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Most Improved: Valero Junior Texas Open

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Valero Junior Texas Open named AJGA Most Improved Tournament of the Year

The American Junior Golf Association has presented the Valero Junior Texas Open with the Most Improved Tournament of the Year Award. In 2015, the Valero Texas Open came on board as the title sponsor of the event and helped to provide a PGA TOUR experience for the players.

Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with the highest media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and general manager, as well as the most improved event, best new event, best Junior All-Star tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2015 season will be presented on-site at 2016 tournaments.

“On behalf of the Valero Texas Open, we are humbled that in our first year as title sponsor of the Valero Junior Texas Open (at TPC San Antonio) the event was selected as the AJGA’s Most Improved Tournament for 2015,” said Valero Texas Open Executive Director Larson Segerdahl. “We made significant strides this past year to elevate the stature of the event -- not the least of which was moving the tournament to TPC San Antonio and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.”

The event provided a PGA TOUR tournament feel with a press conference, player lockers, players’ lounge area and pairings reveal party. Also included for players were vouchers and access to the beautiful TPC San Antonio and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa facilities which included a pool, tennis courts, workout facilities and several restaurants. In addition, the Boys and Girls Division champions were awarded exemptions into the 2016 Junior PGA Championship.

“The event provided the juniors with a special PGA TOUR experience and we are thrilled to partner with such a historic event as the Valero Texas Open,” said AJGA Senior Regional Director, South Central Darren Nelson.

With full support from the community, the TPC San Antonio facility and the Valero Texas Open, players, parents and coaches enjoyed a week geared towards offering an experience unlike any other. Mary Carriker and Janina Collins from The First Tee of Greater San Antonio supported the event through gathering donations and organizing volunteers. Local community members came out to support the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and The First Tee of Greater San Antonio through the Valero Junior Texas Open Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament.

“Thanks to Valero and our many corporate sponsors, not only were we able to conduct a wonderful tournament, but we were able to further the mission of the Valero Texas Open and use this platform to raise even more funds for worthy charities, including the AJGA’s ACE Grant program and The First Tee of Greater San Antonio,” Segerdahl said.

The event will celebrate its 25th year on the AJGA schedule from July 11-14 in 2016, solidifying itself as an opportunity for local juniors to compete at the highest level of national junior golf competition.

 

See other 2015 AJGA Tournament Awards.