When Bridgewater Club was asked to host the PGA Junior League Golf Mideast Regional, the club agreed right away.
“Bridgewater felt we could give back a little bit by hosting the event,” Bridgewater head pro Rick Witt said. “We felt Bridgewater could give back to junior golf because we have such a wonderful junior golf program here. We’re glad we can host and people are coming from all around.”
There will be a practice for the junior golfers Sept. 29, an 18-hole round Sept. 30 and nine holes Oct. 1 at Bridgewater, 3535 E. 161st St., Carmel. The sessions are at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and 8:30 a.m. Oct. 1.
The golfers play a round-robin scramble match play event.
There are four teams competing, one each from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky
“These are all-star teams that made it through their (sub-regional),” Witt said. “There are eight regions and the winner goes to the national tournament.”
The teams consist of 10 boys and girls on each team. The golfers’ ages are 13 and under. Witt said they are typically between ages 9 and 13.
“We won the Indiana portion (sub-regional) the last two years, but we did not win this year and we’re hosting it,” Witt said.
A team from Kokomo and Peru advanced this year.
Bridgewater junior golfers team with golfers from Crooked Stick Golf Club, Woodland Country Club and Wolf Run Club to form an all-star team. Last year’s all-star team, including Bridgewater, finished third in the regional in Toledo, Ohio.
The winner of the regional at Bridgewater advances to the PGA Junior League Golf Championship presented by National Car Rental, Nov. 16 to 19, at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
There was a record-setting 42,000 participants across 3,400 teams nationwide in 2016, led by PGA and LPGA Professionals. This growth represents huge increase from the 9,000 boys and girls who participated on 740 teams nationwide four years prior.
