GRAND CHAMPION AWARDS JUNIOR GOLF AWARDS

Since 2011, Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships and the State Farm Youth Classic have partnered to present Grand Champion awards to players competing in the two older age divisions in both events.

Boys and girls competing in the 14-15 and 16-18 age divisions of each event are eligible for the awards. Scores are compiled from both tournaments, with the player with the lowest combined score in each division declared the Grand Champion. Each of the four champions receives a trophy.

This year’s winners were Blake Arnold, Liberty, IL (148-143—291) in Boys 7-B (16-18); Kyra Simon, Rockford, IL (165-164—329) in Girls 7-G (16-18); Harper Ackermann, Webster Groves, MO (143-137—280) in Boys 6-B (14-15), and Sophia Gold, Quincy, IL (162-152—314) in Girls 6-G (14-15).

Play in these divisions was held June 20-22, 2022, at Westview Golf Course, Quincy, IL, and at three golf courses in Bloomington-Normal, IL, June 26-28, 2022.

“It is exciting to see our players competing in both the Pepsi Little People’s and the State Farm Youth Classic,” said Little People’s Founder Nan Ryan. “Our congratulations to all the players who competed in both, and especially to the Grand Champion winners.”

“We enjoy a wonderful partnership with the Little People’s and are pleased to present the Grand Champion awards to those deserving players, who have worked hard and shown that they can compete at the highest level,” said Matt Hawkins, Tournament Director for the State Farm Youth Classic.

This was the 11th year that the Grand Champion awards have been given. There were no winners in 2020.
The 50th anniversary of Pepsi Little People’s will be played June 19-21, 2023, while the 21st State Farm Youth Classic will be played June 25-27, 2023.

ABOUT PEPSI LITTLE PEOPLE’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships is an international event for boys and girls ages 3 through 18. The 50th annual tournament will be held June 19-21, 2023, at two golf courses in Quincy, Illinois, USA. Competition is held in seven age divisions for boys and seven age divisions for girls. Players in Little People’s can gain Performance Stars for AJGA events, can try to qualify for the IMG Academy Junior World and several other major junior tournaments, and are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, GolfWeek/Sagarin and Global Junior Golf Rankings. Some 24,000 junior golfers have competed in Little People’s, and many are familiar names now on the various professional golf tours. More information is available at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com, or by contacting Nan Ryan, Tournament Director, at jrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com or calling or texting 217-257-5718.

ABOUT STATE FARM YOUTH CLASSIC

The mission of the State Farm Youth Classic is to provide a competitive, professionally-conducted youth golf tournament and to generate tourism to the Bloomington-Normal area. Since 2002, SFYC has strived to provide a positive, competitive environment for junior golfers ages 3 through 22 and to assist in their development and growth through golf. In conjunction with community leaders and businesses, SFYC creates an event that brings golfers and their families from all over the world to Bloomington-Normal to generate tourism and positively impact the local economy. A 25-member committee and the assistance of six public golf courses continue to make SFYC a successful annual event. Over 5,000 golfers have competed in the State Farm Youth Classic. Many of these are now playing on a professional tour, are highly ranked college players, or are active as golf professionals or as golf coaches. More information can be found at www.theyouthclassic.com, or by contacting Matt Hawkins at matt@visitbn.org or 309-665-0033.