Stonehenge Hosting Another AJGA Event
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
The event will start Sunday with a qualifying round.
According to tournament director Ben Barkey, the boys golf coach at Warsaw Community High School, 100 junior golfers will compete Sunday in the qualifier, with tournament berths awarded to eight boys and two girls.
On Monday, there will be a player-am, and Barkey said there is still room for teams in the event. Those interested should contact Stonehenge Golf Club at 574-269-6111.
The actual tournament will consist of three rounds, which will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s a celebration of high school golf,” said Barkey. “About 140 junior golfers, some of the best junior golfers in the country, will be right here in Warsaw. This is a big deal for golf fans, and for our community.”
Not only is it a big deal for the community, which will benefit financially because of visitors using local hotels and restaurants, but also for the golfers themselves.
“This is a big tournament for exposure,” said Barkey. “We’ll have an average of 20 Division I coaches at the tournament each day. By comparison, you might have five Division I coaches at the state finals.”
Two years ago, prior to starting his senior year at WCHS, Tyler Ostrom finished third in the AJGA event at Stonehenge.
Joining some of the best junior golfers in the country will once again be six players from WCHS.
According to Barkey, Warsaw golfers Jonny Hollar, Ryan Cultice, Will Petro, Brandon Eckert, Josh Ahlersmeyer and Reid Cameron will play in the event.
“Our local golfers have fared well in this event,” said Barkey. “Two years ago, Tyler (Ostrom) finished third. (Triton’s) Quentyn Carpenter has played in it. There’s some very talented golfers from Columbia City that are going to play. This is a great way for them to be seen by Division I coaches and solidify their recruiting stock.”
In what Barkey called unique, Winona Lake restaurant Cerulean will provide a free cookout on Wednesday for the players, as well as their parents, who make the cut to play in the final round.
“We have some great sponsors,” said Barkey. “Cerulean has really stepped up, and they’re having a free cookout for the players and their parents that make the cut. Something like that really sets us apart from the other cities that host AJGA events.”
Any proceeds from the AJGA event at Stonhenge will be split between the AJGA’s foundation and the Denny Hepler Future Stars Foundation.
Barkey said an easy way for the community to support the event would be to dine at Cerulean, and if customers mention the AJGA from Monday to Thursday, 10 percent of the bill will be donated to the foundations.[[In-content Ad]]
The event will start Sunday with a qualifying round.
According to tournament director Ben Barkey, the boys golf coach at Warsaw Community High School, 100 junior golfers will compete Sunday in the qualifier, with tournament berths awarded to eight boys and two girls.
On Monday, there will be a player-am, and Barkey said there is still room for teams in the event. Those interested should contact Stonehenge Golf Club at 574-269-6111.
The actual tournament will consist of three rounds, which will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s a celebration of high school golf,” said Barkey. “About 140 junior golfers, some of the best junior golfers in the country, will be right here in Warsaw. This is a big deal for golf fans, and for our community.”
Not only is it a big deal for the community, which will benefit financially because of visitors using local hotels and restaurants, but also for the golfers themselves.
“This is a big tournament for exposure,” said Barkey. “We’ll have an average of 20 Division I coaches at the tournament each day. By comparison, you might have five Division I coaches at the state finals.”
Two years ago, prior to starting his senior year at WCHS, Tyler Ostrom finished third in the AJGA event at Stonehenge.
Joining some of the best junior golfers in the country will once again be six players from WCHS.
According to Barkey, Warsaw golfers Jonny Hollar, Ryan Cultice, Will Petro, Brandon Eckert, Josh Ahlersmeyer and Reid Cameron will play in the event.
“Our local golfers have fared well in this event,” said Barkey. “Two years ago, Tyler (Ostrom) finished third. (Triton’s) Quentyn Carpenter has played in it. There’s some very talented golfers from Columbia City that are going to play. This is a great way for them to be seen by Division I coaches and solidify their recruiting stock.”
In what Barkey called unique, Winona Lake restaurant Cerulean will provide a free cookout on Wednesday for the players, as well as their parents, who make the cut to play in the final round.
“We have some great sponsors,” said Barkey. “Cerulean has really stepped up, and they’re having a free cookout for the players and their parents that make the cut. Something like that really sets us apart from the other cities that host AJGA events.”
Any proceeds from the AJGA event at Stonhenge will be split between the AJGA’s foundation and the Denny Hepler Future Stars Foundation.
Barkey said an easy way for the community to support the event would be to dine at Cerulean, and if customers mention the AJGA from Monday to Thursday, 10 percent of the bill will be donated to the foundations.[[In-content Ad]]
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