Eight Teams Heading to PGA Junior League Golf Championship

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– Eight all-star teams of junior golfers have advanced to the 2015 PGA Junior League Golf Championship to be held Nov. 5-8 (Thursday-Sunday) at Disney's Palm Course at Walt Disney Resort.

“The PGA Junior League Golf Championship is the culmination of another record-breaking year for this program,” said PGA President Derek Sprague. “We look forward to a great event at Walt Disney World Resort, which is a fantastic venue for our juniors to enjoy a fun weekend of tournament play.”

Approximately 30,000 boys and girls participated on 2,500 teams this year, a nearly 100 percent increase from 2014. Following the regular season, all-star teams were selected within the local leagues to compete in 32 sub-regionals, with the winners advancing to one of eight regionals held throughout the country. Below are the eight regional champions, along with the facilities the golfers played for during the regular season:

• California All-Stars (participants are from an independent league based in San Diego County hosted by John Mason, PGA)
• Connecticut All-Stars (participants are from Suzy Whaley Junior Golf Academy in the greater Hartford, Connecticut area)
• Georgia All-Stars (participants are from Alpharetta Athletic Club in Alpharetta, Georgia)
• Illinois All-Stars (participants are from Royal Fox Country Club, Royal Hawk Country Club, Kishwaukee Country Club, Prairie Landing Golf Club, St. Charles Country Club and Geneva Golf Club in the greater Chicago area)
• New Jersey All-Stars (participants are from Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough, New Jersey)
• Ohio All-Stars (participants are from Mallard Creek Golf Club, Fairlawn Country Club, Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, and Rosemont Country Club in the greater Cleveland area)
• Oklahoma All-Stars (participants are from Broken Arrow Golf & Athletic Club, South Lakes Golf Course, Southern Hills Country Club and The Patriot Golf Club in the greater Tulsa area)
• South Carolina All-Stars (participants are from Par Tee Golf Center, Columbia Country Club, Hidden Valley Country Club and Spring Valley Country Club in the greater Columbia area)

PGA Junior League Golf is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls ages 13 and under to learn and enjoy the game of golf. Kids learn the game in a recreational environment with professional instruction and direction from PGA/LPGA Professionals who serve as team captains, while parents also play an active role. Participants wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends in a popular two-person scramble format.

“PGA Junior League Golf continues to gain momentum as an innovative way for boys and girls to learn and experience the game of golf,” said Sprague. “The program has a winning combination of PGA and LPGA Professionals coaching the players and serving as team captains in an encouraging team format. We also are thrilled to have the support of some of golf’s biggest names, including Rory McIlroy, Michelle Wie and Rickie Fowler, who serve as Official Ambassadors. Our PGA Junior League Golf players are undoubtedly the future of our game.”

PGA Junior League Golf continues to be one of the PGA of America’s fastest growing programs, with a nearly

100 percent increase each year. Below are approximate yearly numbers:

• 2015: 30,000 boys and girls; 2,500 teams
• 2014: 17,500 boys and girls; 1,425 teams
  2013: 9,000 boys and girls; 740 teams\

PGA Junior League Golf is the key youth program of PGA REACH, the charitable arm of the PGA of America.For more information about PGA Junior League Golf, visit PGAJLG.com.