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Championship Season Kicks Off in Myrtle Beach

Golf Ontario’s 2024 championship schedule kicks off in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with the Ontario Junior Players Invitational.

The 77-player field features many of Ontario’s top junior golfers, all of whom are looking to take home the championship title which will be contested March 11-12 at impressive Moorland Course at the Legends Golf Resorts.

This year marks the event’s second installment, featuring significant updates. Notably, the competition will extend over 54 holes, an increase from last year’s 36 holes. Furthermore, participants will now have the opportunity to earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.

John Lawrence, Golf Ontario’s Director of Competitions and Performance, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s enhancements to the events. “Launching our championship season with the Ontario Junior Players Invitational is thrilling,” Lawrence says. “Expanding the championship to 54 holes and including ranking points elevates the players’ experience, mirroring the collegiate competition atmosphere.”

The invitational will see players take on 36-holes on Monday, with the final 18-holes coming on Tuesday.

This year’s field includes all 16 Team Ontario members as well as 10 Next Wave athletes. The field is rounded out by an impressive group of players who were offered invites based on their 2023 performance.

For first round pairings, CLICK HERE.

FIELD NOTES

Among the 78-players in the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational, there are:

Team Ontario: All 16 members of Team Ontario are in the invitational’s field. They are: Alexa Oueullet; Angela Cai; Aryn Matthews; Bridget Yu; Kaprice Park; Nobelle Park; Shelby Hardwick; Wendy Li; Ben Sheridan; Bode Stephen; Chase Jerome; Dawson Lew; Graydon Laughlin; Jordan Hwang; Nathaniel Yoo; Rylan Hall.

Next Wave: 10 of the 15 athletes from the recently announced 2024 Next Wave program.

Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Boys—Jordan Hwang, No. 4, U19 and U17; Chase Jerome, No. 1, U15. Girls—Nobelle Park, No. 2, U19, U17 and U15.

Youngest Players: Ava Gilbert, 12. Max Li, 13.

PLAYER NOTES

Brampton Golf Club’s Manav Bharani, winner of the 2023 Ontario Bantam (U15) Boys Championship makes his Players Invitational debut.

2023 Ontario Super Camp and Junior Tour Champion, and Team Ontario athlete Alexa Ouellet of Weston Golf and Country Club.

Last year’s runner up, the No. 2-ranked player on the 2023 Junior Golf Pathway Rankings and Team Ontario athlete Nobelle Park of Rattlesnake Golf Club.

Team Ontario athlete and third-place finisher at last year’s Junior Players Invitational, Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club.

FAST FACTS

Championship Venue: The Moorland Course at The Legends Resort

Championship Dates: March 11-12

Field: 78 players

Format: 54-hole, stroke play

Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9986953813031962870

Fun Fact: Golf Digest once rated the Moorland Course the 37th toughest golf course in America.

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