The Ohio Valley Junior Golf Academy (OVJGA) was originally created and operated in the late 1980′s and 1990′s. Although initially the Academy was not designed to develop junior players for college level programs, evidence began to build over the years that there was a junior talent level that could be a source of elevating junior players to the skill levels needed to achieve that level of competition.
In 1999 the Ohio Valley Golf Association (OVGA) basically conducted an end-of-year tournament, conducted a banquet, and designated the OVGA Player of the Year and later Special Recognition award for those who contributed to the game of golf.
During the early part of 1999, a determination was made that the OVGA should be promoting the game of golf with emphasis on juniors and seniors, should attempt to develop additional amateur tournaments throughout the wider Ohio Valley area, and should assume the role of being a coordinator of golf events throughout the Ohio Valley. As such, the concepts developed within the OVJGA were transferred to the OVGA and a junior golf program was formed for the sole purpose of selecting and preparing dedicated junior golfers for college level programs. Later, the Advanced Competitive Junior Golf Program evolved and lasted until 2008.
In October 2008, the director of the former OVJGA and OVGA junior programs, John Wilson, began the planning, which culminated in October 2009, for the re-establishment of the Academy to provide more opportunities for juniors to succeed in golf at the college level.
From 1999 through 2012, 47 junior players received a total of over $2,200,000 in golf/academic/financial scholarships and awards from 18 colleges and universities throughout the country. All have or are contributing to college golf team programs. Our 2012 program membership of 14 selected youngsters (average age of 14.4 years) is the youngest and most talented group in program history.