The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour is proud to announce Thomas Evans of Louisville as the 2025 Jace Bugg Award recipient. A member of the St. Xavier High School golf team, Evans recently helped lead his team to the KHSAA State Championship, capping off an outstanding season both individually and collectively.

Evans, who didn’t begin playing golf until his freshman year of high school, has quickly become a standout on the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour. Competing in six to eight events each year, he posted a 73.2 scoring average over 11 rounds this season. His top finish came at the Louisville Falls Cities event at Seneca Golf Course, where he placed second, and his low round—a four-under-par 67—came at the Louisville Junior Championship at Nevel Meade Golf Course.

“It feels really good to be the Jace Bugg Recipient,” said Evans. “The Jace Bugg is all about sportsmanship and a positive attitude, and it feels really good to be recognized for that.”

The Jace Bugg Award, established in 2005, honors a Kentucky PGA Junior Tour player who displays outstanding sportsmanship, a positive attitude, and a genuine love for the game. The award commemorates Jace Bugg, a Henderson native who passed away in 2003 at age 27 following a battle with leukemia. Known for his professionalism and kind spirit, Bugg was one of Kentucky golf’s most respected ambassadors.

When asked about his approach to sportsmanship, Evans shared, “Golf is so difficult mentally, but you always have to find a way to maintain a positive attitude and have fun out there on the course.”

Junior Tour Director MacKenzie Peyton praised Evans’s consistent positivity and kindness both on and off the course. “Thomas is a true embodiment of what the Jace Bugg Award represents,” Peyton said. “I’ve never seen him at an event where he hasn’t made a point to say hello or encourage others. Even after a tough hole, he finds ways to lift up his playing partners.”

Peyton added, “It really wasn’t much of a debate among our staff who this year’s recipient should be. Thomas’s attitude and sportsmanship are unmatched—he’s always smiling and finding the positive, no matter his score.”

St. Xavier head coach Mike Finney echoed those sentiments, emphasizing Evans’s rapid growth and leadership. “Thomas lights up every room and every foursome he walks into,” Finney said. “He made it a priority to welcome younger players and lead by example. At Regionals, his 69 helped us set a record 12-under-par team score, and at State—even when he didn’t have his best round—he was the loudest voice encouraging his teammates.”

Finney continued, “Thomas didn’t even start playing golf until high school, yet he’s become one of the most respected players in our program and across the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour. His dedication, demeanor, and love for the game make him a perfect recipient of the Jace Bugg Award.”

Evans joins an esteemed list of past Jace Bugg Award recipients who have gone on to represent Kentucky golf with integrity and class at the collegiate and professional levels. He will also be recognized as a 2025 Player of the Year during the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour Champions Banquet in December.