HOJGA starts its 40th year with two tourneys and a clinic for 2026

The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association has embarked on its 40th season of play this summer.

HOJGA opened tournament play at Three Sticks Golf Course in Marion June 1, then went to the Marion Country Club June 9 for its second event. The organization also held a one-day skills camp at Determined Brilliance Golf Range in Marion on June 4.

Here’s a closer look at the results from all three events:

Pleasant’s Kolton Crider won the boys 13-to-15 age group, shooting a 31-35 66 with four birdies and six pars. Pleasant’s Maxwell Diamond was the runner-up with a 72 followed by 73s from North Union’s Alex Jolliff and Jenson Stover and an 80 from Dublin’s Liam Reichert.

In the boys 16-to-18 division, Wynford’s Clay Rogers shot a 32-32 64 after collecting a birdies and 12 pars. Pleasant’s Matt Murphy was second with a 66, while shooting 68s were Olentangy’s Blake Gibson and Aiden Molinski and shooting 69s were Colonel Crawford’s Bryant Berry and Luke Lenocker of Delaware Hayes.

Olentangy’s Olivia Ross carded a birdie and seven pars to win the girls division with a 37-34 71, topping Upper Sandusky’s Addison Niederkohr and Colonel Crawford’s Norrie Plank with 79s, Pleasant’s Emery Gorenflo with an 87 and North Union’s Miri Taylor with a 92.

Winning the 9-hole 12-and-under group was Ryan Fawcett of Fairbanks at 36. Pleasant’s Cohen Sisler was second at 38, while River Valley’s Riggins Pollock was next at 42. Marysville’s Bryce Bolenbaugh at 44 and Buckeye Valley’s Madi Curtis at 47 rounded out the top five.

The tourney was sponsored by Pam Hartman of Milford Center in memory of Charles Emans.

Rogers won his second event in a row when he shot 42-36 78 with two birdies and nine pars in the boys 16-18 group. A shot behind in second was Galion’s Cullen Hart. Two shot 80: Olentangy’s Jason Reifschneider and BV’s Auston Rose. Berry was fifth at 82.

Olentangy’s Leah McDowell won the girls 13-18 division with a 46-44 90, getting five pars. Gorenflo and Plank were next with 97s, while Ross had a 100, and Upper Sandusky’s Rylee Williams had a 102.

Playing in the boys 13-15 division, Upper Sandusky’s Toby Homan put up the day’s best score with a 41-32 73, carding an eagle, four birdies and six pars. Crider was the runner-up with a 77, and Pleasant’s Aiden Issler was third with an 80. Stover shot an 87, and Colonel Crawford’s Adam Keller and Dublin’s Liam Reichert both had 89s.

Sisler won the 12-and-under group in a one-hole playoff with Pollock as both shot 50. Delaware Christian’s Jack Kennedy had a 51, Big Walnut’s Kent Kemmerling a 56 and Curtis a 61.

The tournament was sponsored by Hartman in memory of former HOJGA golfer Bucky Emans. The next tournament will be Monday, June 15 at the Golf Club of Bucyrus.

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There were 13 junior golfers from Dublin, Delaware Christian, North Union, Ridgedale, River Valley and Pleasant who attended the four-hour clinic that was instructed by PGA teaching pro Steve Grimes.

The juniors learned the fundamentals of putting and chipping. They were instructed on iron play and how to scale levels of the swing to get the proper ball flight distance. Rules and etiquette were also discussed.