Northern Ohio PGA Juniors host Southern Ohio PGA at Westfield Country Club this weekend
The inaugural Junior Ohio Cup, a Ryder Cup-like event featuring some of the top junior golfers in Ohio, will be played at Westfield Country Club this Saturday and Sunday, October 28-29.
Teams from the Northern Ohio Section and the Southern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America will compete on the South Course in Four-Ball (aka Best-Ball) and Singles matches.
The teams will be comprised of eight boys and eight girls who have qualified through their respective PGA Junior Tour programs, either by winning their respective PGA Junior Championship or through their status on their Player-of-the-Year points lists.
The Northern Ohio team will be captained by PGA Professional Drew Pierson, the owner/operator of The Clubhouse, a state-of-the-art indoor performance facility located in Beachwood.
“Today marks a historic milestone for junior golf in Ohio as we proudly announce the first-ever Junior Ohio Cup matches,” said David Griffith, Executive Director of the NOPGA. “We are thrilled to collaborate with our counterparts from Southern Ohio to showcase the exceptional talents and sportsmanship of our young golfers in this great state. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this terrific event.”
MEET THE NOPGA BOYS TEAM
ARYAN AHLAWAT
Age: 18
Residence: Broadview Heights
Attends: North Royalton High School
Grad Year: 2023
2023 Highlights: Won NOPGA Junior Tour events at Shawnee Hills and Mill Creek . . . Had 21 Top-10 finishes.
RYAN CZENSZAK
Age: 15
Residence: Twinsburg
Attends: Walsh Jesuit High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Was the winner of NOPGA Junior Tour events at Trumbull Country Club, Wooster Country Club, Manakiki and Gleneagles … Overall, had 18 Top-10 finishes.
RYAN DINAN
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Coventry High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Won NOPGA Junior Tour events at Fox Den and Columbia Hills . . . Added Top-10 finishes in 10 events.
DANIEL GAMBONE
Age: 16
Residence: North Canton
Attends: North Canton Hoover High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Was the winner of the NOPGA Junior Section Championship at Oberlin, giving him automatic bid to the Junior Ohio Cup . . . Overall, had 12 Top-10 finishes.
DEXTER JAMES
Age: 14
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2027
2023 Highlights: Was a dominant player in his age group with victories at Trumbull Country Club, Black Brook, Plum Brook, Eagle Creek, Wooster Country Club, Shawnee Hills and Tannenhauf. That’s seven wins and 25 Top-10 finishes.
TREY LAUTENSCHLEGER
Age: 18
Residence: Dover
Attends: Massillon Washington High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Among his 11 Top-10 finishes was a victory in the NOPGA Junior Tour event at Avon Oaks Country Club.
NATHAN MENAPACE
Age: 17
Residence: New Philadelphia
Attends: New Philadelphia High School
Grad Year: 2024:
2023 Highlights: Finished the season with 10 Top-10 finishes.
SION PARK
Age: 18
Residence: Westlake
Attends: Westlake High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Was an individual qualifier to the OHSAA state tournament after getting Junior Tour wins at Plum Brook, Eagle Creek, Turkeyfoot Lakes, Wooster Country Club and Riceland.
MEET THE NOPGA GIRLS TEAM
JULIA VAN BOKKELEN
Age: 16
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: 15 Top-10 finishes in NOPGA events; member of the Hudson team that qualified for the OHSAA state tournament.
EMILY BURLING
Age: 17
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had three victories on the NOPGA Junior Tour – Old Avalon Stableford; Catawba Island Club and Fox Den; Posted 11 Top-10 finishes; Member of the Hudson team that qualified for the OHSAA state tournament.
KRISTINA CHILL
Age: 15
Residence: Columbia Station
Attends: Magnificat High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Had NOPGA Junior Tour wins at Black Brook, Glenmoor, Columbia Hills and Manakiki; Had 13 Top-10 finishes; A member of the Magnificat team that finished as the Division I state runner up in the OHSAA state tournament.
BROOKLYN MILLARD
Age: 17
Residence: Aurora
Attends: Aurora High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Won the Junior PGA Section Championship at Oberlin Golf Club, giving her an automatic bid to the Junior Ohio Cup.
ANNELISE STENCEL
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Walsh Jesuit High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Finished in the Top-10 in 10 events.
ALEXANDRIA VARDON
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Firestone High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Recorded 13 Top-10 finishes
GRACYN VIDOVIC
Age: 16
Residence: Aurora
Attends: Aurora High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had NOPGA Junior Tour victories at Ellsworth Meadows, Wooster Country Club, Shawnee Hills and Gleneagles; Was an individual qualifier to the state tournament; Had 11 Top-10 finishes
SERENA WU
Age: 15
Residence: Solon
Attends: Solon High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Won the NOPGA Tour Championship at Club Walden and was an individual qualifier for the OHSAA state tournament . . . Arguably was the NOPGA Junior Tour’s dominant player, winning 11 times at Old Avalon, Ashland, Lake Forest, Plum Brook, Legends of Massillon, Turkeyfoot Lake, Mill Creek, Windmill Lakes, Pine Hills and Punderson . . . Overall had 18 Top-10 finishes.
About the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour
Founded in 1982 the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour is dedicated to providing competitive golf opportunities for junior golfers in the Northern Ohio area. The tour offers a variety of events for players of all skill levels, including a 9-hole Futures Tour, 18-hole tournament series, Collegiate Preview events, and 36 Hole championships. Through its programs, the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour strives to foster a love for the game of golf, develop sportsmanship and integrity, and prepare young golfers for the next level of competition. Find out more at thenorthernohiopga.com.
