LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Golf requires patience and focus; skills not often said in the same sentence as “kids.”
The USGA offered “Youth Sunday” on the last day of the U.S Women's Open to get more kids out to the tournament.
However, they can already find a competitive atmosphere right here in Central Pennsylvania. The Lancaster County Junior Golf Tour (LCJGT) has provided young golfers in the area the chance to compete at a high level for nearly two decades.
"It just like progresses into the season," Paisley Kappesser, a rising senior at Manheim Township High School, said. "So it's like a workout."
"I had something to like, compete with and be competitive with before I really got to like the high school level to play on a team," Kappesser's teammate Alana Cristino said.
The league has been around for nearly two decades, and it has grown to more than 160 players. It was designed as a summer league for those playing high school golf.
"A lot of the courses that we play, like in season, we also play on the junior tour, which is nice," Kappesser said.
Jon Chronister is the tour director for the LCJGT, which has steadily grown.
"It started off just Lancaster County players," he said. "Now we pull from Chester County, Berks, Dauphin, some York, Lancaster, and we get a couple people from Maryland as well."
Chronister believes having the U.S. Women’s Open in their backyard helps get students of the game started.
"They really got a cool introduction to what highly competitive golf was," he said. "Getting to watch players that are that skilled, that up close, just motivates you."
Motivation and drive helped the girls when Manheim Township had its first golf team this fall. Their play was far from subpar.
"We were state runner-up, and hopefully, next year, we can do even better and win states," Cristino said.
And maybe one day, the young players will win on a more “open” stage.
Anyone 9 years or older with high school eligibility is able to join the tour, which has 10 events including a championship at Lancaster Country Club.