2016 Western Junior
2016 WGA Tournament
Public Welcome ~ No Charge for Entry ~ Parking Available at Red Run Golf Club
GOLF, ILLINOIS (June 14, 2016) –- Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak, Michigan, will welcome a field of 156 of the best junior players from across the country and around the world June 20-23 for the 99th playing of the Western Junior Championship.
It will mark the first time that a club in Michigan has hosted the nation’s oldest national junior golf championship since 2005, when Rickie Fowler claimed the title at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont.
First held by the Western Golf Association in 1914, the Western Junior has served as a proving ground for future PGA TOUR stars, including past champions Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and 2015 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Daniel Berger also have competed in the Western Junior.
This year’s field is expected to include 156 of the nation’s top junior players including: Highly-ranked 2017 high school graduates Kaito Onishi of Irvine, California; Ryan Gerard of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Harrison Ott of Brookfield, Wisconsin.
“As Chairman of the Western Golf Association, it is a unique opportunity and quite an honor to host one of our three golf championships at my home club,” said WGA Chairman David Robinson of Troy, Michigan. “Red Run is known for having some of the best greens in the state of Michigan, and presents an outstanding test to these talented players.”
Local players of interest include rising Michigan State freshman Andrew Walker of Battle Creek, Michigan; Ben Smith, of Novi, Michigan, who is verbally committed to play at Georgia Tech; and James Piot of Canton, Michigan, who finished in the top 10 at the 2015 Western Junior. Piot has verbally committed to Michigan State.
“The blend of promising local, national and international talent is what sets the Western Junior apart from so many other junior golf championships,” said Vince Pellegrino, the WGA’s Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “This year’s field is exceptionally deep, and we look forward to seeing how they fare on Red Run’s historic course.”
Originally designed in 1914 by Tom Bendelow and redesigned in 1916 by World Golf Hall of Famer Willie Park Jr., Red Run has seen golf greats Ben Hogan, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Byron Nelson pass through its doors. In addition to the 1958 Western Open, Red Run also hosted the Motor City Open in 1950 and 1951.