearson of Charlotte, N.C., capped a memorable season by earning 2025 Super Senior Player of the Year honors from The Society of Seniors, a distinction that reflected both his consistency and his ability to perform under pressure against a deep field of elite senior amateurs.

Pearson finished the season with 950 points, ahead of runner-up Richard Kerper of Oldsmar, Fla., who totaled 537.5 points. Despite the decisive margin, Pearson said winning Player of the Year was never a preseason objective. “It was not a goal of mine, because I just thought of all the good players you can count on facing, I never thought of it.  Then all of a sudden after a couple wins early in the year it was like, ‘Oh OK, look at this.’”

As the season progressed, Pearson began to recognize his position in the race. “I think after the National Super Senior at Columbus Country Club, I got a little bit of a buffer and just needed to continue to do what I was doing, and it turned out great,” he said. Even then, he admitted the outcome still felt unexpected given the depth of competition. “I never thought it would happen considering the tough competition among so many good players that play so many events,” Pearson said, adding that fortune played a role as well. “I got a little lucky. A couple of playoffs went my way against Terry Tyson and Duff Wagner. Of course, you need to play well, but I always say you need help to win.”

The foundation of Pearson’s Player of the Year campaign was three victories at the 17th Jack Hesler Tournament, the 17th Spring Classic, and the 42nd Ralph Bogart Tournament. Those wins, combined with steady finishes throughout the year, allowed him to separate himself from the field and maintain control of the standings.

Beyond the results, the honor itself carried deep meaning for Pearson. “It’s a very proud achievement to be recognized among your peers and so many great friends that you meet along the way,” he said, noting that the relationships formed through competition are just as meaningful as the trophies.

Preparing for a long season of travel and competition is something Pearson genuinely enjoys. “For me, it’s important to have competition to look forward to and it lets me focus on things,” he said. “Four consecutive days of golf are just fine with me as long as pace of play is good and weather is decent.” Even challenging conditions become part of the experience. Recalling an early-season event in Orlando, Pearson laughed about “playing in basically my snowsuit,” and said one of the highlights of that week was simply, “hanging out with the guys trying to thaw out. We just sat around the lunch table for three hours and talked, which was hilarious and so much fun.”

Looking back, Pearson rated his 2025 season as better than he ever imagined, particularly in light of significant health challenges. “It was better than I ever thought,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate since a year ago, in June, I had open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve. I’ve been able to play without much pain and without much discomfort.”

On the course, Pearson felt his game was marked by steadiness and smart decision-making. “Overall this year, I felt my game was very steady. The driver behaved about 95 percent of the time, and if I could avoid three-putts, I can be right at the top,” he said. At age 70, he acknowledged the need to be more strategic. “I don’t hit it as far as some of these guys, so I have to be a little bit more thoughtful around the course and just be careful.” Ultimately, Pearson said what he values most are the opportunities to compete and connect. “I cherish the opportunities that we get to play with a lot of great players, and it keeps you on your toes,” he said. “I’ve met so many great guys from all over the country.”

With a dominant point total, three signature victories, and a season defined by perseverance and appreciation for the game, James Pearson’s 2025 Super Senior Player of the Year campaign stands as one of the most impressive in recent Society of Seniors history.

What’s in the bag?

Driver: Titleist GT3, 10.5 deg, Ventus red TR shaft

Fairway wood: TaylorMade 16.5 deg high launch (best club I’ve ever owned!)

Hybrids: Titleist 21 and 24 deg with SLAY shafts

Irons: Titleist T250 with NIP pro 950 regular neo shafts. 5,6,7,8,9 irons plus 43 deg and 48 deg wedges.

Wedges: Vokey 52F and 58T

Putter: Odyssey Ai-ONE Jailbird or Odyssey Ai-ONE Rossi

Legend Division Player of the Year – Mark Weston

Mark Weston of Windermere, Florida, capped a comeback season by being named the 2025 Legend Division Player of the Year by The Society of Seniors. Weston totaled 1,165 points across seven tournaments to secure the season-long honor, edging out Don Donatoni of West Chester, Pennsylvania, who finished with 750 points.

Weston’s campaign was built on consistency and resilience. He opened the year with a second-place finish at the 17th Jack Hesler Tournament and followed it with a breakthrough victory at the 17th Spring Classic, his first-ever Society of Seniors title. “I came into 2025 healthy for a change after a rough last few years,” Weston said. “Getting off to that strong start really set the tone.”

Shortly thereafter, Weston’s season took an unexpected turn. A severe right hamstring injury—first strained in the gym and later torn on a tee shot—forced him to withdraw from all summer events. Rather than derail his season, the setback became motivation. “My doctor told me it would take about five months to heal,” Weston said. “When I looked at the calendar and saw the next SOS event was almost exactly five months later, that became my goal. I needed something to focus on during rehab, and Player of the Year was in the back of my mind.”

Weston returned to competition in the fall and quickly regained his form, posting runner-up finishes at the 43rd Dale Morey Championship and the 10th Founders Cup, along with a third-place finish at the 42nd Ralph Bogart Tournament. He added a T5 at the John Kline Championship and a top-10 finish at the Senior Masters, completing a season that featured one win and six additional top-five or top-10 finishes.

