By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Golf is more than a game to Jim Andrews of Geneseo.
In his quest to teach young people golf etiquette and respect for others, Andrews organized a free junior golf clinic at the Geneseo Country Club several summers ago for youth ages 7-16. That clinic became an annual event and eventually included a tournament, the Andrews Junior Golf Tournament, also held every summer.
This year there were 16 youth golfers, in six different age groups from first to eighth grade, who participated in the tournament.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The junior golf clinic and tournament are a result of Jim Andrews’ love of the game.
An avid golfer himself, he said his goal was not only to teach young people golf etiquette and respect for others on the course, but throughout their lives.
Ashley Smith, left, and her husband Michael Smith, at right, are photographed with Jim Andrews, who is responsible for launching the Junior Golf Clinic and the Golf Tournament at the Geneseo Country Club. Claudia Loucks Photo
The clinics are held each summer and include one session each week where golf etiquette is presented through a video before participants take part in chipping and putting. The young people are divided into age groups.
“We let them play a little bit on the course after the second session,” Andrews said.
With the great response that first year, Andrews thought the clinic should become an annual event and include a golf tournament for the youth.
“The kids seem to have a good time and their parents follow them along on the course, watching them play,” he said. “It is beneficial to everyone involved.”
What Andrews did not know was that in the second year of the clinic and tournament, one of the volunteers in the clinic, Matt Biddle, approached the board of the Geneseo County Club asking the tournament be named the Andrews Junior Golf Tournament.
Andrews was not aware of the tournament name change until the first year of the tournament when he was given a plaque of recognition for his dedication to youth golf programs.
He did get somewhat teary-eyed when the plaque was given to him and said his hope is that the clinic and tournament will continue for many years to come.
In recent years, another volunteer, Ryan Gillespie, took charge of the tournament, and Geneseo High School girls’ golf coach Jon Murray has taken charge of the clinic. Last year, Gillespie stepped down as director of the tournament, and the new directors are Mike and Ashley Smith. Volunteer score keepers at the recent tournament were Josh Spensley, Becky Spensley, Kevin Reed, Brian Yaklich, Mike Crider and Madison Kuethe.
Andrews, who now deals with health issues, helps with both the clinic and the tournament.
The junior golf tournament took on the name of the Andrews Junior Golf Tournament in 2015 in honor of the many years of volunteering that Andrews has put in helping kids learn the sport and etiquette of golf.
Young golfers ranging in first through eighth grades took part in the recent Andrews Junior Golf Tournament held at the Geneseo country Club. The photo includes Jim Andrews, at back center; and youth golfers Teddy Kreiser, Drew Spensley, Maddox Yaklich, Asher Russelburg, Sawyer Boelens, Charlie Reed, Brody Wells, Tanner DeSplinter, Merrick Russelburg, Brandton Spensley, Cruz Combs, Charlotte Smith, Lindsey Dwyer, Elsie Russelburg, Hailey Dwyer and Adi Smith. Contributed Photo
2026 TOURNAMENT RESULTS:
-Boys – 1st and 3rd grade – Teddy Kreiser, first place; Drew Spensley, second place.
-Boys – 4th and 5th grade – Maddox Yaklich, first place; Asher Russelburg, second place; Sawyer Boelens, third place.
-Boys – 6th grade – Charlie Reed, first place; Brody Wells, second place; Tanner DeSplinter, third place; Merrick Russelburg, fourth place.
-Boys 7th and 8th grade- Brandton Spensley, first place; Cruz Combs, second place.
-Girls 2nd and 3rd grade – Charlotte Smith, first place; Lindsey Dwyer, second place; Elsie Russelburg, third place.
-Girls 6th and 7th grade – Hailey Dwyer, first place; Adi Smith, second place
