With the Junior Match Play set to start with Tuesday morning’s qualifier at Beechwood, we felt it would be a good time to answer some questions about the event and how it plays into the Tour standings.

how do the age groups work?

There are three age groups for match play qualifying: Boys 10-12, Boys 13-18, and the Girls division.

The number of players who make match play will be determined after we get a final number of participants in each age group. For the older boys division, the top 15 players will earn a spot in the Championship flight (last year’s winner is the one seed) and the next 16 earn spots in the B flight.

HOWEVER!! While you are playing for spots in match play, you are also competing against the players in your Junior Tour age groups.

While it won’t affect match play seedings, we will review results for players in their Tour group. Therefore, a player might finish 15th overall in match play qualifying but be the highest finisher of all boys aged 13 to 15 thus earning the coveted 15pt bonus.

do my matches count towards tour PTS?
No. After the qualifier, nothing that happens in matches effects your standings. So, yes, it is possible that you could beat a player who is ranked higher than you in the tour standings, but it will not move you ahead of that player once the results come out.

when are matches?
Those who qualify for match play will play their first match on Wednesday morning starting at 8am unless otherwise instructed. Winners advance to play Wednesday afternoon. Winners Wednesday afternoon play Thursday morning, championship matches are Thursday afternoon. This schedule will be adjusted for the boys 10-12 and girls divisions as the fields are smaller so not as many matches will be necessary.

do last year’s winners play in the qualifier?
Yes, they should, even though it won’t effect their top seeding. Because the qualifier is used for tour pts, it would be wise not to miss this opportunity to add to point totals.

The big boy’s tour division is a little closer after today’s round at Erie G.C. Jake McCollough shot a 1 over 73 playing from the champion blue tees Dave Nichols and Evan Rowane finishing close behind with 75. Jared Franc had a rare eagle 2 on the difficult 370 yd. par four #10 hitting his second shot sand wedge in the
hole. Zach Henry shooting 78 wins boys 13 – 15 division for the second week in a row. Anna Marie Zinram takes top honors in girls 14 and under division with a 96 and Chandler MacArthur win the 15 and over with 104. Colton Oljeski tightens up the boys 12 and under division with his 121. The tour moves on to Beechwood
next Tuesday July 24th playing the tour match play tournament with the qualifying round starting at 8:30 and the matches beginning in the afternoon (depending on course availability, otherwise two matches will be completed on Wednesday and Thursday).

Reminder that final standings in Tuesday’s qualifier are used as an event towards the Tour Championship.

current tour standings are included below.

Standings 7-16-18

McDowell Trojan Skyler Carr and Penn State Behrend bound Alex Poll each posted a 3 under par 69’s from the blue tees today at Scenic Heights G.C. Skyler drove the green on the par four ninth and needed a only a 2 putt to edge Alex Poll for the trophy.

Zach Henry equaled the 3 under par score and took the trophy for the boys 13 to 15 division. Natalie Brosig and Anna Swan increased their leads in the tour standings by winning the two girls divisions. Parker Berk took a slim lead in the boys 10 to 12 group today with a 5 stroke win over Colton Oljeski.

The tour continues Tuesday the July 17th with a 9:30 start at Erie G.C.

Juniors who are participating or intend to participate in upcoming Junior Tour events please take not of two important changes/alterations.

1. The event on July 17th at Erie Golf Club will begin at 9:30am as opposed to 8:30am as the last few.

2. July 30th event at The Country Club of Meadville is on MONDAY, rather than the traditional Tuesday.

Up to date Junior Tour Standings are available below.

Standings 7-9-18