Jack O'Neill Memorial

Junior Championship

 

January 27-28, 2024

 

The Club at Diamondhead

Diamondhead, Mississippi

 

How to get recognized on the Junior Golf Scoreboard - High School Golf                         Mississippi Junior Golf Association | Pearl MS

 

DIVISIONS:  Boys 12-13, Boys 14-15, Boys 16-18, Girls 13-15, and Girls 16-18.  (Age will be based on junior's age as of June 1st of 2024)

 

ENTRY FEE:  $160 per player (entry deadline is January 19, 2024 or when full field is reached)

 

 

The Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship will be a highly competitive, limited field junior golf event with boy’s and girl’s divisions hosted annually at The Club at Diamondhead.  This 36-hole event will prove to be a great opportunity to showcase many of the most talented golfers in our region.  This event will include a special rate of $45 for a practice round on Friday prior to event, two tournament rounds, range balls prior to each tournament round, tee gift, and awards. 

 

VENUE:  The Club at Diamondhead’s Pine Course has hosted the PGA Tour Champions Rapiscan Systems Qualifiers, the USGA Four-Ball Qualifier, the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier, the Mississippi Women’s Amateur Championship, the Gulf Coast Open, the Gulf Coast Amateur, the Swingthought.com Tour, Drive Chip and Putt Local Qualifiers, Drive Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Qualifiers, and the Emerald Coast Golf Tour.  The PGA Tour Champions players have been provided very positive reviews on The Club at Diamondhead’s Pine Course and the greens are consistently among the best on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

 

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to any male age 12 to 18 or female golfer age 13 to 18 and has not enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college as of the tournament date.  The field will be limited to the first 60 boys and first 20 girls registered.  In addition, The Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship Committee may extend special invitations for up to 4 boys and 4 girls to compete each year.

 

EVENT INFORMATION:  The Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship field will be limited to the first 60 boys and first 20 girls registered.  Boys age 14-18 will play from approximately 6,200 – 6,400 yards.  Boys age 12-13 and girls age 13-18 will play from approximately 5,600 – 5,800 yards.  In addition, the Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship Committee will extend special invitations for up to 4 boys and 4 girls to compete each year. This event will be a 2023 MJGA Player of the Year points event.

 

RULES:  The Rules of Golf will govern all play.  The Jack O’Neill reserves the right to alter the conditions or schedules as stated, including alteration of the stipulated round(s) at any time during the tournament. 

 

PACE OF PLAY:  A prompt pace of play is critical to a successful tournament.  All players are responsible for maintaining a prompt pace of play.  Tournament scorecards will be printed with “Time Par” per hole.  Each player must check their “Time Par” after each hole on the next tee box when recording scores for the group.   Rule 5.6 in the Rules of Golf covers Undue Delay; Slow Play. The rule states: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines (i.e. “Time Par”) that the Committee may establish.”  Players not able to play in accordance with the “Time Par” set will be subject to penalty.

 

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES:  Players will be allowed to use devices that measure distance only. Any other devices that measure wind, slope, temperature, etc, will not be allowed.

 

CADDIES:  Caddies will not be allowed.  Players must walk and carry his or her own bag during the stipulated round. Use of non-motorized push/pull carts will be allowed. 

 

SPECTATOR CARTS:  Due to limited availability of golf carts, spectators should expect to walk.  One spectator cart will be allocated for each pairing group that must remain with their designated tee time for the entire round.  This allocated spectator cart will be available to rent on a first come, first served basis, unless a medical cart request has been honored in that pairing group.  This ensures the event that at least one spectator cart is assigned to each group to assist with a golf course evacuation due to weather, etc.   We will attempt to honor all medical requests however if you are in need of a spectator cart for medical reasons, priority will be given to those that make a formal request to the committee via email at caltese@dhpoa.org and must include proper legal verification.  After allocation of evacuation carts and medical requests, we anticipate having about 12-14 golf carts available to be rented for spectators.  If a cart is available, spectators will be allowed to rent carts from the golf shop during tournament play. Carts are subject to availability, may not be reserved and are rented on a first come, first served basis.  Spectator carts, if available, will be $35 plus tax.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZES:  Trophies will be awarded to the Champion and Runner-up in each division.  We will also crown Boys Overall Champion (Boys 14-18) and Girls Overall Champion (Girls 13-18).

 

PRACTICE ROUNDS:  A special rate of $45 for a practice round has been included with your entry fee for Friday, January 26th.  Practice rounds will be available after 11:00am.  Players may use a cart, subject to availability, during the practice round provided they have a valid driver’s license.  Cart fee for practice round is included in the special rate.  Please call The Club at Diamondhead Golf Shop at (228) 255-3910 to make a reservation.  Players may make a reservation prior to 11:00am on Friday, January 26th, or earlier of the week of the event at the prevailing junior golf rate of $55 plus tax per player which includes greens fee and cart fee for 18 holes.

 

LODGING INFORMATION:  Please go to https://www.gulfcoast.org/places-to-stay/hotels-and-motels/ for lodging information.

 

 

Schedule of Events:

 

Friday, January 26th –

  • 11:00am                  Practice Rounds Available ($45+tax on individual cash basis)

 

Saturday, January 27th –

  • 7:00am                    Practice Facility Opens
  • 7:00am                    Breakfast Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • 7:30am - 11:00am Registration in Main Hall of Clubhouse…Players pick up tee gifts & door prizes (winners to be pre-drawn)
  • 8:00am                    Tee Times Begin Off #1
  • 11:00am                  Lunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)

 

Sunday, January 28th –

  • 7:00am                     Practice Facility Opens
  • 7:00am                     Breakfast/Brunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • 7:30am - 9:00am    Registration and Player & Parent Breakfast Opens (individual cash basis)
  • 8:00am                      Tee Times Begin Off #1
  • 11:00am                    Brunch/Lunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • ~12:30pm-4pm        Awards Presentations for Age Groups as each group play completes play