LOCAL

HOJGA set to tee off for 32nd season

The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association will hold its 32nd season this summer starting in June.

Special to The Marion Star
Pleasant's Dina Shah takes a putt during a Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association event at Veterans Memorial Park Golf Course in Kenton last year. HOJGA will hold its 32nd season this summer.

MARION – The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association is celebrating its 32nd season of serving youth between the ages 9 and 18 within the seven counties of Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Morrow, Union and Wyandot.

The non-profit, all-volunteer Association began in 1987 to educate juniors through a golf camp, seminar, seven-tournament tour, awards and scholarships toward college.

One of the early events of the 2018 season is the golf camp scheduled for June 7. The camp is held for beginners and youth wanting to brush up on the fundamentals of the golf swing. Rules and etiquette on the golf course will be discussed.

The camp will be held at Miracle Driving Range in Marion from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Campers will get professional instruction, logo bag tag, towel, booklet handout and lunch. The cost is $17 plus a $5 membership fee. Clubs are available for juniors needing them.

HOJGA will offer a seven-tournament tour that starts June 5 at Lincoln Hills in Upper Sandusky. Other tournaments will be June 14 at Kings Mill in Waldo, June 20 at Marysville Golf Course, June 26 at Pine Lakes in Mount Gilead, July 5 at Memorial Park in Kenton, July 10 at Whetstone in Claridon and July 16 at Valley View in Galion. The HOJGA Chad A. Wheeler "Best of the Best" playoff event for tournament winners and runners-up is set for July 24 at Lincoln Hills.

Juniors are placed in one of three divisions: 12 and under, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18. Age as of Sept. 1, 2018, determines which division each junior plays. The 13-15 and 16-18 divisions vie for tournament points which bring eligibility to win scholarships.

A one-time cost to play in tournaments is a $25 registration fee ($5 membership fee, $20 for ten raffle tickets-incentive raffle-proceeds for tournament expenses). Those 12-and-younger play nine holes for $10 a tournament. Those 13 to 18 play 18 holes at $15 a tourney. Early signup prevents tournament shutouts.

The HOJGA scholarship program for 2018 includes the David J. Wensinger Player of the Year $2000; Ross Carley Memorial Player of the Year 1st Runner-up $1500; Wensinger Family Player of the Year 2nd Runner-up $500; HOJGA Three-Year Accumulative Point $500; NUCOR Steel Marion Most Improved Golfer $500; K of C Sportsmanship $500; Marion County Youth Foundation MERIT $1000; Charles W. Emans Memorial Patriot $500 and the HOJGA 13-15 Player of the Year $500 Scholarship.

To help support the scholarship fund, tournament sponsorships are offered. A gift of $300 would get a sponsorship of choice of seven tournaments. The company or individuals would receive newspaper and radio publicity within the seven-county radius HOJGA serves, signage posted and recognition at the tournament chosen, follow-up results and season's-end newspaper publicity, placement in the year-end booklet and recognition at HOJGA.org.

The presentation of scholarships, awards, and the top raffle prize of Callaway Golf X 416 Series irons will be held at the Year-End Appreciation Banquet on July 26 at Kings Mill. The guest speaker, parents and friends will be invited to honor the season's junior golfers.

Information and entry forms for juniors are on website or call 740-389-6207. To sponsor a scholarship, tournament or contribute as a patron, send to HOJGA, P. O. Box 821, Marion, Ohio 43301-0821.