AF Academy hosts U.S. Girls Jr.

In 2018, the USGA teamed up with the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for an exciting announcement. The premier girls golf event of 2020 – the U.S. Girls’ Jr. Championship – would be held on the prestigious blue course at the academy’s Eisenhower Golf Club

Typically open only to military retirees and Department of Defense employees and their families, the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed blue course is considered one of the best U.S. military base courses in the country.

But when 2020 arrived, so did Covid. Many USGA championships were shelved, the U.S. Girls’ Jr. among them.

But three years later, from July 17 to 22, the championship will finally land back in Colorado Springs.

“Once that event was cancelled, we were really excited to see the Air Force Academy get back in line to host this event,” said Tournament Director Tracy Parsons.

The U.S. Girls’ Jr. Championship has a vaunted pedigree, and serves as the ultimate test for girl golfers 18 and under.

Notable winners include Mickey Wright (1952); JoAnne Gunderson Carner (1956); Hollis Stacy (1969-71); Nancy Lopez (1972, 1974); Amy Alcott (1973); Pat Hurst (1986); Michelle Mc-

Gann (1987); Brandie Burton (1989); Kelli Kuehne (1994); Beth Bauer (1997); Inbee Park (2002); Julieta Granada (2004); I.K. Kim (2005); Lexi Thompson (2008); Ariya Jutanugarn (2011); Minjee Lee (2012); Eun Jeong Seong (2015-16).

Rose Zhang, the two-time NCAA Div. 1 champion, won the title in 2021. Zhang turned pro this summer and won her LPGA debut, defeating Colorado’s Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff of the Mizuho Americas Open.

The tournament is set up as a grueling week. Players arrive the weekend of July 15 and can get in two practice rounds. There are 18 holes of stroke play each on July 17 and 18. After a cut, the final 64 begin match play July 19. Competitors play a 18-hole match round on Wednesday, two more on Thursday, two on Friday, and the final two competitors square off for a 36-hole match round on Saturday, July 22.

The USGA is partnering with the Colorado Golf Association to run the tournament. CGA officials are gathering and training volunteers so the tournament gives the players and gallery the best experience.

Course preparation is in the hands of course General Manager Steve Wallace, Operations Manager Jerry Turley and club Superintendent Tony Scites, who has worked at Eisenhower for more than 30 years.

What the players have ahead of them is a classic Trent Jones test.

“The little stretch 13,14 and 15 is their Amen Corner,” Parsons said. “One of the most challenging aspects is the putting greens. Players are really going to have to pay attention to the green complexes and their approach shots. What’s really interesting is a Trent Jones design, there are lengthy runway tees – one of the tees is more than 100 yards long. It’s just one angle just straight down the hole. Some players are going to get lulled into hitting straight away and their challenge will be to change their thinking and approach the greens carefully.”

It is the fourth time a Colorado course has hosted the tournament. Lakewood Country Club in Denver was the site in 1957; Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen hosted the 1965 championship, and Greeley Country Club hosted in 1982.

How to watch:

Friday, July 21 (Semifinals)

3 - 5 p.m. (Peacock)

6 - 8 p.m. (Golf Channel, tape delayed)

Saturday, July 22 (Championship Match)

3.-5 p.m. (Peacock)6 -8 p.m. (Golf Channel, tape delayed)