Children from Foundation for Youth take part in a junior golf clinic featured as part of the AJGA Circle K Junior Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind., Monday, June 27, 2022.
The Republic file photo
In its first decade of existence, the Circle K Junior Championship Hosted by Otter Creek became a destination site on the American Junior Golf Association Tour.
Now in its 11th year, tournament chairman John Fairbanks is expecting perhaps the most competitive field in the event’s history. Boys needed 21 stars, and girls needed 26 stars to gain entry into this year’s event, which will be June 27-29.
“We’re going to have one of the strongest fields of all time,” Fairbanks said. “It’s a very strong field for us this year.”
Fairbanks started the tournament in 2013 with former Columbus Visitors Center director Jim Dietz and former Otter Creek pro Chad Cockerham. Circle K came on as a presenting sponsor in 2017 and became the title sponsor in 2018.
Kevin Merritt, who has been the Circle K representative, has moved into the co-chair role for this year’s tournament following the passing of Jerry Pennington, who had been the co-chair the past seven years.
Merritt won’t be the only figure in a new role this year. The AJGA’s Ty Kempf is this year’s tournament director and will work alongside Fairbanks, Merritt and returning AJGA regional director Ryan Flanagan.
Otter Creek underwent new management last fall, with Bob Haddad now the owner and general manager. His staff includes director of golf operations Austin Wright and head pro Jimmy St. John.
“They have been exceptional to work with this year,” Fairbanks said. “We talked to Mr. Haddad and Austin Wright and Jimmy St. John, and they’re incredible to work with. They understand what our goals are with fundraising, putting on a great golf tournament. The golf course is in great condition. For June, this is probably the best condition I’ve seen the golf course in in many years. The superintendent has done a great job. I’m very excited about where we’re going to be for tournament week.”
Tournament week kicks off with a qualifier on June 25. There will be a junior clinic June 26 on the chipping and putting greens and driving range at Otter Creek. About 150 kids, mostly from Foundation For Youth, are registered for the free clinic.
While the pre-COVID tournaments consisted of a full field of 156 golfers with morning and afternoon waves, that’s been reduced in half since 2020. All 78 players now play the entire 54 holes.
“That seems to work out nicely,” Fairbanks said. “With such a small field, we don’t do a cut. It’s a little easier to manage the players and the families in the mornings, and then we can open the golf course back up for the public in the afternoons.”
Last year’s boys and girls winners were Supapon Amornchaichan of Bangkok, Thialand, and Michelle Woo of Fremont, California. Ava Bunker of Edinburgh, who finished fourth in last year’s event and went on to win medalist honors as a freshman for Columbus North at the state high school tournament last fall, is back for her third year.
Recent Columbus North graduate Willy Davis, who played for the Bull Dogs in this week’s state finals, received a Circle K sponsor exemption to be a part of the boys field.
“Ava Bunker is a great golfer with a great game, and I think Willy Davis is going to be a great representative of Columbus North on the boys side,” Fairbanks said.
Fairbanks is pleased with how things are coming along with the tournament coming up a little more than a week away.
“Everything is right on track,” Fairbanks said. “We’re excited about that. We have a lot of good sponsors coming in. A lot of local sponsors have signed on this year, so I think we’re in a good position.”
