When the final putt dropped at the 2022 PGA Jr. League Jimmie Bullard Champions Cup, the team representing Canyon Gate Country Club came away with the title. The season-ending event, which was held June 8, 2022, at Las Vegas National Golf Club, is in its second year and honors the late Jimmie Bullard, one of the top instructors in the Las Vegas area.—by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Bullard, a member of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, taught hundreds of boys and girls who went on to high school, college and even the professional ranks in his decades as a local instructor.
The PGA Jr. League is like Little League for golf with players competing on teams with uniforms and numbers. It is has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last few years nationally and locally.
The team from Canyon Gate–represented by Maddie Perez, Alesandra Carranza, Kayley Provine, Connor Anderson, Abby Lytle, Kenzie Perez, Jacob Reyes and Michael Edwards–won the title by one stroke over one of two teams from DragonRidge Country Club.
Mike Davis, the Director of Instructor at DragonRidge Country Club and also a Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee, is one of the people behind the junior league’s success.
Davis said the finale culminated a year of impressive play.
“There are some really, really good young juniors in the valley and they have a lot of heart to stay out there and play that well in 107-degree heat,” Davis said.
Davis said it’s impressive that the interest in the junior league continues to grow.
“We added quite a few new players this year,” Davis said. “We had seven leagues with 31 teams and 435 players. Those are good increases and we hope to continue to grow.”
And, Davis added, there’s room for everybody.
“This is great golf for young beginners as well as experienced players,” he said. “For the younger golfers, it’s a very stress-free way to learn etiquette, rules, strategy and to have fun. For the experienced players they learn course management better and, because it’s a scramble, they can be a little more aggressive and learn how to score low.”
Davis added the event would have certainly brought a smile to Bullard’s face.
“That’s why we did it,” Davis said. “This is exactly what Jimmie exemplifies. It’s something he wanted to accomplish. We want to keep it going. We’re in partnership with the Southern Nevada PGA, the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame and the Southern Nevada PGA Junior League, and it’s just been great to see the success these kids are having.”
The PGA Jr. League runs from around Feb. thru Memorial day annually.
Anyone interested in learning more can click to the official PGA Jr. League website to check out courses in the area that offer the program.
2022 PGA Junior League Jimmie Bullard Champions Cup
Canyon Gate Country Club, 102 (-6)
DragronRidge Horntails, 103 (-5)
DragonRidge Ridgebacks, 109 (+1)
Red Rock Rock Stars, 111 (+3)