MORGANTOWN — Caleb Young has won the W.Va. Junior Callaway Golf Tour at The Greenbrier two summers in a row.
“It was a goal of mine to win again,” said Young, a Fairmont native.”I never thought I would’ve played golf competitively.”
Young was a soccer player throughout high school, but he started golfing his sophomore year during COVID just for fun, and it turned into a sport he thoroughly enjoyed.
“I started with a golf match my sophomore year of high school, and I just kept playing,” Young said.
The WV Callaway Junior Golf tournament started in 1984 and has become a very popular tournament for young golfers in the state.
Junior golfers can choose 12 tournaments throughout the summer around the state, the points from each win are added up throughout the summer and the final six from each age group are invited to the exclusive Sporting Club at the Greenbrier.
Young came in first place in nine tournaments this summer.
In the championship tournament at The Greenbrier, Young placed first overall with a 3-over, 74.
The Greenbrier course is a very rare course young golfers will be able to see, let alone play on it. A handful of North Central W.Va. golfers were selected to play, including Young and Morgantown native Landon Spiker.
“The Snead Course at The Greenbrier was super cool to play at, but my favorite is Stonewall (Resort),” Young said.
Young has enjoyed playing in the Callaway Tour and has met new people at each course he’s golfed at.
“It’s really cool to meet new people around the state, I had the privilege this year to play with a lot of people I knew,” Young said. “I really want to thank everyone who helps with the Callaway Tour, they do such a great job.”
Young will be playing golf at Fairmont State University in the fall.
Spiker has participated in the Callaway Tour for seven years. At last week’s Tour Championship at The Greenbrier, he placed second overall with a 4-over, 76.
“My dad used to take me to Paradise Lakes when I was nine, and we would go there four times a week and he got me into golf,” Spiker said.
In the 2023 championship tournament, Spiker placed sixth.
“We play everywhere across the state but playing at The Greenbrier Snead course is my favorite,” Spiker said.
Registration for the W.Va. Junior Callaway Golf tournaments starts in March and the tournaments begin in April. Registration information can be found at cjrtour.com.
