Justin DeHoff watches his first tee shot at Rolling Meadows earlier this week. The event marked the midway point of the season for the Union County Junior Golf Academy-Tour.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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A number of players are progressing with their skills as the Union County Junior Golf Academy-Tour has reached the midway point of the 2017 season.
That was the assessment earlier this week of program director Larry Morris after Tuesday’s event at Rolling Meadows.
“We’re seeing a lot of our older players progressing nicely,” said Morris, who co-founded the program 15 years ago.
Several of the players Morris cited for their continued improvement include A.J. Fisher, Travis Brake, Zack Riegel and Seth Payne of the Tour Division.
While the older players have caught his eye, Morris also noted that some younger players have revealed that high school golf in the Union County area may be on an upswing.
“Our middle group, those ages 13 and 14, is showing a lot of potential,” said Morris. He cited in particular Logan Bocsy, who will be a freshman at Fairbanks High School this fall.
“I think Fairbanks golf is going to be in pretty good shape for the next six years,” said Morris, who previously served as the Panthers’ head coach.
“Some of those guys have played more golf than with just our group,” he said. “Some of them already have one year of school golf under their belts.
“They are playing with us this summer to see where they are (with their skills).”
The season continued today at Buck Ridge and the weather could not be more different than it was on Tuesday.
Golfers enjoyed cooler temperatures with a slight breeze while playing at Rolling Meadows on Industrial Parkway.
Today’s forecast called for the thermometer to reach 90 with humid conditions.
“Thursday might be tough, weather-wise,” said Morris.
Plenty of water is provided along the path of the course on brutally hot days.
Today’s competition was scheduled to include the youngest group of golfers – the Premier Division – for those ages 7-9.
On other days when the Tour and Academy Divisions are playing, the Premier Division goes through a clinic at Darby Creek.
The season will conclude next week with the Tour and Academy playing at Marysville Golf Club on June 27 and all three divisions in action on June 29 at Darby Creek.
“These kids get to play every hole in the county,” said Morris. “They seem to enjoy it.”