Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Wash., will be the site of the American Junior Golf Association’s I.R.I. Golf Group Sun Willows Junior, August 23-26, 2004.
The 54-hole stroke play event will feature 84 of the nation’s top junior golfers ages 12-18.
“The AJGA is excited to bring a tournament to this area of the country to create more opportunities for our Northwest members,” said Peter Ripa, AJGA chief operations officer. “Sun Willows Golf Course will be a great host for the event, and with the support of the I.R.I. Golf Group, the event will be a huge success.”
Sun Willows Golf Course is a Robert Muir Graves-designed public course that has hosted events such as the Pacific Northwest PGA Section Championship and the open qualifier for the Nationwide Tour event that was held in the Tri-Cities area.
"Having this event come to the Tri-Cities will be great for the community and our golf course,” said Tony Beck, head golf professional of Sun Willow Golf Course. “Our golf course is always in great shape and it will be a good test for the juniors. We are looking forward to the event.”
The I.R.I. Golf Group Sun Willows Junior is one of 73 events slated on the AJGA’s 2004 schedule.
The I.R.I. Golf Group will sponsor two other AJGA events in 2004, the I.R.I. Golf Group Oakridge Junior in Garland, Texas, and the I.R.I. Arizona National Mixed Team Challenge in Tucson, Ariz.
I.R.I. Golf Group is a Southern California-based company that has been involved in the acquisition, development and management of more than 55 golf courses. Run by PGA golf professionals, I.R.I. brings practical, insightful knowledge to every aspect of creating and operating a golf course.
The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur and professional golf. Ten of the last 12 U.S. Amateur champions and 14 of the last 16 U.S. Women's Amateur champions are AJGA alumni.
More than 160 former AJGA members currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have more than 280 tour victories to their credit. Alumni include Dottie Pepper, Laura Diaz, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Beth Bauer, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, David Gossett, David Toms, Mike Weir and Charles Howell III.
For more information, please contact Tonya Oskarson
in the AJGA Communications Department at (770) 868-4200, ext. 784.