Braselton, GA- The AJGA Thunderbird Junior All-Star has been named the 2021 Ninja Junior All-Star Tournament of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association.
Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with engaged media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and golf course executive, as well as the most game-changing event, best new event, best AJGA Preview Series tournament, best Ninja Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2021 season will be presented on-site at the 2022 tournament.
Each year, the AJGA's annual awards distinguish the effort of supporters who make each quality tournament experience possible. In the Ninja Junior All-Star of the Year category, the award highlights community involvement and charitable giving.
All of the dedicated efforts to making the AJGA Thunderbird Junior All-Star successful in just its second year made them the obvious choice for this award. An impressive accomplishment for any event, the AJGA Thunderbird Junior All-Star, would not be possible without the supportive staff at Papago Golf Club and The Thunderbirds.
“We are beyond thrilled to be the recent recipient of the 2021 Junior All-Star Tournament of the Year award. The AJGA is the preeminent junior organization on the planet. It provides a stage for young, talented golfers to shine while representing what “growing the game” means."
Papago Golf Club continuously went out of their way to get to know the AJGA staff, players and families during the tournament to make their experience the best it can be. But the niceties wouldn't stop there from Papago. They also went above and beyond and decided to donate rounds of golf to any volunteers of the event.
"It takes a village for any event to be successful," Papago GM, Daryl Crawford shared, "From sponsors like The Thunderbirds who give and give and give some more, to the volunteers who are willing to do anything and everything to support the event. Providing a complimentary round of golf as a 'thank you' is the least we can do. Papago is honored with this distinction!"
What a beautiful way to start June.
— AJGA (@AJGAGolf) June 1, 2021
📍Papago Golf Club | #JASThunderbird pic.twitter.com/moGHN95upn
The sponsor of the event, the Thunderbirds, also played a huge part in the success. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to support organizations that assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Scott Jenkins, Big Chief of The Thunderbirds shared his appreciation.
“Congratulations to all of those who participated in this great tournament, and a special thanks to Papago General Manager Daryl Crawford and the entire Papago staff for once again putting together a top-notch event at this outstanding golf facility.”
The Thunderbirds have been proud supporters and sponsors of AJGA events for the last 22 years.
“The Thunderbirds not only host one of the largest and most exciting events on the PGA TOUR, we are heavily involved in junior golf in the Valley of the Sun, which makes this even more exciting to have the Thunderbird Junior All-Star honored as Tournament of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association.”
The event had a committee that was passionate about making the tournament a wonderful experience. The 2021 tournament secured $23,000 in proceeds, which was split between the AJGA ACE Grant and JGAA.
The AJGA Thunderbird Junior All-Star returned to Papago Golf Club in 2022 for the third year on April 7-10. Full Results .