AJGA Tournament Huge Success for Valley

The Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior All-Star Event took place the week of June 19 at Mill Creek Golf Course. The tournament hosted 96 junior competitors, including four local teens who earned their spot in a May Mill Creek MetroParks qualifying event, 128 volunteers, recruiting colleges from as far as Wisconsin, and over a dozen staff and interns from the AJGA.

The AJGA estimates the tournament had an economic impact in the Mahoning Valley of between $200,000 and $209,000. This includes hotels room for families and AJGA representatives, rental cars, and dining and entertainment spending. Not included in that number is the donation of $10,000 Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation received. This gift came from the funds raised for the event. Local sponsors included the Mahoning County Convention and Visitor Bureau and Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

All of the tournament participants played exceptionally well however at the end of the three days of play two were named the tournament champions. Reese Guzman of Kahilui, HI was the female champion with scores of 67, 68, and 69 coming in six under par. Maxwell Moldovan of Uniontown, OH earned his spot in his first AJGA Tournament in the Sunday AJGA qualifier. He ended up the male champions with scores of 68, 68, and 66 coming in eight under par.

Mill Creek MetroParks and the AJGA have already begun talks for a 2017 tournament.

The AJGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. AJGA Alumni include the likes of: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Paula Creamer, Stacy Lewis, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Speith, Lexi Thompson and Sergio Garcia.