HOJGA to begin its 29th season

MARION – The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association has seen junior golfers excel in tournaments, win scholarships, collect high school honors, and build careers in the golf profession.

It has even seen one of its players, Ben Curtis, win the British Open.

The non-profit organization will begin its 29th season soon as it serves youths ages 9-18 from Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Morrow, Union and Wyandot counties.

The all-volunteer association began in 1987 with a goal of educating juniors through a golf camp, seminar, seven-tournament tour, awards and scholarships.

One of the early events of the 2015 season is the HOJGA golf camp scheduled for June 4 at Miracle Driving Range in Marion. The camp is held for beginners and youths wishing to brush up on the fundamentals of the golf swing. Rules and etiquette on the golf course will also be discussed.

The camp will be held from 8 a.m.-noon. Campers will receive professional instruction, logo bag tag, a towel, a booklet handout, and lunch. The cost is $17 plus $5 HOJGA membership.

The association’s Clubs for Kids program will have clubs available for juniors at the camp if they need them.

The HOJGA will offer a seven-tournament tour which will begin June 10 at Green Acres Golf Course in Marion. The other stops are June 17 at Blues Crees, Marysville; June 24 at Marysville Country Club; June 30 at Pine Lakes at Mount Gilead; July 7 at Whetstone Golf Club in Claridon; July 16 at Memorial Park in Kenton; and July 20 at Valley View near Galion.

The HOJGA Chad A. Wheeler “Best of the Best” playoff event for tournament winners and runners-up will be held July 28 at Lincoln Hills near Upper Sandusky.

Juniors play in one of three age divisions. They are 12-and-under, 13-15, and 16-18. Their age as of Sept. 1, 2015, determines in which division each junior will play.

The 13-15 and 16-18 divisions vie for tournament points which bring eligibility to win scholarships.

The costs of the tournaments include $25 registration fee ($5 for HOJGA membership fee, $20 for 10 raffle tickets-incentive raffle and proceeds for tournament expenses). Fees for tournaments include $10 per tournament for nine holes (the 12-and-under group), or $15 per 18-hole tournament for anyone in the 13-18 age range. Early registrations for tournaments prevent a golfer from being shut out of an event.

The HOJGA scholarship program for 2015 will include the David J. Wensinger Player of the Year $2,000 scholarship; the Ross Carley Memorial Player of the Year first runner-up $1,500 scholarship; the Wensinger family Player of the Year second runner-up $500 scholarship; the HOJGA three-year accumulative point $500 scholarship; the NUCOR Steel most improved golfer $500 scholarship; the K of C Sportsmanship $500 scholarship; the Marion County Youth Foundation Merit $500 scholarship; and the HOJGA 13-15 Player of the Year $500 scholarship.

To benefit the scholarship fund, the HOJGA will hold a golf scramble fundraiser. All proceeds will go to the scholarship fund.

The scramble will be held June 28 at Kings Mill Golf Course near Waldo. Tee times will begin at noon, and the cost per golfer is $50 which includes greens fee, cart, food and prizes. Players may pick their own teams or may sign up as individuals to be placed on a team. The registration deadline is June 21, and entry forms are available at all area golf courses.

The presentation of scholarships, awards, and the raffle prize of TaylorMade Burner Plus irons will be held at the HOJGA year-end appreciation banquet set for July 30 at Kings Mill Golf Club. There will be guest speaker, and parents and friends of golfers are invited to honor the season’s junior golfers.

Information and entry forms for juniors are located at www.hojga.org or by calling 740-389-6207. To contribute, sponsor a scholarship, or sponsor the fundraiser scramble, send to HOJGA, P.O. Box 821, Marion, Ohio 43301-0821.