The Junior Tyson Tour is the oldest junior golf tour in Canada, and a not for profit organization that is operated by local PGA of Canada Professionals. In 2024, we will provide local junior golfers with the opportunity to compete within their age groups, in adult-supervised competitive golf events. We have partnered with a number of local private and public golf facilities to create a PGA Tour-like environment. Juniors will be encouraged to have fun, learn the rules and etiquette of golf, respect their fellow competitors, improve their golf skills, and enjoy the tournament play experience.

History: 1968-2024

The Junior Tyson Tour is operated for junior golfers in Southwestern Ontario. The Tour was founded in 1968 by Bev Tyrell, a reporter for the London Free Press newspaper. The Junior Tyson Tour has evolved over the years, known initially as the Tysons Tour with only 4 events with the winner decided by stroke average compared to today’s point system and 8 events in the 2024 season.

The Tyson Tour provides junior golfers with the opportunity to compete in a fun environment while developing their skills and a passion for the game of golf.

The Tyson Tour has seen many fine Girl’s and Boy’s champions. With a long history and a commitment to developing junior golfers, the Junior Tyson Tour is a great platform for young golfers to showcase their skills.

The Les Thomas

Mr. Thomas was an elected board member of the former Public Utilities Commission in London and supported both Thames Valley and Fanshawe golf facilities. During the 1970’s he was also a member of the Ontario Golf Association becoming it’s honorary President in 1977. His major interests included furthering junior golf especially in the London area. After passing away in 1981 he was honoured by having his name attached to the Thames Valley Junior Tyson Tour event.

Les’s wife Doreen would faithfully watch the Les Thomas final matches for many years even into her 80’s and was walking the course supporting the event when Mike Weir won the Les Thomas.

After Mr. Thomas passed away, the event format was changed by Bill Fox Sr, who imagined an event with no age brackets over a six- round tournament, which included a 36-hole qualifier and then potentially four rounds of match play. The purpose of the extended event was to raise the profile of those juniors participating in the event in hopes of a few of the top players receiving a scholarship to a U.S. school.

The first Les Thomas tournament was won by Dan Quinn who played for the Belleville Bulls of the O.H.L. in 1981, and who went on to play with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL alongside Mario Lemieux.

The Les Thomas proudly returns to the Junior Tyson Tour in 2024. The format will be a tournament inside 2 tournaments: the player with the lowest 2 round total from the Junior Tyson Tour events at Thames Vallet GC and Fanshawe GC will be declared the winner and have their name on a trophy with champions such as Mike Weir, Quinn and more.

The Junior Tyson Tour committee is grateful to Mr. Les Thomas for his contribution to the tour, and to junior golf in the London region.