JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When you have been doing something for more than 50 consecutive years, you can get pretty good at it. The JAGA Amateur Golf Championship is in that category and is ready for another great tournament in 2016.
The 55th annual tournament will be held at Queens Harbor Yacht and Country Club from July 28th to the 30th. It will feature 74 of the area's best amateur golfers that includes high school and college students as well as seasoned amateurs. Tournament director Bob Streightiff says that the tournament continues to grow.
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"We attract a very competitive field of the best high school, college, and competitive amateurs in the area and are very pleased with how the event has grown in stature and prestige," said Streightiff
Three former winners of the JAGA Amateur Championship have gone on to play on the PGA tour; Woody Blackburn (1974-2003), Mike Bodney (1979, 1983), and Jeff Klauk (2000-15). It is something that the tournament director says falls right in line with how much golf means to the first coast area.
"North Florida is a hot bed of golf from TPC Sawgrass on down to the events we host. Our whole goal is to increase the status and participation of golf in our area and this tournament is a great way to do that."
Streightiff says that the increased participation can be seen in the ages of who has won this tournament in the past five or six years.
"The champions in the past few years have all come out of the high school or college ranks. These young men in particular look to have in their summer travel schedules the most competitive events that they can. That is where I think we fit in."