The American Junior Golf Association is no stranger to Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, having staged numerous invitational and open events at the Tampa-area golfing destination. This year, the AJGA is back – and bigger than ever with the Mizuno Junior at Innisbrook. The event, to be held over Easter Weekend, will feature the AJGA’s largest field in history: 138 boys and 78 girls.
To host over 200 of the country’s best junior golfers, a course has to provide a true test of golf. Innisbrook is actually comprised of four layouts (although the AJGA will only use two) - the Copperhead Course, the Island Course, and the Highlands North and South – that are more than ready to challenge today’s brightest stars.
The Boys Division will try to tame the intimidating Copperhead, perhaps the most famous of Innisbrook’s four courses. Home to the PGA TOUR’s PODS Championship each March, the Copperhead has also been named in the top-100 golf courses by Golf Digest. Its notable elevation changes, pine tree-lined fairways and firm, fast greens make this Larry Packard-designed layout a force to be reckoned with.
The Girls Division will also have its hands full tackling the Highlands North. Despite being the shortest course at Innisbrook, there is no lack of challenges. Highlands North, also designed by Larry Packard, features water on 11 of 18 holes. The remaining seven holes consist of narrow fairways lined with trees and bunkers, so accuracy off the tee is critical.
AJGA alum Marc Calcavecchia won the 2007 PODS Championship with a 10-under-par 274 on the Copperhead.
The Mizuno Junior at Innisbrook will take place March 20-23.