The C.T. Pan Junior Championship received the American Junior Golf Association’s 2019 Media Award.
Each year, the AJGA recognizes top tournaments, committees, and individuals who produce outstanding work during the previous AJGA season in 15 categories. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, C.T.’s event was not conducted in 2020. The award was presented during the second annual event at The Clubs of Kingwood in Kingwood, Texas, on July 2.
AJGA annual awards distinguish the effort of supporters who make each quality tournament experience possible and in the media category, provide a wider window into the AJGA experience.
"It’s my honor to receive this award. It was an unbelievable memory of having my first PGA TOUR victory and my AJGA event in the same week; I cannot be more thankful for all the people who made it possible.”
As a junior, C.T. Pan had a successful AJGA career which included seven top-10 finishes in 10 events. He continued to make his mark on the University of Washington golf team, where he set multiple Husky records, was the 2014-2015 NCAA Division I runner-up, and a Hogan Award finalist. Pan joined the PGA TOUR in 2015 and has nine top-10 finishes.
Nine years after his last junior event, C.T. Pan returned to the AJGA as a host, beginning his legacy as one of more than 35 professional hosts on the AJGA schedule in 2019. As luck would have it, the week was a breakthrough in more ways than one:
#OTDIH: @ctpangolf earned his first @PGATOUR victory at the @RBC_Heritage.
— AJGA (@AJGAGolf) April 21, 2020
It just so happened this breakthrough came the same day as the final round of his first AJGA tournament, the #CTPanJr. https://t.co/UXwbGa3tYq
Because of the conflict between an important week for him to compete on TOUR and his desire to represent their family, C.T.’s wife Michelle stayed in Houston instead of being on-hand to celebrate his first professional victory in Hilton Head. Michelle has supported C.T. through his golf career and even served as his caddie at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. Pan joked on Twitter that the gig would put their marriage to the test.
Michelle, @ctpan's wife, couldn't make it this week because she is busy helping run the @AJGAGolf’s #CTPanJr in Houston. Now THAT is what we call a power couple #BetterTogether @MackenzieInvest pic.twitter.com/Gz9Wll6HyJ
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) April 21, 2019
Throughout the inaugural C.T. Pan Junior Championship, the Pans and fans around the country shared along in the news and engaged on social media.
One inspirational story came after Vishnu Sadagopan – the C.T. Pan Junior Championship’s first male victor – virtually shared his congratulations to C.T. Pan. The pair ended up sharing a few things in common: hometown, the same score winning score, and a future berth at the Presidents Cup.
Spent a day with #CTPanJr winner, Vishnu Sadagopan. What a nice kid and great golfer🏌️. Hope you like today’s experience! @ajgagolf @pgatour #forthekids #iwon #playoff @BluejackNation pic.twitter.com/IKI0aS9sPB
— C.T. Pan (@ctpangolf) May 4, 2019
The duo played a match at the Tiger Woods’ designed Bluejack National and the Presidents Cup Gala in Australia.
Notable engagement from the 2019 #CTPanJr:
· Reached about 1.27 million people on social media
· C.T. and Michelle Pan posted and reposted stories from the event
· Tournament mention on the live broadcast after C.T. Pan won
"The C.T. Pan Junior Championship is extremely deserving of this award. C.T. and his wife, Michelle, are committed to their Foundation's mission of creating opportunities and they are dedicated to having the event shine on social media."
AJGA tournaments are annually honored in the categories of hospitality, fundraising, charitable giving, volunteers, engaged media, and social media. The year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and golf course executive are honored alongside the most game-changing overall event, best new event, and top honorees in each tournament ‘series’ (Preview, Junior All-Star, Open and Invitational). Awards are presented on-site during the tournament week.
Related: Full list of 2019 Award Winners
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 7,500 members from 50 states and 60 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.
TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s National Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years. TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate, and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,200 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include C.T. Pan, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Ariya Jutanugarn, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Anna Nordqvist, Inbee Park, and Lexi Thompson.