8 regional all-star teams headed to 2017 PGA Jr. League Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Oct. 12, 2017) – Eight All-Star teams consisting of 10 junior golfers have advanced to compete in the 6th PGA Jr. League Championship presented by National Car Rental. The Championship will return for the second consecutive year to Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, Nov. 16-19.

Below are the eight Regional Champions and their Captains, which includes the regular season golf facilities of each All-Star team:

• Northeast: Team New Hampshire – All players are from Atkinson (New Hampshire) Resort & Country Club

Captained by Peter Doherty, PGA

• West: Team California – All players are from Santa Teresa Golf Club (San Jose, California)

Captained by Terry Sullivan, PGA

• Southeast: Team Georgia – All players are from TPC Sugarloaf (Duluth, Georgia)

Captained by Patrick McCrary, PGA Apprentice

• Mideast: Team Ohio* – All players are from Mallard Creek Golf Club (Columbia Station, Ohio)

Captained by Jim Wise, PGA

• Midwest: Team Illinois* – All players are from Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (Lemont, Illinois)

Captained by Kevin Weeks, PGA

• Mid Atlantic: Team New Jersey* – All players are from Royce Brook Golf Club (Hillsborough, New Jersey)

Captained by Anthony Latham, PGA

• Mississippi Valley: Team Arkansas – Players are from Hot Springs (Arkansas) Country Club; Pleasant Valley Country Club (Little Rock, Arkansas); The Country Club of Little Rock; Maumelle (Arkansas) Country Club; and Pine Bluff (Arkansas) Country Club

Captained by Barry Howard, PGA, of Hot Springs Country Club

• Southwest: Team Texas – All players are from Axis Golf Academy (Montgomery, Texas)

Captained by EJ Kim, PGA

“The PGA of America is delighted to bring the PGA Jr. League Championship presented by National Car Rental back to the beautiful Southwest and Grayhawk Golf Club,” said PGA President Paul Levy. “Each year, participation in PGA Jr. League continues to grow significantly, along with our mission to connect boys and girls with the game in a fun and recreational environment.”

RELATED: Team California wins 2016 PGA Jr. League championship | Highlights

The eight teams are divided into two divisions and play each other in a series of round-robin, nine-hole matches, utilizing a two-person, scramble format. Captains are allowed to substitute players every three holes, so that all team members can participate.

Each team will compete against the three other teams in their division Friday and Saturday (Nov. 17-18). The two teams with the best records from each division will compete for the national title; 2nd place teams from each division will compete for 3rd place; 3rd place teams from each division will compete for 5th place; and 4th place teams from each division will compete for 7th place on Sunday (Nov. 19). Final scoring is based first upon the record of matches won, tied and lost, then by points earned.

Team California (Livermore) won the 2016 Championship, held Nov. 19-21 at Grayhawk Golf Club, defeating Team Georgia (Alpharetta). The state of California has had teams win the PGA Jr. League Championship four times. Teams representing the states of Georgia and California have made it to the Championship all six years, with Georgia winning in 2013.

Teams New Hampshire and Arkansas are the first representatives of their states to compete in the Championship. Three of the eight teams are repeat qualifiers from last year’s Championship, including: Ohio (3rd place); New Jersey (4th); and Illinois (8th).

“We’re honored to host the PGA Jr. League Championship presented by National Car Rental for the second year,” said Grayhawk Golf Club Director of Golf and PGA Member Joe Shershenovich. “Growing the game is a goal we all share, and this program helps to accomplish that objective. We welcome the competitors and their families back to Scottsdale and look forward to another great tournament.”

A key initiative of PGA REACH, the PGA of America’s charitable arm, PGA Jr. League is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls to learn and enjoy the game. Kids play on teams with friends and wear numbered jerseys, while learning the game through professional instruction and direction provided by PGA and LPGA Professionals.

Following the regular season, the 10-player All-Star teams were assembled from a combination of players selected from each league, based on final standings. All-Star teams moved through a series of Sub-Regional competitions in their areas, with the winners earning a spot at the eight Regional competitions.

PGA Jr. League is one of the game’s fastest growing programs. This year, a record of 42,000 boys and girls participated on 3,400 PGA Jr. League teams – surpassing the 36,000 participants on 2,900 teams in 2016 – and they were led by 2,200 PGA and LPGA Professionals who served as Captains. Superstars Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson serve as Official PGA Jr. League Ambassadors.

For more information about PGA Jr. League, visit PGAJLG.com.