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Jacksonville Area Golf Association awards college scholarships to 18 First Coast students

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
The JAGA Scholarship Trust recipients for 2023 were honored with a banquet at the Deerwood Country Club on May 16. In the back row, from the left, are Graham Worley, Will Anderson, Jacob Davis, Matthew French, Andrew Morgan, Cody Tucker, Casey Jones, Tom Anderson and Michael Wenk. In the front row, from the left, are Maya Walker, Shanya Arasu, Amelia Peters, Samantha Kroog, Adrianna Selles, Juel Kimball and Olivia Drake. Absent were Chase Carroll and Kira Powell.

Eighteen high school graduates representing 14 golf facilities and four First Coast counties and headed for 11 colleges and universities, were honored at the annual Jacksonville Area Golf Association Scholarship Trust banquet on May 16 at the Deerwood Country Club.

Each recipient was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for each semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Scholarships are renewable for up to eight semesters, based on grade point average.

Since the JAGA Scholarship Trust was formed in 1974, around $2 million has been awarded to nearly 400 students. The Trust is JAGA’s 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization that manages the scholarship program.

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The 18 JAGA Scholarship Trust recipients and their college of choice:

  • Tom Anderson, Sawgrass Country Club, Florida State.

  • Will Anderson, Sawgrass Country Club, Florida State.

  • Shanya Arasu, Palencia, Flagler College.

  • Chase Carroll, Deerwood Country Club, University of North Florida.

  • Jacob Davis, First Tee-North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast.

  • Olivia Drake, Hyde Park, University of North Florida.

  • Matthew French, NAS Jacksonville, Flagler College.

  • Casey Jones, Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, California Poly.

  • Juel Kimball, Deercreek Country Club, Georgia Southern.

  • Samantha Kroog, Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, Florida State.

  • Andrew Morgan, San Jose Country Club, undecided.

  • Amelia Peters, Deerwood Country Club, Florida State.

  • Kira Powell, Marsh Creek Country Club, Flagler College.

  • Adrianna Selles, Marsh Landing Country Club, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical.

  • Cody Tucker, Atlantic Beach Golf Club, University of South Florida.

  • Maya Walker, Timuquana Country Club, University of Central Florida.

  • Michael Wenk, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Stetson.

  • Graham Worley, Timuquana Country Club, University of Florida.

Applicants for scholarships must be sons, daughters or grandchildren of a member of a JAGA member club or an employee of a member club who resides in JAGA’s Northeast Florida region. Applicants are screened and sponsored by JAGA Directors.

JAGA scholarship recipients have gone on to successful careers as golf course superintendents, golf club managers, PGA Tour players, PGA professionals and other careers both inside and outside the golf industry. Funds to support the Scholarship Trust are generated by JAGA member clubs and corporate/individual contributors to the scholarship fund.

Entities and individuals who are interested in making contributions to the Scholarship Trust can contact Wayne St. Clair (gwstclair@bellsouth.net) or any JAGA director from a JAGA member club, or by visiting jaxareagolf.org. 

Root-Ohno win Four-Ball

Rick Root and Sam Ohno won a scorecard match with Michael Del Rocco and Mark Taylor to capture the championship of the Jacksonville Area Golf Association St. Johns County Four-Ball, at the St. Johns Golf Club.

Both teams shot 10-under 132. The difference was a birdie for Root and Ohno on the 18th hole in the second round to give them their second 66 in a row.

Del Rocco and Taylor tied Root and Ohno with a bogey-free 63 in the second round.

Suzy Rountree and Jody Clark won the net division at 11-under 131, topping Tad Griffin and Bill Hardaker by two shots.

LPGA Legends to help Moore-Myers

World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time U.S. Open champion Hollis Stacy will be among the past LPGA stars who will compete in The Legends Play for Moore-Myers Children’s Fund July 10-12 at the St. Johns Golf and Country Club.

In addition to Stacy, other past LPGA players currently committed to the field of 24 are Laura Diaz, Michelle McGann, Rosie Jones and Nancy Scranton.

The three-day event will begin on July 10 with a junior clinic from 10-11:30 a.m., followed by a pro-am with the 24 players. Anyone interested in playing in the pro-am can contact Cathy Harbin at cathyharbin@oncourseops.com and (904) 669-4919.

“Being a part of raising money to change children’s lives makes me proud to be a part of the Legends Tour," Stacy said in a statement. "Playing St. John’s Golf & Country Club will make the event an even more momentous occasion. I can’t wait."

The Moore-Myers Children's Fund began in 2014 and offers children mentoring and academic support through golf. Visit moore-myers.org for more information.

Junior golf camps set

The North Florida Junior Golf Foundation will host a series of summer camps at Queen's Harbour for novice junior players between the ages of 7-14 who want to join the NFJGF Tour.

The camps will begin June 6 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. The cost will be $390 for one camp, and $325 for each additional camp. The camps are designed for children from 7-14 but older juniors may sign up.

Visit nfjg.org for information.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: JAGA awards college scholarships to 18 First Coast students