The AJGA will announce a tournament award winner each week leading up to the AJGA's Annual Meeting and the announcement of the Digger Smith Award.
At the 2011 HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, camels roamed the parking lot, a Tournament Co-Chairman had her finger sliced off (during the magic show), and the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament raised more than $122,000. The tournament experience reached beyond the players and entertained the families, members and community, and the AJGA has recognized these achievements by awarding the tournament the 2011 Invitational of the Year and Junior-Am Awards.
Award | Recipient |
Newcomer of the Year | |
Media Award | ANNIKA Invitational |
Most Improved Award | E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship |
Volunteer Award | The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf |
Hospitality Award | Exide Technologies Junior Open |
Junior-Am Award | |
Invitational of the Year | HP
Boys Championship at Carlton Woods |
Charitable Giving Award | |
Golf Professional of the Year | Billy Anderson, Eagle Point Golf Club |
Tournament of the Year | ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior |
Digger Smith Award | March 10 |
The AJGA Invitational of the Year Award is given annually to the invitation-only tournament that creates an unparalleled championship experience at the AJGA's highest-level event. In 2011, the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods treated the 78 players and their families to a fairground-style cookout, complete with carnival games, camel rides and a magic show. A Peeps long-drive contest and glow-in-the-dark golf on the driving range capped a night that went unmatched in 2011.
We are fortunate to live in an area where there is a great opportunity for junior golfers to develop their games, said Tournament Co-Chairman Chris Dernick. These awards represent the collective commitment and generosity of so many wonderful individuals and companies. Hewlett Packard and Carlton Woods as title sponsors, our tournament sponsors, committee, volunteers, the staff of Carlton Woods and the AJGA were integral in making this quality of tournament possible. Ultimately, it has given our children the experience of competing here in our hometown with the top-ranked junior boys from all over the world.
The Junior-Am Award honors a tournament committee that exceeds expectations in fundraising through its Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament. Since the HP Boys Championship moved to The Club at Carlton Woods in 2009, the Tournament Committee has raised more than $320,000 through its Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament.
It is a pleasure to help with this event. The AJGA has been a huge part of my business success and it is great for community, said Tournament Co-Chairman Brett Snortland.
Proceeds from the fundraising event support the tournament as well as grassroots junior golf organizations. In the last three years, the tournament has donated more than $44,000 to the Houston Golf Association, The Woodlands High School, the AJGA ACE Grant, Camp Blessing and Texana Center.