Vallina retiring from junior golf tour after 30 years
Jon Vallina
Jon Vallina stands with this year's SPJGT winners. They include front row, from left, Jordan Mocello (Boys age 9), Connor McKenzie (Boys 11), Benito Taormina (Boys 13) and Gia Hooper (Girls 16-17). Back Row, Jon Vallina, President, Isabela Aigner (Girls 11 & Under), Reagan Thomas (Girls 12-13), Tyler Mocello (Boys 14), Luke Dziak (Boys 15-17), Logan Monzak (Boys 12) and Caroline McConnell (Girls 14-15). Missing from photo: Charlie Dyer (Boys 8) and Mikey Dyer (Boys 10 & Under).
When Don York asked Jon Vallina to help with the Southwest Pennsylvania Junior Golf Tour, he said yes. Anything to help a friend and boost golf in the area was agreeable to Vallina.
When York asked Vallina to take over as president two years later, he couldn’t say no. He wanted the tour to continue so his answer was yes.
“Don talked me into it,” said Vallina. “I thought I’d be there a couple years then find someone to take over.”
Vallina stayed for 28 years.
Vallina oversaw the growth of the tour and will now turn over his responsibilities to Brian Vensel, who has been with the tour for the past decade.
“I just don’t have the time anymore,” said Vallina, who was the athletic director at Burgettstown High School for 29 years.
Vallina was recently appointed Associate Executive Director for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association. He is responsible for recruiting corporate sponsorship for PSADA and his reach will be statewide. He is also responsible for the PSADA Hall of Fame.
“What Don York did was make golf affordable for all those kids,” Vallina said. “This tour has helped improved the quality of golf in southwestern Pennsylvania. We have had a lot more top-10 finishes in the state tournament of kids who played on the tour.”
The SPJGT had a high of 250 participants a few years ago. The total is between 180 and 200 this year, Vallina said. That number includes nearly 50 females.
It’s an all-volunteer organization and the golf courses donate the tee times and green fees for these events. The first 132 golfers to sign up can play in the tournaments each week.
“They told us to bring as many kids as you can,” Vallina said of the area golf pros. “They are going to be their future golfers.”
The SPJGT is available to beginners through high school with age 13 and under competing in 9-hole events and the others in 18-hole tournaments. An annual membership is $15, which gives the player the opportunity to participate for only $9 per tournament.
The SPJGT venues include some of the best private and public courses in southwestern Pennsylvania. Information about the tour can be found at www.spjgt.com.