BRASELTON, Georgia (June 24, 2019) - The D.A. Points Junior Open sponsored by Pekin Insurance / UnityPoint Health has been named the AJGA’s 2018 Newcomer of the Year.
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 Junior Golf Hub Preview Series tournament, best AJGA Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2018 season will be presented on-site at 2019 tournaments.
“We believe in growing the game of golf through supporting Junior Golf on a high level while also growing the game in Central Illinois,” noted Tournament Chair Michelle Kuhl. “Our goal for the future is to continue to give back.”
The tournament proved just how passionate they are to giving back as they secured $58,000 in sponsorship and donated $25,000 of that to the ACE Grant and local charities. The event also included over 100 volunteers who went above and beyond in their roles to provide course breakdown and clubhouse greetings.
AJGA alumni D.A. Points partnered with Pekin Insurance and UnityPoint Health to host an event in his hometown, Pekin, Illinois. Not only was D.A. onsite throughout the event to present awards, but he was able to secure custom yardage book covers as bonus gifts for champions and was actively involved in social media efforts.
“D.A.’s support of the event and the time he devoted to driving back and forth from the John Deere Classic to be involved for several events made the tournament extra special,” Kuhl expressed. “To have people lend their support is incredible! It says a lot about how highly the community respects D.A. Points and wanted to support him.”
Points mentioned in an interview that hosting an AJGA event was his greatest professional achievement and continued, “It means so much to me, and the wonderful people who put on tournament, to be recognized…I am so proud and honored just to be a part of the AJGA schedule.”
The D.A. Points Junior Open sponsored by Pekin Insurance / UnityPoint Health will return to the Pekin Country Club, July 8-11.