Callaway to Title Sponsor 2013 Junior Golf Tour

Callaway have been announced as the major corporate sponsor of the  Junior Golf Tour beginning in 2013.

The vision of the late Larry Martin, the former Parkersburg Country Club head professional and Callaway representative, will be recognized at the Daniels resort during the players’ meeting for the first of 22 events on the Tour this year.

“Half of the field of 128 golfers will be playing their first Top-Flite event, so half of them probably never had the opportunity to meet Larry,” said Brad Ullman, the director of operations for the tour. “We’re going to have a moment of silence and talk about his obvious contributions to junior golf and golf as a whole in West Virginia.”

Martin began the Top-Flite Junior Tour – then known as the 7-Eleven Tour – in 1984, which provided an affordable avenue to play competitive golf for 54 golfers. Top-Flite took over official sponsorship in 1994, and in 2009, the Tour featured more than 290 golfers in separate events throughout the state.

Coincidentally, next year’s name change will occur on the 30th anniversary of the state’s largest junior golf tour.

Some of the state’s top golfers competed on this tour. Pat Carter, who has won the State Amateur 12 times, including a national-record 10 consecutive times, was the player of the year in the 15-16 year old division in 1984.

Other top golfers who have competed on the tour are three-time Amateur champions Tim Fisher and state high school medalists Aaron Barna, Marshall Hone, Brian Anania and Thadd Obecny.

Last year’s champions were George Bumgarner (17-18 year old division), Josh Bumgarner (15-16), Cale Wheeler (13-14), Colin Bowles (12-under), Brooke Bellomy (female).