WEST LAFAYETTE — The Junior PGA Championship is coming to Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex for the first time next summer from July 29 to Aug. 1
For some, the Junior PGA Championship is often the first nationally recognized stepping stone to players who eventually become all-time greats in the sport.
Tiger Woods was a runner-up in 1990. Jordan Spieth, like Woods, placed second in 2008 and ’09 and Tony Finau, another runner-up, competed in ’06. Plus, Scottie Scheffler, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and David Toms are also among the numerous alumni who played in this tournament.
“Tells you how awesome the Boilermaker golf complex is. It speaks to the quality of those courses that they’ll be able to host a tournament of this caliber,” retired Faith Christian golf coach Dan Peter said.
Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex golf pro Dan Ross shared that Purdue secured the Junior PGA Championship after successfully running the National Collegiate Club Golf Association National Championship in 2019 and hosted the 2024 Men’s Golf Regionals in May.
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But will fans be able to watch and how many golfers are expected to compete during the four-day, 72-hole event?
Here’s what fans and residents should know about the 2025 Junior PGA Championship coming to West Lafayette.
How many golfers will be competing?
There will be 312 golfers — 156 girls, 156 boys — competing throughout the event and the traffic around Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex will be packed.
The golfers must be no older than 18 years of age on the last day of the tournament and will be bringing family members alongside them to attend. Additionally, the Junior PGA Championship serves as a scouting ground for college coaches across the country looking to fill their programs with some of the top players.
Will spectators or fans be allowed to watch?
There won’t be any tickets sold for the event, according to Ross, because the Kampen-Cosler and Ackerman-Allen Courses weren’t built to host spectators.
However, fans could still get involved by volunteering.
Ross said hundreds of volunteers will be needed to score matches, spot balls that have been hit into hazard zones or roughs, take in registration, fill water jugs, maintain the integrity of the grounds, pick up trash and serve food and drinks at concession stands to the players, coaches and family members.
More information will be available on volunteering opportunities in December. Those interested should visit purduegolf.com to stay in the loop about what opportunities are available to watch the next generation of players.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Junior PGA Championship coming to West Lafayette in summer 2025