Jack O'Neill Memorial

Junior Championship

 

March 8-9, 2025

 

The Club at Diamondhead

Diamondhead, Mississippi

 

How to get recognized on the Junior Golf Scoreboard - High School Golf                         Mississippi Junior Golf Association | Pearl MS

 

DIVISIONS:  Boys 12-13, Boys 14-15, Boys 16-18, Girls 13-15, and Girls 16-18.  (Age will be based on junior's age as of June 1st of 2025)

 

ENTRY FEE:  $170 per player (entry deadline is Friday, February 23, 2025 or when full field is reached)

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO SCHWANDER HUTCHINSON ROOFING FOR PROVIDING EACH PLAYER A $15 GIFT CARD TO BE USED TOWARD FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN THE CLUB AT DIAMONDHEAD'S LATITUDE 30 PATIO AND GRILL DURING THE EVENT DATES!

 

 

The Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship will be a highly competitive, limited field junior golf event with boy’s and girl’s divisions hosted annually at The Club at Diamondhead.  This 36-hole event will prove to be a great opportunity to showcase many of the most talented golfers in our region.  This event will include a one complimentary practice round (cart fee not included, available up to 2 weeks prior to event any day after 1pm), two tournament rounds, tee gift, warm-up range balls prior to play, and awards.  Schedule practice round by call Golf Shop at (228) 255-3910.

 

VENUE:  The Club at Diamondhead’s Pine Course has hosted the PGA Tour Champions Rapiscan Systems Qualifiers, the USGA Four-Ball Qualifier, the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier, the Mississippi Women’s Amateur Championship, the Gulf Coast Open, the Gulf Coast Amateur, the Swingthought.com Tour, Drive Chip and Putt Local Qualifiers, Drive Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Qualifiers, and the Emerald Coast Golf Tour.  The PGA Tour Champions players have been provided very positive reviews on The Club at Diamondhead’s Pine Course and the greens are consistently among the best on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

 

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to any male age 12 to 18 or female golfer age 13 to 18 and has not enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college as of the tournament date.  The field will be limited to ~42 competitors (Boys 12-13...9 players, Boys 14-15 & 16-18...21 players, Girls 13-15 & Girls 16-18...12 players) registered.  The tournament committee reserves all rights including adjusting size of divisions based on entries received.  In addition, The Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship Committee may extend special invitations for up to 4 boys and 4 girls to compete each year.

 

EVENT INFORMATION:  Boys age 14-18 will play from approximately 6,200 – 6,400 yards.  Boys age 12-13 and girls age 13-18 will play from approximately 5,600 – 5,800 yards.  In addition, the Jack O’Neill Memorial Junior Golf Championship Committee will extend special invitations for up to 4 boys and 4 girls to compete each year. This event will be a 2025 MJGA Player of the Year points event.

 

RULES:  The Rules of Golf will govern all play.  The Jack O’Neill reserves the right to alter the conditions or schedules as stated, including alteration of the stipulated round(s) at any time during the tournament. 

 

PACE OF PLAY:  A prompt pace of play is critical to a successful tournament.  All players are responsible for maintaining a prompt pace of play.  Tournament scorecards will be printed with “Time Par” per hole.  Each player must check their “Time Par” after each hole on the next tee box when recording scores for the group.   Rule 5.6 in the Rules of Golf covers Undue Delay; Slow Play. The rule states: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines (i.e. “Time Par”) that the Committee may establish.”  Players not able to play in accordance with the “Time Par” set will be subject to penalty.

 

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES:  Players will be allowed to use devices that measure distance only. Any other devices that measure wind, slope, temperature, etc, will not be allowed.

 

CADDIES:  Caddies will not be allowed.  Players must walk and carry his or her own bag during the stipulated round with the exception of being able to use a shuttle between the play of two holes.  Use of non-motorized push/pull carts will be allowed. 

 

SPECTATOR CARTS:  Due to limited availability of golf carts, spectators should expect to walk.  One spectator cart will be allocated for each pairing group that must remain with their designated tee time for the entire round.  This allocated spectator cart will be available to rent on a first come, first served basis, unless a medical cart request has been honored in that pairing group.  This ensures the event that at least one spectator cart is assigned to each group to assist with a golf course evacuation due to weather, etc.   We will attempt to honor all medical requests however if you are in need of a spectator cart for medical reasons, priority will be given to those that make a formal request to the committee via email at caltese@dhpoa.org and must include proper legal verification.  After allocation of evacuation carts and medical requests, we anticipate having about 12-14 golf carts available to be rented for spectators.  If a cart is available, spectators will be allowed to rent carts from the golf shop during tournament play. Carts are subject to availability, may not be reserved and are rented on a first come, first served basis.  Spectator carts, if available, will be $40 plus tax.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZES:  Trophies will be awarded to the Champion and Runner-up in each division.  We will also crown Boys Overall Champion (Boys 14-18) and Girls Overall Champion (Girls 13-18).

 

PRACTICE ROUNDS:  This event will include a one complimentary practice round (cart fee not included, available up to 2 weeks prior to event any day after 1pm), two tournament rounds, tee gift, warm-up range balls prior to play, and awards.  Schedule practice round by call Golf Shop at (228) 255-3910.

 

LODGING INFORMATION:  Please go to https://www.gulfcoast.org/places-to-stay/hotels-and-motels/ for lodging information.

 

 

Schedule of Events (subject to change):

 

Friday, March 7th –

  • 1:00pm                  Practice Rounds Available (cart fee not included)

 

Saturday, March 8th –

  • 7:00am                    Practice Facility Opens
  • 7:00am                    Breakfast Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • 9:30am - 11:00am Registration in Main Hall of Clubhouse…Players pick up tee gifts & door prizes (winners to be pre-drawn)
  • 10:30am                   Tee Times Begin Off #1
  • 11:00am                  Lunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)

 

Sunday, March 9th –

  • 7:00am                     Practice Facility Opens
  • 7:00am                     Breakfast/Brunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • 8:30am                      Tee Times Begin Off #1
  • 11:00am                    Brunch/Lunch Menu Available in Latitude 30 (individual cash basis)
  • ~12:30pm-4pm        Awards Presentations for Age Groups as each group play completes play