In 1951 several members of the East Aurora Country Club joined with H.R. “Renny” Merritt, Jr. to further his idea for an invitational golf tournament for junior golfers in Western New York State.

Merritt, sectional committeeman for the U.S.G.A., felt that such a tournament for boys who have not reached their 18th birthdays, could contribute to the growing interest in golf on the part of many youngsters.

In 1953 the first annual Junior Golf Invitational tournament of the East Aurora Country Club was held, with Ward Wettlaufer winning the McAuliffe Trophy emblematic of the championship. At that time competitors were principally from Western New York but as the years passed the invitation list has been widened to include better golfers from other distant regions.

Competition in more recent tournaments has come from such cities as Cleveland, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Miami and Detroit, and from such states as North Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Michigan, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri, Ohio Georgia, Mississippi, Arizona, Nevada and West Virginia. Foreign competitors have come from South Africa, Mexico, France, Philippines, Scotland, Japan, Columbia and Peru. Of course, a large number of upstate New York cities and towns have been represented too.

Prospective contestants have been brought to our attention by various State and Province Junior Golf Chairman, District Associations of metropolitan areas, college golf coaches, club professionals, and former players who always go away impressed by the competitive level of our tournament.

The East Aurora event is now the oldest International Junior Golf Invitational in North America. A four-day test, it is the first and possibly the only PGA member club- sponsored competition of its type in the entire country. The East Aurora Country Club was particularly well-suited for such a tournament.

Its adult membership has been especially generous in allowing junior members the use of their course during the golfing year. Co- operation of the entire membership of a golf club is absolutely necessary in order to conduct a golf tournament such as this. In addition to surrendering the use of the club for four days, members of the EACC open their homes to the competing boys who travel long distances to play in the tournament.

The boys are responsible for transportation to and from Buffalo. If arriving by public transportation, the committee will meet the players and provide transfer to East Aurora. All contestants who request it, stay at the homes of members so that they are housed, fed and chaperoned during their stay. The contestants are served buffet luncheons each day between rounds at the Clubhouse. A banquet is held at the conclusion of the stroke play. This presents an opportunity for the boys to get to know each other and to meet the tournament committee.

The exemplary conduct of the boys who have competed over the years has been one of the biggest factors contributing to the success of the tourney. It is easy to understand that if the invited guests were not chosen carefully, then poor behavior might easily result which would soon cause the members who annually open their homes to the players to turn their backs on this wonderful tournament and it would cease to be held.

Families are responsible for making sure the competing boys in their charge have transportation to the Club on time each day. And they are responsible for picking up the players at the course at the end of each day’s play. The proper combination of well- behaved young men and conscientious interest on the part of many club members has resulted in an excellent well-disciplined tournament which the Club and the community welcomes back each year.

Tournament week consists of a Member- Junior 18 hole team event on Monday. After registration and opening ceremonies on Monday, the field of 80 plays 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday. Wednesday morning the second round of Stroke Play determines the following Match Play pairings.

Wednesday afternoon the low 32 start the Championship bracket of Match Play. Matches are contested over 18 holes.

The 16 losers of these opening matches will continue in the Championship Consolation bracket. The next 48 qualifiers will be flighted in 16 man brackets: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Thursday morning and afternoon will have 18 hole matches in all flights. These results will set up the semi-final matches Friday morning and the finals for Friday afternoon.

In 1965, shortly after Gary Player’s much- to- be admired generous cash gift to the U.S.G.A. for the encouragement of junior golf in America, the East Aurora Junior Invitational Committee sought the privilege to be the first to acknowledge Mr. Player’s good will with a tribute to him in the form of the Gary Player Cup to be awarded annually in his honor to the tourney Medalist. We believe this has become one of the finest and most cherished junior golf trophies awarded anywhere in the world.

In 1996 the Mexican Golf Federation extended an invitation to field a team to represent the International Junior Masters in the first International edition of the Mexican National Juvenile Tournament.

In recent years the Selection Committee has tried to acquire the top caliber players from as wide a geographic area as possible. We are striving toward a world-wide showcase junior field that will create the highest level of competition. Handicaps of zero to four now represent 95% of the field. Qualifying scores for the Championship Flight have been lower each year.

Wednesday afternoon the low 32 start the Championship bracket of Match Play. Matches are contested over 18 holes.

The 16 losers of these opening matches will continue in the Championship Consolation bracket. The next 48 qualifiers will be flighted in 16 man brackets: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Thursday morning and afternoon will have 18 hole matches in all flights. These results will set up the semi-final matches Friday morning and the finals for Friday afternoon.

In 1965, shortly after Gary Player’s much- to- be admired generous cash gift to the U.S.G.A. for the encouragement of junior golf in America, the East Aurora Junior Invitational Committee sought the privilege to be the first to acknowledge Mr. Player’s good will with a tribute to him in the form of the Gary Player Cup to be awarded annually in his honor to the tourney Medalist. We believe this has become one of the finest and most cherished junior golf trophies awarded anywhere in the world.

In 1996 the Mexican Golf Federation extended an invitation to field a team to represent the International Junior Masters in the first International edition of the Mexican National Juvenile Tournament.

In recent years the Selection Committee has tried to acquire the top caliber players from as wide a geographic area as possible. We are striving toward a world-wide showcase junior field that will create the highest level of competition. Handicaps of zero to four now represent 95% of the field. Qualifying scores for the Championship Flight have been lower each year.