Sen. Hwang Celebrates Junior PGA Athletes in Hartford

July 9, 2019
State Senator Tony Hwang (left) and Connecticut Section PGA Executive Director Tom Hantke tour Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford the day before the start of the Girls Junior PGA of America Championship.

State Senator Tony Hwang (left) and Connecticut Section PGA Executive Director Tom Hantke tour Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford the day before the start of the Girls Junior PGA of America Championship.  

Hartford—From Tuesday July 9th to Friday July 12th , the state of Connecticut and Hartford will host its first-ever PGA of America championship. The top Junior Girls from all over the world will compete at historical Keney Park Golf Course. PGA of America President Suzy Whaley will be on property at Keney Park on Thursday and Friday, July 11-12 and will present the championship trophy.

Thomas E. Hantke, Executive Director of the Connecticut Section of PGA said, “This is the maiden voyage for our Section with respect to hosting a PGA of America championships, and we cannot be more excited to welcome the nation’s most talented girls and boys and delighted and thrilled that the Keney Park Golf Course fits the bill for all parties concerned. It’s a four-party agreement between the City of Hartford, the PGA of America, the Connecticut Section PGA and Connecticut Section PGA Foundation that’s been a long time coming and is finally here.”

Hantke also has a special reason for the championships to be in the Connecticut Section PGA.

“We’re not only proud that we’ve been chosen to host these prestigious championships, but we’re equally appreciative to be able to showcase the restoration of Keney Park as part of the revitalization efforts ongoing in the City of Hartford,” Hantke said. “It has been one of the original and central purposes to re-establish a first-class golf experience to help lead the way to improving the quality of life.”

Sen. Hwang (R-Fairfield), an avid golfer and supporter of the PGA and the Junior Girls and Boys Junior Championship, stopped by Keney Park for a golf course tour on July 8th.

“It’s very exciting to see young athletes from all over the world come to our Capitol City to play the highest level of competition and possibly catch in action the future stars of golf as evident by past winners like Cristie Kerr, Lexi Thompson, Grace Park and Yealimi Noh,” said Sen. Hwang. “The remarkable restoration and transformation of the Keney Park course is a remarkable accomplishment.  It’s a beautiful and challenging course!”