SLIPPERY ROCK — The PGA Junior League has arrived at Oakview Golf Club — and is off to a winning start.

The first-year Oakview team in the 13-under circuit has won its first two matches under Rob McClellan, the team's coach and the PGA professional at the facility.

Oakview has 11 golfers on its PGA Junior League team and opened its season with wins of 8-4 at Meadville and 7-5 at Tam O' Shanter. It plays its final three regular season matches within the next two weeks.

“The league is only in its third or fourth year,” McClellan said. “I love the concept of it. It's like a Little League for golf.

“Every kid on the team plays a role in every match.”

Matches are played in a two-person best ball format. Teams compete for a “flag” every three holes. Nine total holes are played and there are four matches — thus competing for four flags — in each three-hole segment.

Twelve total flags are available to be won. Each flag is worth one point.

“We can send three golfers out in a given three-hole match,” McClellan said. “Two can play and the third can caddy, read greens, offer advice, contribute to the team in other ways.

“Everyone is involved and it's a fun way for kids to learn the game.”

Each golfer has a home and away jersey with a uniform number on the back. McClellan spends practice time with the kids as well.

Golfers on the Oakview team include 13-year-olds Jacob Wolak of Slippery Rock and Parker Worsley of Butler, 12-year-olds Ben Hohn and Carter Simko of Butler, 11-year-olds Landon Stevenson, Anthony Trombatt and Preston Simko of Butler, Josh Kisen of Meridian and Aaron Voltz of Penn Township, 9-year-olds Levi McClellan of Butler and Anna Baird of Center Township.

Voltz is the son of Knoch High School golf coach Rob Voltz.

“It's a great introduction to golf,” Coach Voltz said of the PGA Junior League. “The kids really enjoy playing as a team. The two-man best ball is much less stressful on them.”

Parents and coaches — along with other interested onlookers — are permitted to follow the golfers from hole to hole. They cannot coach them while doing so, however.

“I love watching the interaction of the kids,” Voltz said. “It's great to see them learn from each other. The team concept makes it a good experience for them.”

McClellan said few people in the area even know the PGA Junior League exists.

“This team was primarily put together through word of mouth,” he said. “I coached a few of these kids in baseball, my son played basketball for some coaches whose sons are on the team, some of the kids are members at Oakview, etc.

“A lot of families don't know this (Junior League) program exists around here, but it's growing quickly.”

All About Golf has had a team. Cranberry Highlands has two teams in the league, Treesdale and Olde Stonewall have junior teams as well.

There are 42,000 kids playing on 3,400 teams nationwide. There are 38 teams within 50 miles of Butler.

“There's more than 30 teams just in the Pittsburgh area,” McClellan said.

When the regular season ends, the top 10 golfers from Oakview's league will participate in an All-Star Tournament and golf against all-stars from other leagues in the Pittsburgh region. The all-star coach will be the coach of whatever team wins its respective league.

McClellan said the PGA Junior League is expanding to a 16-under league as well. Cranberry Highlands and St.Clair Country Club are the only two 16-under teams in the Pittsburgh region.

“I'd love to get a 16-under team started at Oakview next year,” McClellan said. “And if we get 20 kids 13-under, we can have two teams in that division.”

For more information on the PGA Junior League, visit www.pgajuniorleague.com.