The North Florida Junior Golf Foundation (NFJGF), which offers instructional and competitive opportunities for junior golfers, is hosting its 2020-2021 season kick-off tournament on Sunday, October 18th at Fleming Island’s Eagle Harbor Golf Club.
NFJGF Executive Director Jack Aschenbach, PGA Professional, invites all junior golfers across the region, whether already a member, a player looking to improve or someone who wants to learn to play, to join the NFJGF in 2020-2021 and participate in the Opening Day tournament.
“We’re looking to grow our 320-member roster this year with exciting new programs. We hope all junior golfers will join us and experience the incredible instruction, mentoring and tournaments we offer in a serious but fun atmosphere. We’ve been very successful these past years in developing advanced level players while also bringing along beginning to intermediate golfers,” Mr. Aschenbach reported.
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The NFJG Foundation has several tours designed to fit junior players’ specific game level. They include a new Collegiate Division, North Florida Junior Player’s Tour, the Elite Tour, the Rising Tour, the Foundation Tour and the Tee It Up Program. The Foundation Division, ages 8-15, is for beginners while the other programs cover age ranges 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18 and 19-22, all skill level appropriate. Staff members work closely with all golfers to advance their games.
“A major goal this year is to provide our better NFJG Tour golfers, ages 13-18, with higher-level playing opportunities and provide exemptions to the Florida State Golf Association’s Florida Junior Tour while they play local tournaments. This is an important feature in retaining our NFJG players as they get older and look for more competitive events. We’re once again introducing a Collegiate Division this year, so they can keep playing events while college competition is suspended due to Covid-19. They are able to earn higher-level exemptions through playing our events,” Director Aschenbach relayed.
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“Another top NFJG priority is to ready our members for high school golf competition, which is an important part of a junior player’s development. The best way to bring along young golfers is to have them learn from established golf professionals with a long-term mentoring focus. We provide that higher-level playing environment for those who desire it,” Mr. Aschenbach noted.
The Florida Junior Team Championship, which the NFJG contingent won last year, is hoping to send four 3-player teams this coming year, one more than last year.
The NFJGF also promotes, funds and manages a scholarship fund for junior golfers who have participated as members, uphold the values of the organization and pursue a degree at an accredited college or university. Since 2008, the Foundation has provided over $168,000 in College Scholarships.
The NFJGF also runs the Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties Middle School Golf Program, and raises funds to support 12-18 area schools. “We are always trying to reach as many young kids as possible. We want to get them excited about golf, and the opportunities available if you work on your game,” Mr. Aschenbach explained.
One of the most important tasks the NFJGF undertakes every year is raising money from the broader Jacksonville business and private individual communities as well as the larger Northern Florida / Southern Georgia areas to fund all these important programs.
“Fund Raising is critical to running the many facets of our non-profit organization, from the tournaments, the middle school development program, to the scholarship fund and more. We’ve been very fortunate to have Northern Chapter PGA, Capital Inventory, Action News JAX and Phil Mak Enterprises as our Foundation Partners (a $5K commitment). Our Tournament Sponsors ($500-$2K) are Titleist, Footjoy, Florida-Georgia Windows and Doors, B&C Financial and Redefined Lighting have helped immensely. We also have many anonymous donors. They’ve all made an incredible difference to our programs and we are extremely grateful for their support,” Mr. Aschenbach said.
If you’d like to join and play golf with the NFJGF, or are interested in sponsorship, partner and donor information, please reach out to NFJGF Director Jack Aschenbach at 904-868-9535 or go to the NFJGF website for more information.
“Once again, we respectfully ask everyone who might like to support these dedicated junior golfers to consider becoming a NFJG Sponsor, Foundation Partner or donor. Please contact us and see how we might work together, or better yet, come to one of our events and see how committed our kids are,” Director Aschenbach added.
2020-2021 North Florida Junior Golf Top Award Winners
Players of the Year
- · Moses Compaan, Jacksonville, FL – Boys 16-18 Division
- · Ashley Huffman, Ponte Vedra Beach – Elite Tour Girls
- · Yuriy Dekalskyy, Jacksonville, FL – Elite Tour Boys
- · Matthew Leary, St. Augustine, FL – Rising Tour Boys
- · Sarah Harpster, Atlantic Beach, FL – Rising Tour Girls
- · Trevor Challice, Palm Coast, FL – Boys 10-12 Division
- · Brady Dougan, St. John’s, FL – Foundation Division
North Florida Junior Players Tour “Top Honor” Award
- · Moses Compaan, Boys 13-18 – 5-time Award Winner
- · Ashley Huffman, Girls 13-18 – 4-time Award Winner
- · Chase Ricks, Fleming Island, FL – Boys 10-12
Jack Nicklaus Award – Sportsmanship, Dedication and Respect for Game
- · Moses Compaan – Boys, 13-18
- · Sarah Harpster – Girls 13-18
- · Jaspreet Kondal, St. Augustine, FL – Boys 10-12
- Kathleen Crawley, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Foundation Division