What is the AJGA?
The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) hosts a series of golf tournaments around the United States that are open to the best junior golfers in the country.
There is a qualifying process to become eligible to play in AJGA events and juniors that aspire to play golf collegiately need to participate. Every major college golf head coach follows the results of AJGA tournaments for recruiting.
AJGA realizes that junior golfers competing in golf tournaments can be a burden on a family’s budget. Through the generous donations from sponsors, AJGA offers deserving golfers an opportunity to compete in AJGA events and can cover some of the costs associated with travel and lodging for both the player and one accompanying parent. For more information and a registration form visit: https://www.ajga.org/ace-grant/what-does-ace-grant-cover.
In 2022, three AJGA events were held in Ohio, The Memorial Junior in Columbus, The Mercy Health Foundation All-Star, in Boardman and the AJGA Dana Incorporated, in Toledo.
The Memorial Junior
In June the AJGA hosted The Memorial Junior at the Ohio State University Golf Club. The field was comprised of 72 Boys and Girls aged 12-19.
Tyler Sabo from Ashland fired three rounds of 71-71-70 to take a one-stroke win over Cincinnati’s Finley Bartlett. Two shots back of the leader, Bradley Chill Jr. from Columbia Station finished solo third. Topher Reed from Fairview Park and Caden Pinckes from Carlsbad, California tied for fourth to round out the top five.
With scores of 70-70-73, Mia Hammond from New Albany ran away with the Girls Division. She finished 12 shots ahead of the second place competitor, Charlene Chung from Hong Kong and Anna Swan from Northeast Pennsylvania. Canadian Alissa Xu and Cindy Wang from California tied for fourth.
The win for Sabo was also sweet as he will play for the Buckeyes this fall on the same Scarlet Course.
Mercy Health Foundation All-Star
The Mercy Health Foundation All-Star was held at the Millcreek Golf course in Boardman. Brayden Miller, from Goshen, Indiana won the title by five shots over Vijay Kumar, from Florida and Mijir Roperia from New Jersey. Shiv Parmar, from Texas finished fourth, while two players, Vibhav Alokam, from Ypsilanti, Michigan and Peyton Blackard, from Indiana tied for fifth.
Canada’s Alexa Ouellet also garnered a four-shot win in the Girls Division over Ann-Sophie Bourgault, also from Canada. Michelle Ho, from California, Francesca Choquette, from New York and Shauna Liu, from Canada finished third, fourth and fifth.
AJGA Dana Incorporated
Toledo is the home base for the Dana Corporation and they hosted an AJGA event at Sylvania Country Club July 18-21.
Stephen Liu, from New Zealand and Hudson, Ohio’s Ryan Pamer ended the regulation 54 holes tied at nine-under par with Liu winning the playoff. Nick Piesen from Strongsville was solo third with Stow’s Jack Vojtko, fourth and Stephen Ma, from Columbus, fifth.
In the Girls Division, Audrey Ryu from Dublin took the title by four strokes over three players, Grace Wang, from Rochester Hills, Michigan, Kathryn Ha from Roanoke, Virginia and Elyssa Abdullah, from Hinsdale, Illinois.
By winning the Dana AJGA tournament, she is granted an exemption into the LPGA’s Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Toledo.
For more information visit AJGA’s website.
