More than 650 of golf’s top young players are competing in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The tournament will bring together some of the world’s most talented young competitors, many of whom have the potential to become leading collegiate and professional golfers in the future. Quincy Ahlias Leonard from Montgomery, AL in the Boys 10-11 age division will compete in the championships on July 20-25.
To view the golfers’ age divisions and hometowns, click here. Junior golfers ages 10 to 18 from around the world play in the annual tournament. July 20-25, 2016 — Boys 10-11, 12-13 and Girls 10-12 July 25-30, 2016 — Boys 14-15 and Girls 13-14 July 31- August 4, 2016 — Boys 16-18 and Girls 15-18.
The Optimist prides itself as an international event, with players representing 42 states, six Canadian provinces and 25 total nations. Former champions and top finishers of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships include PGA TOUR members Jonathan Byrd, Jason Day, Bill Haas, and Jeff Overton in addition to LPGA members Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson. A number of other well-known professional golfers have participated in Optimist-sponsored championships, including Ernie Els, Nancy Lopez, Davis Love III, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
The Optimist returns to PGA National Resort and Spa for the 20th consecutive year. Four of PGA National’s championship layouts are used for the event – the Champion, Palmer, Fazio and Squire courses. PGA National is home to the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic and has been host to the PGA Seniors Championship, the 1987 PGA Championship and the 1983 Ryder Cup. Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with more than 2,500 Optimist Clubs dedicated to “Bringing out the best in children, in their communities and in themselves,”
Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than 6 million young people each year. The Optimist Junior Golf program is one of the organization’s most prominent projects. Scores, photos, news stories and tee times will be updated throughout the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. Results will be available under the tournament’s information at www.optimist.org/golf.
