New Castle hosts AJGA tourney
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — For the sixth consecutive year, the American Junior Golf Association will return here for the AJGA Junior at New Castle July 14-17. New Castle Country Club will again be the host for 99 of the nation’s best boy and girl junior golfers between the ages of 12-18.
This year’s event at New Castle Country Club will be a 54-hole stroke play competition that begins Monday, July 14 with a 8 a.m. practice round. The tournament tee times will run from 7-11:57 a.m. off the Club’s first tee Tuesday, July 15 through Thursday, July 17. An awards ceremony will immediately follow play Thursday, July 17. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free of charge.
During the tournament week, some of the top juniors who will be participating in the AJGA Junior at New Castle will also take part in the Junior-Am Fund raising Tournament Monday, July 14. The Junior-Am Fund raising Tournament will be a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start at New Castle Country Club.
An excellent opportunity to entertain clients, reward employees or enjoy a tournament round with some friends, the Junior-Am allows locals to play a competitive round of golf with future stars of the game. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Justin Leonard, Charles Howell III, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Grace Park are just a few of the thousands of talented players who participated in AJGA Junior-Ams when they were teenagers.
Supporting golf at the grass-roots level, Junior-Ams allow the AJGA to make contributions to local junior golf charities and programs in hosting communities. In 2008, the proceeds of the AJGA Junior at New Castle Junior-Am Fund raising Tournament will benefit the New Castle Junior Golf program and the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association. To participate, contact Tournament Director, Jonah Beck at (678) 617-2425.
Prior to the event, an AJGA Qualifier will be staged at the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in West Middlesex, Pa. Sunday, July 13 to help round out the tournament field and allow less experienced juniors “play their way in” to the AJGA Junior at New Castle.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.
For more information, please contact Sara Wagoner (swagoner@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1790 or visit the AJGA Web site at ajga.org.
Pavlik at Jewish event
Youngstown’s world middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik will be taking part in the 10th annual Jewish Community Center Suzi Solomon Golf Classic, a scholarship fund raiser which will be held July 14 at the Avalon Country Club Squaw Creek golf course.
The event will begin with a 12:45 p.m. shotgun start and a dinner and awards ceremony will follow play.
The Jewish Community pays tribute to the memory of Suzi Solomon, who was an avid golfer and skier as well as an active member of the Youngstown Jewish community.
Markota’s sizzling round
Local amateur golfer Dave Markota had an exciting nine holes of golf recently at Diamond Back Golf Course in Canfield while playing in the Davidson’s Wednesday Night Men’s League.
Markota shot a sizzling 6-under-par 30 over the front nine holes at the course, but that wasn’t the best part about his round.
He started the round with three straight bogeys, then played the final six holes in 9-under-par. That included three eagles and three birdies.
You don’t think that Dave would have like to play those first three holes over again.