The inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior presented by MusclePharm certainly was a memorable affair. It featured a Q&A and clinic by Irwin, a World Golf Hall of Famer and three-time U.S. Open champion; a CommonGround course-record 61 in the final round by the boys champion (Texan Reese Ramsey) that tied the low 18-hole score in the 37-year history of the AJGA; and three holes-in-one in round 1 of the event, including two from the same threesome of girls.
Given all that happened, it should come as no surprise that on Thursday the AJGA announced that the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior has been named winner of the association’s Newcomer of the Year Award for 2015. According to AJGA officials, there were about 40 new events on the 2015 AJGA schedule.
The first AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior was held in early June at CommonGround Golf Course, a facility owned and operated by the CGA, which played a major role at the tournament. Between 20 and 30 people volunteered for the event each day.
The award “validates all of the hard work and teamwork that went into planning the event,” CGA executive director Ed Mate told the AJGA. “It definitely takes a village to put on a golf tournament and our case was no different. This award is a recognition of everyone who made it possible from the planning committee, Colorado Golf Association staff and volunteer leaders and the CommonGround Golf Course team who made sure the course was presented in the best light possible.”
The tournament raised more than $21,000 for the Colorado Golf Foundation and the AJGA’s Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant.
The second annual AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior will be held June 6-9 at Highlands Ranch Golf Club. The 2015 Newcomer of the Year Award will be presented to tournament officials at that time.
(Pictured above, Irwin signs an autograph for a girl who attended the clinic he conducted at CommonGround.)
