River Wilds Golf Club has a PGA Jr. League team.
It's a good team.
On July 8, the Blair squad won a League tournament in Omaha at Westwood Heights Golf Course. It beat Miracle Hill, Benson and Westwood Heights with its 60 score.
What is the PGA Jr. League?
It's a youth golf program designed to be fun, social, and inclusive for boys and girls, ages 17 and under, according to a PGA of America Nebraska Section release.
“It offers a less stressful, team-oriented scramble format, with kids competing in teams and wearing numbered jerseys,” the release stated. “The program is designed to introduce the game of golf to youth, provide a positive learning environment, and foster a love for the game.”
The River Wilds team is led by coaches Sam Jonell and Nicolas Polito. If you recall, I just recently watched and photographed them giving constructive lessons to kids that would have benefitted me just as much.
The coaches' roster on July 8 included youth golfers Devon Landry, Graham Johnson, Coen Dresden, Brennan Watkins, Lilian Tetrick, Mason Scollard, Bradyn Cook, Corbin Connealy, Brayden Krumvieda and Van Blaobaum. There's some last names in there I recognize as golf families, but it also feels like there are some new ones building toward “golf family” status.
More golf
On July 9, there was a Nebraska Junior Golf Tour stop at River Wilds, too.
Blair's Brock Deutschman was there, securing third in the ages 12-13 division with 87 strokes across 18 holes. He's third in the season standings as of Tuesday with four tournament wins this season.
Just this past Monday, though, Deutschman shot a personal record 74 at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.
A pair of Arlington golfers — Winston Slykhuis and Jake McCarthy — have made Junior Golf Tour appearances this summer, too. McCarthy is 39th in the age 16-plus division.
In nine-hole play, Brody Deutschman was first in the ages 9-11 standings as of Tuesday. He's got nine tournament wins in 11 appearances.
