Welcome to this week’s junior golf tournament preview for June 8-9! It is finals weekend for both the NBA and NHL this weekend and these players are going to shine on the biggest stage. Just like how the HJGT junior golfers are going to shine in the four tournaments that we have this weekend!
Ballyowen Junior Open
We begin this tournament preview up north in Hamburg, New Jersey which is just about an hour’s ride from Newark. There are 68 ready competitors all hoping for a first-place finish at the Ballyowen Golf Club. Ballyowen is one of the top golf courses in New Jersey, with a spectacular links-style layout that channels the heathland-style landscapes of Ireland and Scotland. It is consistently ranked as one of the top golf courses in the state with Golf.com calling it, “brawny, beautiful, often heroic golf.”
Golfers need to be playing their best the entire round if they want a top finish but they need to be extra aware of the seventh hole. The 473-yard par-four will test any golfer’s ability to reach the green in two shots. The dogleg right and a lake that stretches the entirety of the hole just add to the challenge. If golfers can make it past this hole then they should be set up for an amazing round of golf.
The weather in Hamburg this weekend will start quite nice, but there is a chance for some rain. Saturday will have a high of 70 degrees and will be partly cloudy throughout most of the day. Sunday will have a high of 68 degrees, but there is a slight chance of rain during the afternoon. Hopefully the rain steers clear and it allows an amazing weekend of golf!
Jacksonville Summer Junior Open
For the next tournament preview, we head down to sunny Florida where some of the best golfers across the country look to compete in the Jacksonville Summer Junior Open. This event will take place at Deercreek Country Club which is known for demanding not only an accurate tee shot but precise iron play as well. The course stretches out to be 6,600 yards and water comes into play on numerous holes, with green complexes that are guarded by both sand and grass bunkers.
The toughest hole on the course is largely considered to be the fourth hole. The best way to attack this hole is to try to carry the hill at the end of the landing zone off the tee. Those that don’t are left with a long approach shot to a well-protected green. With O.B. left and the lake to the right, this hole definitely earns its ranking.
It is going to be scorching in Jacksonville this weekend so be sure to start hydrating right now! Saturday is going to have a high of 97 degrees and should be sunny all day. Sunday will still have a high of 97 degrees, but you should be a bit better off with some much-needed cloud coverage. Golfers this weekend will need to withstand the heat if they want to come out on top.
Major Championship at Birdsfoot
It is major season for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and we have a big one being held with the Major Championship at Birdsfoot. There are some of the best junior golfers heading to Freeport, Pennsylvania to play at the prestigious Birdsfoot Golf Club. The links-style holes on the front nine mingle with parkland beauties played out over rolling hills that are indifferent to bounces good and bad. There are no homes built up alongside the golf course besides the clubhouse and an old family farmhouse that gives way to the scenic beauty of the course.
There are no easy holes at Birdsfoot Golf Club, but the third hole in particular stands alone in the sheer difficulty of it. Dubbed the “Hombre,” the third hole is one of the longest Par 4’s on the course. Aim down the right side of this bunkerless hole and allow the natural terrain to feed the ball from right to left. The large subtle green is meant to hold approach shots from long irons or even fairway woods.
It is going to be an overcast weekend in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Saturday will have a high of 67 degrees and will be cloudy all day. Sunday will be more of the same with a high of 69 degrees and will be cloudy as well. Sunday also has a 35% chance of rain so that is something to keep an eye on as the weekend approaches.
Nashville Summer Kickoff at Greystone
For the last tournament in the weekend’s tournament preview, we head down south to Nashville, Tennessee. Here some of the best junior golfers will be competing in the Music City. Greystone Golf Club which is just a short drive outside the city will be the host of this tournament and it features some of the best golf in the world as the 2002 PGA Tour First Round Qualifying was played here.
All golfers need to take note of the seventh hole which is a 468-yard par four. Thankfully the hole is pretty wide open so you will really be able to put some extra juice into your driver without the fear of the ball soaring out of play. You do have to look out for the two bunkers that can be found on the hole though.
I would recommend bringing your rain gear this weekend to Dickson Tennessee. Saturday will be quite pleasant with a high of 78 degrees and it will be partly cloudy for most of the day. On Sunday you can expect some morning showers and a high of 78 degrees.
Check back next week for a tournament preview for June 15-16. Follow our live leaderboards on the HJGT app or on HJGT.org to keep up with all our players competing this weekend!
