Former Mizzou and PGA Tour golfer to host youth golf championship in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The second annual Stan Utley and Mid-America Youth Golf Foundation Championship will be held from July 26-29 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia.

Utley will be the host for the second straight year. Last year's inaugural event was named the American Junior Golf Association's Newcomer of the Year.

"The inaugural Stan Utley and Mid-America Youth Golf Foundation Junior Championship was a huge hit with players, families, and the community,” Utley said in a release. “Since the event, several juniors have let me know that it was the best tournament they had played all year. We are elated to be awarded the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award by the AJGA for 2020 and I expect our event to be even better this year. We can't wait to see you in July."

Utley is a former Mizzou and PGA Tour golfer. He is currently one of the top ranked golf instructors in the world. He's helped several PGA Tour pros, including Sergio Garcia. He also recently helped former NBA star Charles Barkley with his swing.

The tournament will feature boys and girls aged 12-19.

Tournament chair Dr. Raman Puri, vice chair Zach Franklin and co-chairman of the Mid-America Youth Golf Foundation Billy Sapp said they spent multiple years organizing this event and getting it on the schedule.