For 48 years, Jim Hitch Memorial offers fun, competitive event for juniors

Junior golfers, if you’ve yet to experience one of the state’s historic and fun events, now is the time to sign up for the Jim Hitch Memorial scheduled June 6-8 at Sunset Hills Golf Course in Guymon, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

The first 80 juniors to enter will be accepted into the event run the past 48 years by former Oklahoma State golfer and former PGA of America senior director Steve Braley in honor of his high school best friend Jim Hitch, who passed away tragically with walking pneumonia at age 17.

The 36-hole stroke play event has categories for boys and girls with three age divisions for boys and a girls 12-18 flight. All the tournament details and entry forms can be found at www.jimhitchgolf.com.

Entry fee is just $60 and includes meals for three days and nice tee gifts and prizes. The tournament awards points for AJGA events and more than 30 exemptions into other top junior events.

Past champions include David Edwards, Ryan Palmer, Bob Estes, Bill Glasson and Jim Woodward. Recent winners include Grayson Wallace of Guymon, now playing for Wichita State, and Shaley Goad of Wheeler, Texas, now starring for Oklahoma Christian. Karson Grigsby of Abilene, Texas, a University of Oklahoma commit, won the previous year.

A Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier will be held on the Friday evening of tournament week.