Second Annual “The Dye” National Junior Invitational at Crooked Stick

66 of The Top Junior Golfers in the Nation Come to Carmel June 6-8;

Sons of PGA Pros Daly, Poulter and Choi Among the Participants

(CARMEL, IND.) – The second-annual “The Dye” National Junior Invitational will once again be held at Crooked Stick this upcoming week, June 6-8. The national event, inaugurated in 2020 to honor Crooked Stick’s late founders – champion golfers and world-renowned golf course designers Pete and Alice Dye – enjoyed incredible success in year one despite the pandemic. The impressive field showcases some of the top-ranked national and international boy and girl competitors, facing off in 54-holes of medal play at Crooked Stick – the Dye’s earliest championship design, dating from 1964.

Some familiar last names to golf fans will be in competition at “The Stick,” including John Daly II, from Clearwater, Fla., son of PGA legend John Daly, who stunned the golf world in capturing the PGA Championship 30 years ago this summer at Crooked Stick. Daly II, who competed in last year’s inaugural event and tied for second, will head to the University of Arkansas to play collegiate golf. Also on hand will be Luke Poulter, Orlando, Fla., son of European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and Daniel Choi, Keller, Tex., son of PGA veteran KJ Choi. Daniel Choi is headed to Duke while Poulter is presently uncommitted.

Four Hoosiers - two from Carmel - are in the field: Drew Wrightson of Carmel, who played in last year’s event and is headed to Baylor University for collegiate golf; Michaela Headlee (uncommitted) of Carmel; and sisters Chloe and Faith Johnson of Evansville, both committed to Furman.  

Among schools this week’s competitors have chosen to continue their golf careers are: Florida, Illinois, Duke, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Louisville, Virginia, Tennessee, Auburn, Ohio State, Northwestern, Clemson, USC, Penn State, Baylor and many more.

Activities begin on Sunday, June 6, with practice rounds. Competition will begin Monday morning, June 7, with starting times off No. 1 and No. 10 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. The second round is slated to start with tee times off No. 1 and No. 10 from 1:00-3:00.  The final round will be Tuesday morning, June 8, with starting times off No. 1 and No. 10 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Play will be in threesomes. Round 3 pairings and starting times will be based on scores from rounds 1 and 2. 

About the Championship

The Dye Junior is a one-of-a-kind event in the world of golf – an elite, limited-field invitational where boys and girls compete at the same time on the same major-event host site. The 33 boy/33 girl field also competes for points from World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), National Junior Golf Scoreboard (NJGS) and Golfweek Sagarin Junior Rankings.

Last year’s boy winner John Marshall Butler (now at Auburn University) took the crown at even par 216, finishing a stroke ahead of runners-up John Daly II, Jordan Gilkison and Drew Wrightson. Laney Frye (now at University of Kentucky) captured the girl’s title with a 2-under, 214 – finishing five strokes ahead of runner-up Kynadie Adams. Players returning in 2021 include top-five finishers from last year – boys: Daly, Gilkison and Wrightson, along with girls: Adams, Bailey Shoemaker and Reagan Zibilski.

Tournament Chairman Wayne Timberman said success and national media coverage of last year’s inaugural event exceeded expectations. “The strong field…the aura of Pete and Alice Dye and their beloved Crooked Stick…it all came together,” said Timberman, their life-long friend. “Pete and Alice took me under their ‘golfing wings’ when I was a junior player. Today, with this tournament, the Dyes are inspiring a whole new generation of junior golfers,” he said.

Live-stream and TV Broadcasting

A live TV and internet audience – from 20 countries – tuned into watch the 2020 Dye Junior. “Once again, we will broadcast the final round,” said Tournament Media Director Chris Wirthwein. “Families, friends and fans everywhere in the world can see every player – boy and girl – compete at Crooked Stick,” he added. “Live TV coverage is one more thing that makes ‘The Dye’ special for players and fans.”

For more information – Details about the Pete and Alice Dye Junior Invitational, including the announced field for 2021 can be found at the championship’s website www.dyejuniorinvitational.com and social media: @TheDyeJunior (Twitter), thedyejuniorinvitational (Instagram) and @TheDyeJuniorInvitational (Facebook).