St. Catharines, Ont. (September 30, 2016) – The inaugural David Hearn Junior Open is set to begin tomorrow at Rockway Vineyards Golf Course in St. Catharines, Ontario. The David Hearn Junior Open is a brand new initiative launched by PGA TOUR star David Hearn, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA), The David Hearn Foundation, and Rockway Vineyards Golf | Wine | Dine. This event is intended to provide opportunities and support for the development of junior golf in the Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara regions.

Over the course of the next two days, junior golfers will not only compete for division titles, but will also get a chance to participate in clinics led by Hearn. Additionally, participants will learn what it takes to grow from junior golf to the professional ranks of the PGA TOUR.

Hearn, who started out as a junior golfer, went on to compete at the NCAA collegiate level at the University of Wyoming, and has succeeded at the highest professional level of the PGA TOUR. For the past two seasons, Hearn has become the top Canadian golfer on the PGA Tour and was most recently selected to represent Canada on an International level at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He will represent his country again this November after being named to the 2016 World Cup of Golf team.

“I have a lot of great memories of playing competitive junior golf as I was growing up,” said Hearn. “Having experienced success on the PGA TOUR, I now have the ability to share my path from an amateur to professional with these junior golfers, so that they understand what it takes to get there.”

“The CJGA is very excited for the opportunity to partner with David and his Foundation, in order to bring awareness and provide support to those living with Alzheimer’s disease”, said John Lawrence, CJGA’s Managing Director of Tour Operations. “We are also delighted to provide junior golfers with an experience of a lifetime and a platform to showcase their skills. Of course, we would not be able to provide this event without the support of David Hearn, who serves as a role model and inspiration to so many young Canadian junior golfers.”

Schedule of Events

Saturday, October 1
7:00 a.m. – Player Registration
7:00 a.m. – Range Opens for Participants
8:10 a.m. – Players Meeting on Putting Green
8:30 a.m. – Shotgun Start
1:00 p.m. – Tournament Scoring

Sunday October 2
7:00 a.m. – Player Registration
7:00 a.m. – Range Opens for Participants
8:10 a.m. – Players Meeting on Putting Green
8:30 a.m. – Shotgun Start
1:00 p.m. – Tournament Scoring
3:00 p.m. – Awards Presentation
4:00 p.m. – Autograph Session with David Hearn

About The David Hearn Foundation

Founded in 2015, The David Hearn Foundation’s central focus is to support the Alzheimer Society of Canada in reducing the personal and social impacts of the disease by raising funds to provide individuals and families with needed programs and services. Through its partnership, the Foundation aims to increase awareness, improve care for those in need and enhance the quality of life for those affected by the disease, while also empowering Canadians to take action and create positive change.

Website: www.DavidHearn.ca

Twitter: @hearnfoundation

Facebook: The David Hearn Foundation

About Rockway Vineyards Golf | Wine | Dine

Rockway Vineyards is neatly nestled on The Twenty-Mile Bench of the Niagara Escarpment, one of the great premium grape growing regions of the world. This appellation elicits comparisons to the wine regions of Burgundy and New Zealand for both beauty and wine quality. Limestone-rich soils and ideal growing conditions have helped us produce world-class wines.

Vineyards surround the 18-hole golf course, recently voted “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest. Golfers are offered an opportunity to challenge their skills amongst our manicured fairways and fast greens amongst the vistas of the Escarpment.

About the Canadian Junior Golf Association

The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) not-for-profit registered federally with Revenue Canada. The CJGA is dedicated to providing Canada’s junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf.

Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information, please visit cjga.com.

The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Partner, Freedom 55 Financial, which provides financial security advice and planning for Canadians.

For Additional Information:
Melissa Foong
CJGA Communications Assistant
melissa.foong@cjga.com