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2024 Season Kickoff Preview

LOUISVILLE, KY (April 12, 2024) – The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour will get underway April 13-14 when the Season Kickoff is held at Polo Fields Golf & Country Club in Louisville.  A full field of 98 players will compete in the two-day stroke play event, including five divisions for boys and four divisions for girls.

A talented field will be on hand when tee times start at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, and continue at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 14. The younger divisions will play nine holes each day, while the boys and girls 16-18 and 13-15 divisions will play 18 holes a day.  Some past standouts playing in this year's event are:

Boys 16-18:

  • William Carter, Florence, KY (11:45 a.m. EDT)  -- Finished first place at the 2023 Eastern Kentucky Junior Championship. Also had three ten finishes in 2023.
  • Wyatt Merkins, Georgetown, KY (12:12 p.m. EDT) – Wyatt will be moving into the 16-18 division this year after a solid 2023 in the boys 13-15 division. He finished last season with multiple top 10 finishes including a 5th place finish at the Boys Junior PGA Championship and finished tied for 1st place in the 75th Junior Fall Cities Championship.
  • Talen Beane, California, KY (11:00 a.m. EDT) – This will be Talen's first season in the 16-18 division. Last year, he scored victories in the boys 13-15 category, including the Lou Perry Tour Championship, Lexington Junior City, and Junior Classic @ Juniper Hill. 

Boys 13-15:

  • Carson Nicholas, Lexington, KY (1:15 p.m.) -- Had four top ten finishes in 2023 two-day championships and a victory in the Junior Classic @ Winchester.
  • Hunter Majors, Louisville, KY (12:39 p.m.) -- Moving into the 13-15 division this year after a stellar season in the 2023 11-12 category. He had five victories in seven events including notable wins at the 2023 Season Kickoff and the Lexington Junior City Championship.
  • Lucas Shieh, Louisville, KY (1:33 p.m. EDT tee time off Hole 1) -- Scored five top 5 finishes in 2023 and a top 10 finish at last year's Season Kickoff.

Girls 16-18:

  • Adelynn Moorman, McQuady, KY (2:09 p.m. EDT) -- The St. Romuald School sophomore had a Top 3 finish at the 2023 Calvert City Classic.
  • Emary Thomas, Louisville, KY (2:00 p.m. EDT) -- Moving up from the 13-15 division where she had four top 5 finishes in the four events she played in 2023.

Girls 13-15:

  • Avery Suter, Peewee Valley, KY (2:36 p.m. EDT) -- Scored four top 5 finishes in 2023. 
  • Greer Wathen, Prospect, KY (2:36 p.m. EDT) -- The Sacred Heart student had two victories in 2023 at the Junior Classics at Oldham County and Seneca. 

Girls 10-12: 

  • Parker Haddix, Nicholasville, KY (3:21 p.m. EDT) – Had 10 wins in 2023 including notable victories at the Louisville Junior, Lexington Junior, Battle at Boone's Trace and at the Spring Classic.

Boys 11-12:

  • Hayden LI, Union, KY (3:12 p.m. EDT) – Earned three Top 5 finishes in 2023.
  • Rex Sheih, Louisville, KY (2:54 p.m. EDT tee time off Hole 1) – Moves into the 11-12 division this year after earning top ten finishes in six events last year.
  • Max DeHaven, Hardinsburg, KY (2:54 p.m. EDT) – Named 2023 Boys 10 & Under Player of the Year. Had 14 of 21 tournament wins in 2023, including the Junior PGA Championship and the Calvert City Classic where he shot three under par for the event.  

Boys 10 & U: 

  • Redick Johnson, Elizabethtown, KY (3:30 p.m. EDT) – Scored two top five finishes in 2023.
  • Willie Bushong, Owensboro, KY (3:30 p.m. EDT) – 5 top tens in 5 starts in 2023 including a win at Clear Creek Golf Course in the fall.

Boys 8 & U:  

  • Trey Perez, Elizabethtown, KY (3:48 p.m. EDT) – Earned six victories in 2023, and finished third in the Player of the Year standings. 
  • Maximus Shadler, Richmond, KY (3:39 p.m. EDT) – 3 victories in 2023 including a win at last year’s Season Kickoff event.
  • Maclan Foley, Lawrenceburg, KY (3:48 p.m. EDT) – 5 top 3 finishes in 2023 in 5 starts. Finished up 2023 in 6th place in the Player of the Year standings.

Click HERE to view all first-round tee times

FAST FACTS

Dates Of Competition April 13-14
Championship Venue Polo Fields Golf & Country Club
Course Opening 1993
Course Architect Bill Newcomb
Number of Competitors 98
2023 Results  CLICK HERE

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Golf House Kentucky is the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations: Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky PGA and Kentucky Golf Foundation. The vision of Kentucky’s golf leaders, Golf House Kentucky was founded in 1978, and is headquartered in a picturesque country setting in Louisville, Kentucky. Golf House Kentucky conducts competitions for golfers of all ages, gender and skill levels (amateur, professional and junior), and provides valuable services to Kentucky PGA professionals and member golf facilities. Working in partnership with the USGA, Golf House Kentucky provides individual golfers and member golf facilities with a wide range of services: Handicapping, USGA Course and Slope Rating, award programs, club consulting and golf management software. The family’s philanthropic affiliate, Kentucky Golf Foundation promotes the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, Kentucky golf museum and provides grant and scholarship programs for youth in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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