The Western Junior is the oldest national junior golf tournament in the United States. It was founded in 1914 and is organized by the Western Golf Association. It is 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 championship was first played in 1914 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois and was won by Charles Grimes.
The 2016 Western Junior was played at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak, Michigan. Los Angeles native Sean Maruyama â€" one of the youngest players in the field at 16 years old â€" held off a charge by Trevor Brown to win with a 72-hole total of âˆ'10.
The Western Junior draws the top junior players from more than 40 states and internationally each year. The field is 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.
Winners
Source
Future sites
Source
References
External links
- Official website
- Western Golf Association
