For the second consecutive year, the American Junior Golf Association and nearly 150 of the best junior golfers in the country will converge on Stonehenge. The Warsaw course will host the AJGA Stonehenge Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be a play-in tournament Sunday, in which Warsaw Community High School boys golf coach and event organizer Ben Barkey said 100 players will be vying for six remaining spots. When play tournament play begins Tuesday, 144 of the best boys and girls golfers from around the country will be in action. WCHS players Tim and Josh Ahlersmeyer, Evan and Ryan Cultice and Jared Essig will participate in the tournament. “We’re excited about having the AJGA back at Stonehenge,” said Barkey. “Last year’s tournament was a huge success, and we expect it to be a huge success again this year.” Recent WCHS graduate Tyler Ostrom finished third in the event last year. “This is a huge tournament for our players to get to play in,” said Barkey. “Some of the best junior golfers in the country will be here, and for our guys to play against them and see where they stack up, that’s great. This tournament is great for exposure. Last year we had 21 Division I coaches here. By comparison, I think there were three Division I coaches at the state finals this year.” Some of the event’s major sponsors include orthopedic giants Biomet, DePuy and Zimmer. The Cerulean Restaurant in Winona Lake is also a sponsor. Barkey said the establishment will donate 10 percent of a customer’s bill to the Warsaw Golf Foundation if they go in and mention the AJGA. “Sponsors are huge when it comes to putting on an event like this,” said Barkey. “We live in a great community, and we’re fortunate to have places like Biomet, DePuy and Zimmer, companies that are so involved in the community. We also have to thank The Cerulean Restaurant. They’re donating 10 percent of your bill if you go in and mention AJGA. We’re trying to raise money for the Warsaw Golf Foundation, and we really have to thank them for helping us with that.” Not only will fans get to see a plethora of talented golfers, the tournament has a huge impact on the local economy. According to Barkey, an AJGA study showed that the tournament brought $250,000 into the Warsaw community last year between hotels, restaurants and other places. “A tourmament like this, with so many people coming from all over to participate and watch, it has a great impact on the community,” said Barkey. “Our local hotels and restaurants and places like that are really going to benefit. The AJGA does studies on their tournaments, and this tournament brought nearly a quarter-million dollars into our community last year. That’s pretty big.” For more information, or to volunteer to help with the tournament, contact Stonehenge at 574-269-6111.
