By Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org
SOUTH HADLEY, Massachusetts (June 16, 2025) – Just a day after the USGA’s crown jewel was contested in some of the most dreary and punishing of conditions at Oakmont, more than 100 hopefuls were met with picture-perfect conditions at the Ledges Golf Club for U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying. By days end, five Juniors earned a spot in their respective National Championships.
In the morning, three players, all with Massachusetts ties, played their way into the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship: Tyler Creavy (Orlando, FL), AJ Bodnar (Ferncroft CC) and Lukas Schleyer (Oak Hill CC). And in the afternoon, Daniela Paez Rodriguez (Columbia) and Carys Fennessy (Youth On Course) earned a place in the field at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship.
All five will now compete on the national stage next month with the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship taking place at Atlanta Athletic Club and the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship being played at Trinity Forest GC.
View this post on Instagram
It seems like just about everyone vacations on the Cape each summer. The same holds true for the Creavy family, who made a quick stop in Western Mass while traveling up from Florida to their Grandparents house in Orleans. The pit stop proved worth it as Tyler Creavy earned medalist honors with a sizzling 67 (-5) at the Ledges.
“I just made a lot of putts, it was great,” said Creavy. “I struggled last week, and I struggled yesterday in the practice round, trying to make putts. But today, I just tried something new, and it worked.”
A little help (emphasis on little) came by way of Tyler’s younger sister, who at just 10 years old, could barely see over the top of the push cart. Five minutes before leaving the hotel, she agreed to her first ever loop as caddie. Now 1-for-1, it’s safe to say the job is hers for the foreseeable future.
Battling an achy back since February, AJ Bodnar (Ferncroft CC) was clearly playing at less than full health. Perhaps the distraction was exactly what the doctor ordered. After rattling off three-straight birdies on holes 3-5, Bodnar’s round was off and running. And while three more birdies were had, it was a clutch par save on 16 that drew the most emotion, a controlled downward fist-pump, on the back end of an up-and-down on one of the easiest holes on the course.
The momentum saving putt was key in pushing Bodnar through to his first ever USGA Championship. And while he didn’t bother with the leaderboard throughout the round, he had a good idea of what was needed on the 18th. “I asked my brother if he knew where I stood,” recalled Bodnar.
“Yeah, just make it,” said Alex, his brother, and caddie for the day.
“And I did just that,” laughed AJ.
It took a little bit longer, but the most excitement of the day came on the 10th hole, during a playoff for the final spot. Fourteen year old, Lukas Schleyer (Oak Hill CC) brushed home a short par putt, avenging a short miss on the final hole of regulation, to send his father into a frenzy and himself to a USGA Championship.
“I can’t believe it!” said a bewildered Schleyer. “Didn’t think this would happen, to be honest.”
Believe it, kid. You’re heading to the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
The three qualifiers from Monday will head to Trinity Forest GC in Dallas, Texas with the first round scheduled for July 21.
COMPLETE LIST OF JUNIOR AMATEUR QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THE LEDGES GC
QUALIFIER (Name, City, Score)
Tyler Creavy, Orlando, FL; (-5) 67
AJ Bodnar, North Andover, MA; (-4) 68
Lukas Schleyer, Westminster, MA; (-3) 69*
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Harry Garland, Pelham, NH, (-3) 69**
Luke Edgar, Hanover, MA; (-3) 69
*Advanced on first playoff hole with par (hole 10)
**Advanced on second playoff hole with par (hole 11)
View this post on Instagram
In the afternoon, Carys Fennessy (Dover, NH) was a name everyone had an eye on. Having played in an LPGA Tour event last year through Mass Golf’s partnership with the FM Championship, she showed that her best golf is saved for the biggest of stages. With a round of 73 (+1), Fennessy successfully secured one of the two available spots on Monday and will now compete in a USGA Championship for the first time.
The highlight of the round for Fennessy was a near ace on the short par-3 3rd. The one-inch tap-in birdie quickly erased a bogey on the difficult 2nd hole, getting Fennessy back to 1-over. From there she finished off the round with a steady run of six straight pars.
On the lighter side, Fennessy was able to laugh off a dreaded shank. Hitting her tee shot with a 5-iron on one of the short par-4s, Fennessy was able to quickly erase the error by saving par on the hole.
Joining Fennessy in Atlanta will be Daniela Paez Rodriguez (Columbia) who is also set to make her first appearance in a USGA Championship.
Rodriguez’s round of 71 (-1) was good for medalist honors, which should make the long flight to Japan a bit more enjoyable. Playing for the Columbian National Team, her team is set to fly out of New York to compete in Japan this week. The scheduling lined up nicely for a quick stop in Massachusetts.
“I like the course,” added Rodriguez. “I feel like it adjusted well to my distance, so I had a lot of chances with my approach shots, and that helped me make the birdies.”
With a round of 1-under-par, Rodriguez said she achieved her goal coming into the day. “I just came out today thinking I had to break par to have a chance.”
A busy travel schedule just got busier for Rodriguez, as she and Fennessy will now tee it up at Atlanta Athletic Club in just under a months time at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship.
COMPLETE LIST OF GIRLS’ JUNIOR AMATEUR QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THE LEDGES GC
QUALIFIER (Name, City, Score)
Daniela Paez Rodriguez, Columbia; (-1) 71
Carys Fennessy, Dover, NH; (+1) 73
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Maddie Smith, Westford, MA; (+2) 74*
Xinyu Cindy Cao, Hong Kong, China; (+2) 74
*Advanced with a par on third playoff hole (hole 1)
A regular stop on the Mass Golf qualifying event rota, The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley proudly hosted its first ever Championship Proper last year. At the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, Joey Lenane boatraced his way to an 11-shot victory, the largest margin of victory at the APL this century.
In addition to this year’s USGA dual-qualifying events, the Ledges has hosted five other championship qualifiers this decade.
Known for its scenic view of Mount Tom, The Ledges offers players a fun variety of holes, with several birdie (or eagle) chances at the drivable par-4s. Holes 4 (300 yards), 15 (287 yards), and 16 (295 yards) are reachable for some, and played a pivotal role in determining Monday’s qualifiers.
For the latest updates on all Mass Golf events, visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf.
