WindStone Golf Club and the Ringgold Telephone Company have been hosts to an American Junior Golf Association event for 13 straight years.
Easley, Hu shoot 65s
C.J. Easley of Oxford, Miss., and China native Alex Hu each shot 6-under-par 65 in the opening round of the AJGA tournament at WindStone on Tuesday. Hayden White of Benton, La., is two strokes off the lead. Jenny Bae of Lawrenceville, Ga., leads the girls' competitors after the first of three days with a 4-under 67. Katherine Muzie of California is two strokes back. No Chattanooga-area participant is in the top 10 of either division.
Nathan Douglas from Ontario tees off at the Evitt Foundation RTC Junior All-Star, an American Junior Golf Association event, at the Windstone golf course Tuesday, June 2, 2015, in Catoosa County, Ga.
Tournament chairman Phil Erli talks about the future of the Evitt Foundation RTC Junior All-Star, an American Junior Golf Association event, at the Windstone golf course Tuesday, June 2, 2015, in Catoosa County, Ga. That's almost longer than most of the participants playing there this week have been alive.
The tournament, which benefits the Evitt Foundation, has evolved over the years. Now it may be on its deathbed.
"The future is cloudy, is the best I can say," stated RTC executive Phil Erli, who serves as tournament chairman. "If it's going to continue, we're going to find a partner or sign up more sponsors."
One of the Chattanooga area's premier junior golf events, which now officially is called the Evitt Foundation Junior All-Star Tournament, is on the brink of extinction if new sponsors are not found.
"It would be hurtful to lose a relationship like this," said 2015 tournament director Tyler Sumner. "It's a great venue, and it earned the Junior All-Star of the Year award for 2014.
"If we were to lose this event, it would be a shot to the AJGA, and that is something we do not want to happen."
WindStone has hosted an AJGA tournament for young golfers from across the region, golfers within a day's drive from the Scenic City and even kids who grew up in Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, South Korea and Japan.
There are only five tournaments on the 2015 AJGA schedule that have been at the same location for a longer time. That ranks the WindStone event as No. 6 among more than 120 events this year.
"We want to keep doing the tournament," Erli said. "No question about it. But at some point, you have to make a decision."
The tournament has eroded over recent years due to cost cutting.
It began in 2003 as a Junior Classic that featured golfers up to 18 years old. Then the likes of former Baylor School stars Harris English and Brooke Pancake participated. They're now both playing on the top golf tours in the world.
Also, Austin Ernst won at WindStone, and she's ranked No. 59 on the LPGA Tour. James White set the course record with a 61, and he also is playing golf for a living. The list of successful past participants continues beyond those notable names.
"It would be very disappointing if this tournament went away," said WindStone head professional Jeff Craig, who oversees the CDGA Junior Tour. "We enjoy having them here. If you lose something like this, you'd lose a tradition.
"But folks have to make some decisions."
The tournament used to produce more than a $60,000 donation to the Evitt Foundation, which is dedicated to betterment of children in Catoosa County through a variety of ways ranging from the school system to foster care. Donations have dropped by more than half -- close to two-thirds -- in recent years.
"I've got a dollar amount in mind to make it worthwhile, and if so, great, let's do it again because we love this," Erli said. "If not, then we'll have to refigure things.
"We're going to have an answer by the end of August."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.