Top junior golfers take aim at title

A field of 37 aspiring golfers from across Central Virginia will compete in today’s 20th Annual Reines Jewelers Charlottesville Junior Golf Championship at Meadowcreek Golf Course.

Greene Hills’ Chris Leibl, who finished second to Patrick Leisure in last year’s event, is among the tournament favorites. Others to keep an eye on in the 16-17 age group include Covenant’s Benjamin Weaver, Birdwood’s Bejamin Ryalls, and Chandler Marshall, who plays out of Lake Monticello.

Evan Childress, a member of Keswick Country Club and the Monticello golf team, is very familiar with the course and shot a 66 to win the 12-13 championship last year, and will compete in the 14-15 group this afternoon. Others in the group that could give him a run for the title are Farmington’s Landon Weis, Old Trail’s Alex O’Dell and Western Albemarle’s Kent Miller.

Fellow Warrior Leisure, 18, is not eligible to defend his crown because of age, as all participants must be between the ages of 10 and 17. Other previous winners include Weston Eklund (2007), Mickey White (2005) and Virginia Tech-bound Mikey Moyers (2006).

Tournament chairman Gordon Yager, who has been involved with the event in each of its 19 years, says that this year’s field is wide open, but the real importance of the tournament is what it does for the kids participating.

“Anyone can win it this year, but it’s not going to be easy because it’s going to be awfully wet,” Yager said. “[This tournament] gives these new, young players an opportunity to compete in a local tournament, but it also provides them with experience. It’s different than just playing with friends. So in a way, it’s like a learning tournament.”

Today’s competition begins at 8 a.m., with the last group teeing off at 9:20. The overall winner will receive a ring from Reines Jewelers, and first-, second- and third-place trophies will be awarded for each of the following age divisions; 10-11 (nine holes), 12-13, 14-15 and 16-17.