2019 Western Junior
EVENT: The Western Junior draws the top junior players from more than 40 states and internationally each year. With a field limited to 156 entrants, exemptions into the Western Amateur are awarded to the top three finishers and ties. The tournament has been a testing ground for stars of the future, such as current PGA TOUR stars Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, and Rickie Fowler, and veterans Fred Couples, Craig Stadler, and Corey Pavin.
TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS: Western Golf Association (WGA)
WEBSITE: https://thewesternjunior.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook – The Western Junior; Twitter – @WGAChamps
DATE: June 17-20, 2019
SITE: Rich Harvest Farms – 45W741 Granart Rd., Sugar Grove, IL 60554
SCHEDULE:
Monday, June 17
Practice Round
7:00 AM @ #1 and #10
12:00 PM @ #1 and #10
Tuesday, June 18
1st Round, Stroke Play
7:00 AM @ #1 and #10
12:00 PM @ #1 and #10
Wednesday, June 19
2nd Round, Stroke Play
7:00 AM @ #1 and #10
12:00 PM @ #1 and #10
Field cut to low 44 players and ties
Thursday, June 20
3rd Round, Stroke Play
7:00 AM @ #1 and #10
Final Round, Stroke Play
12:00 PM @ #1 and #10
VOLUNTEERS: Volunteer registration for the 2019 Western Junior is now open! Please click here to sign up. Possible volunteer duties include live scoring, pace of play timers, shuttle drivers, hole spotters, and hospitality.
HISTORY: The Western Junior is the oldest national junior golf tournament in the United States. It was first played in 1914 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. Since then, it has been played at a different course each year, primarily in the Midwest. From 1914 to 1998, it was played with stroke play qualifying followed by a match play championship. Since 1999, it has been a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
The 2018 iteration of the Western Junior was played at Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, Illinois, June 18-21. Jeff Doty of Carmel, Indiana won after heavy rains forced tournament officials to cancel the final two rounds. An incoming sophomore at North Florida, he finished 7 under and a beat out Karl Vilips of Perth, Australia, by one stroke.
PLAYERS: Criteria for selection includes, but is not limited to, the automatic exemption categories listed in the documents and forms tab, miscellaneous national rankings, major tournament finishes, high school/college performance, and professional recommendations. There are no qualifying tournaments for the Western Junior. All players will be entered by exemption or invitation by the Selection Committee.
COMPETITION: Competition begins with 18 holes of stroke play. Following a second round of stroke play, the field will be cut to the low 44 and ties. Those lucky enough to make the cut will take part in the third and fourth rounds in hopes of being crowned the Western Junior champion.
EXEMPTIONS: Exemptions into the Western Amateur are awarded to the top three finishers and ties.