Above / Naperville Country Club, now in its 101st year, is preparing to host the prestigious 4-day Western Junior Golf Championship beginning June 20, 2022. (Photo courtesy Rob Myers)
Naperville Country Club will host the Western Junior, the oldest national junior golf championship in the United States, June 20-23, 2022.
The 104th Western Junior will feature a field of 156 entrants competing in 36 holes of stroke play, after which the field will be cut to the low 44 and ties. Those golfers who make the cut will play 36 more holes of stroke play in hopes of winning the Western Junior title. The top three finishers and ties receive exemptions into the Western Amateur. This year will mark the first time in Naperville Country Club’s 101-year history that the club will host this prestigious championship.
Each year, the Western Junior draws the top junior players from more than 40 states and around the world. Throughout the event’s history, many of golf’s greats have played in the Western Junior, including PGA TOUR standouts Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler and veterans Fred Couples, Craig Stadler, Corey Pavin, and Jim Furyk. The Western Junior is presented annually by the Western Golf Association.
“The Western Junior makes its first visit to Naperville Country Club, which made its debut 101 years ago as a nine-hole course with sand greens. Today, it boasts a challenging layout first designed by legendary architect Tom Bendelow and renovated by Steve Forest in 2006. This difficult test provides the perfect stage for the 104th Western Junior,” said John Kaczkowski, President and CEO of the Western Golf Association.
Links to Illinois since 1914
The first Western Junior was played in 1914 at Chicago Golf Club and was won by Charles Grimes. Caleb Surratt from Indian Trails, North Carolina, won the 2021 Western Junior, which was played at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Ill.
“We are extremely proud of the Club’s long and distinguished caddie program and the Naperville Country Club caddies who have earned the Evans Scholarship,” said Naperville Country Club President Mikel Briggs. “Hosting the Western Junior requires a great deal of planning, preparation and commitment, and I would like to specifically thank all of our members, volunteers and staff for their support of this world-class event.”
Naperville Country Club is a private, member-owned club, managed by Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon. In addition to award-winning golf, Naperville Country Club provides a full array of dining, social and special event programming for the entire family.
For more information about Naperville Country Club, visit www.napervillecc.org.
Western Junior Information / thewesternjunior.com
Spectator Information / thewesternjunior.com/schedule-of-events
Naperville Country Club since 1921
Naperville Country Club continues to be a social hub for the community, providing a place where members can connect with others, enjoy family-friendly activities and events, while experiencing a variety of club amenities.
In 1921, the club featured a 9-hole golf course with sand greens. Shortly after opening, golf course architect Tom Bendelow was engaged to design and build an 18-hole golf course on the 124-acre property. Bendelow’s original layout remained mostly intact until 2006 when architect Steve Forrest of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates was commissioned to complete a major course renovation. Emphasis was placed on adding length to the golf course, improving shot values and developing new green complexes. The new Steve Forrest-designed course debuted in July 2007 and winds its way through rolling terrain, mature trees and ponds. The course has earned several national honors, including being named Golf Inc. magazine’s 2009 “Renovation of the Year” for private clubs.
Troon Management
Naperville Country Club is a Troon-managed facility. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf management company providing services at 630-plus locations around the globe, including managing 650-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses.
In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award winning food and beverage division operates and manages 615-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, True Club Solutions, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, Casa Verde Golf, and RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design.
