Austin Perks (left) and Rayee Fang (right) take a picture after capturing their respective AJGA championship wins at the Chicopee Country Club.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
CHICOPEE — The American Junior Golf Association returned to the Chicopee Country Club for the sixth time for the FM Global Championship presented by the John D. Mineck Foundation.
The open tournament began with the qualifying round on July 1 and the tournament rounds followed from July 2-5.
The AJGA tournament has a history of featuring rising stars in golf, with notable past participants including Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Nelly Korda and Anika Sorenstam who have gone on to have successful careers at the collegiate and professional levels.
This year’s tournament field featured 17 past AJGA champions, six college commitments, 12 Massachusetts natives, five 2024 graduates and four countries represented.
Austin Perks earned his first AJGA victory with a tournament record, 11 under par and Rayee Fang captured her third AJGA championship with a 5 under, both 54 hole totals.
Chicopee Country Club Golf Director Mike O’ Neill talked about hosting the event again.
“We were thrilled to host the John D. Mineck AJGA tournament for the sixth consecutive year. This event not only highlights the talent and dedication of these young golfers but also provides a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy world-class golf in our own backyard,” he added.
O’Neill also talked about the publicity, popularity and attention this tournament brings to benefit the city and the country club and golf course itself.
He said, “We look forward to it every year because it brings not only top junior golfers looking to get hat college scholarship, but it gets new people into the city, into our golf course. People that typically wouldn’t come here and play, we got this little city of Chicopee in Western Massachusetts they bring that back to their hometown and tell others. These families are spending the week in Chicopee which helps our local economy.”
The golf course itself has received many accolades over the years and “The golf course is in such great condition and all of parents and kids can’t believe we’re a municipal course of how nice the condition is,” according to O’Neill.
The event hosted almost 100 juniors, ages 12-19, and had nearly 20 college coaches from different colleges scouting the players for possible scholarships.
“I think the event went excellent. We had a great week of weather; we had a great field of golfers from all over the country and four other countries were here as well. Everybody had a good time and AJGA does a great job of running the event. There were also 100 volunteers from Chicopee to help run the event.”
Mayor John Vieau of Chicopee expressed his enthusiasm for the event as well.
He said, “The AJGA tournament at Chicopee Country Club showcases our city’s commitment to fostering youth talent and promoting sportsmanship. We welcome participants and spectators alike to enjoy this exciting showcase of skill and dedication.”
O’Neill is hopeful and expecting the tournament to return for a seventh year in 2025.
“It’s a great organization to work with. Their the top junior tour in the country for junior golfers and it’s great to be able to work with them year after year and it’s positive for the city,” O’Neill said.