Winning the Player of the Year award holds special meaning for Weston. “It’s one of the highlights of my golf career,” he said. “The Society of Seniors has such a storied history, and it means a lot to be part of the record book. Every event has great players and fierce competitors.” Weston also credited his fellow competitors, noting that playing alongside Donatoni helped him refine his approach. “He’s a tremendous player and seems to never make a mental error. I learned a lot from watching how he manages his game.”

Preparation and longevity have been key to Weston’s success. He credits advice from fellow Society member Rick Woulfe for helping him stay competitive. “He told me yoga was the secret,” Weston said. “I practiced yoga for years and now do Pilates twice a week along with my gym work.” He also relies on guidance from his daughter, Stacey, a physical therapist. “She’s taught me how to train smarter and avoid injuries. Sometimes, less really is more.”

Reflecting on the season, Weston sees 2025 as both a competitive and personal triumph. “I achieved a goal I set long ago of winning a Society event, and earning Player of the Year is icing on the cake,” he said. “Most importantly, I proved to myself that I’m willing to do the work to come back from setbacks.”

In closing, Weston added, “I just want to give the staff the credit for doing all the work to put on a great show with the Society events.  I always plan my schedule around the Society events since you know what you’re gonna get from good courses, good setups, playing in threesomes with good pace of play, etc.  It doesn’t go unnoticed and it’s very appreciated.”

Weston’s 2025 season stands as a testament to perseverance, preparation, and passion—qualities that define the very best competitors in The Society of Seniors.

What’s in the bag?

Driver—TaylorMade Stealth

3 and 7 woods—Callaway Elyte

Hybrids—TaylorMade

Irons–Srixon

Wedges–Cleveland

Putter—2 Ball Long

Ball–ProV1x

 

Super Legend Division Player of the Year – Sam Robinson

Sam Robinson of Jacksonville Beach, FL, capped a memorable season by being named the 2025 Super Legend Player of the Year by The Society of Seniors, finishing atop the standings with 1,112.5 points. Robinson earned the season-long award over runner-up Pete Allen of Southport, NC, who totaled 775 points, after a year defined by consistency, competitive excellence, and a genuine love for the game.

Despite his dominant season, Robinson said winning Player of the Year was never part of the plan.

“No, it wasn’t even a thought that entered my mind,” Robinson said. “I enjoy just playing in the tournaments and seeing all the guys, the different golf courses that we get to go visit. Somewhere during the year, it came up in a conversation and it was quite a nice surprise to have been in the race for it — and to come out with the title is very, very pleasing.”

Robinson competed in six Society of Seniors events in 2025, recording three victories and finishing near the top of the leaderboard every time out. He opened the season with back-to-back wins at the 17th Jack Hesler Tournament and the 17th Spring Classic. He continued his strong play with a tie for second at the 24th John Kline Championship, followed by a runner-up finish at the 10th Founders Cup. Additional top finishes at the 42nd Ralph Bogart Tournament and the 2025 Senior Masters rounded out his point total and secured the year-long title.

For Robinson, the achievement carries special meaning given the level of competition and the demands of a coast-to-coast schedule.

“I’m just extremely proud of this accomplishment,” Robinson said. “I really did play some really good golf and had things that fell my way. You don’t win these tournaments without getting a few breaks. Traveling the country coast to coast and to come out number one is very satisfying among this peer group.”

Preparation, Robinson says, is less about grinding on the range and more about managing energy — particularly mental energy — over a long season.

“What I have found from years of competing is that rest is so paramount both physically, but more importantly mentally,” he explained. “I put so much mental effort into a round of golf. Physically, I can no longer do a lot of the things I used to do, so mentally I must figure out a way — and when it’s over, I’m exhausted.”

Between events, Robinson keeps things simple.

“I don’t play much in between events, but I do a lot of chipping and putting to stay away from the stress of competing,” he said. “I like hanging around the club with the guys, sitting with everyone, practicing now and then. That’s been a good way to be mentally prepared for the 54-hole events.”

Looking back on the season, Robinson believes improved focus and rest helped elevate his performance.

“It was good golf for me,” he said. “It’s almost like I got better, but maybe it was better focus and more rest. I had four wins between Society events and Golfweek, and a number of rounds under par. I was just really pleased with my play. I can’t explain how it all came about, but it was an improved year for sure.”

Robinson was quick to credit those behind the scenes for making the Society of Seniors experience special.

“Thanks to the whole staff — Ed, Gary, Matt, everyone behind the scenes,” Robinson said. “You run a top-tier competition. It’s so well organized, the courses are always great, and nothing stacks up to the way you guys run these things.”

He also had high praise for his fellow competitors in the Super Legend Division.

“These guys are to be reckoned with, they do not give in,” Robinson said. “They are very good players who know how to get around a golf course. It’s really good competition that I thoroughly enjoy. Society events are great because you know you’re going to have to play some good golf to compete, and you have to finish.”

With a season marked by steady excellence, mutual respect, and a deep appreciation for the game, Sam Robinson’s 2025 campaign stands as a fitting example of what it means to be a deserving Player of the Year.

What’s in the bag?

Ping G440 driver
XXIO fairway 5 wood
XXIO fairway 7 wood
Ping 400 4 rescue
Ping 430 5 rescue
Ping 430 6 rescue
Ping 430 7-8-9-PW-45-50-56 irons
Scotty Cameron Phantom putter
Titleist AVX golf ball