2024
Anyone who has been around competitive golf in the Roanoke Valley for the last 30 years is quite familiar with 2024 Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductee Justin Young.
Justin played traditional sandlot sports as a child. After yielding to relentless pressure from a childhood friend, he first played golf at Brookside Par 3 as a thirteen-year-old. As a teenager, Young played and developed his game at Countryside. He was a member of Northside High School’s 1996 state championship team, earning an individual runner-up finish in the event. Justin was named the school’s 1996 Male Athlete of the Year.
Young’s four-year golf career at Charleston Southern University was highlighted by a second-place finish in the 1998 Big South Conference championship. He was named the Buccaneers’ Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.
After graduating from CSU, Justin turned pro and competed on the now-defunct Tarheel Tour. His three-year professional stint included two runner-up finishes, one of which came in the Tarheel Tour Championship. After leaving the Tarheel Tour, Young was on staff at two local golf clubs, but played only sparingly for five or six years. Bowing to pressure from friends, he started playing again and regained his amateur status in 2010. It didn’t take long for the Salem resident to find his stellar form. Since his return to competitive golf in 2011, Young has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments.
Justin has competed in 10 USGA championships: representing Virginia twice in the USGA State Team Championship; playing in five USGA Four Ball Championships (all with Haymarket’s Scott Shingler, advancing to match play twice); and, competing in three USGA Mid-Amateur Championships (making match play twice and reaching the round of 16 once). In the 2015 USGA Mid-Amateur at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Florida, Justin survived a 22-for-2 playoff by birdieing the first playoff hole (alongside five-time USGA champion and 2025 Walker Cup captain, Nathan Smith) to reach match play. He then dispatched two future USGA champions, Matt Parziale and Pat Tallent, to make it to the round of 16.
“I consider the 2015 USGA Mid-Am as my career highlight,” said Young. “Persevering through stroke play and surviving that crazy playoff were challenging and rewarding. Advancing to the round of 16 was incredibly gratifying.”
Young has advanced through the local stage of the US Open qualifying twice, most recently in May 2024. Justin also paired with Arlington’s Matt Sughrue to win the 2022 National Senior-Junior Championship.
Young tallied VSGA wins at the 2013 Public Links, the 2017 Four-Ball Match Play (with Alexandria’s Jimmy Delp), and the 2017 Mid-Amateur. Justin has been runner-up in three Virginia State Opens, grabbing low amateur honors twice. Young was VSGA Player of the Year in 2017. In addition, the VSGA selected him to represent the Virginias side for the last twelve Captain’s Putter Matches and Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches.
Justin won the Roanoke Valley Match Play Championship in 2013 and the Hall of Fame tournament the following year. He has accumulated multiple regional four ball wins with various partners. In 2023, Young was the RVGHOF Men’s Player of the Year for the ninth time in the last eleven years; no other player has earned that distinction more than three times.
“Ashley (his wife) is incredibly supportive of my golf,” Young notes on the challenge of balancing his family, career and competitive endeavors and acknowledges the backing he receives, “and Mason (his 13-year-old son) is always there to cheer me on.”
“I am honored to be an inductee to the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame,” Young reflected. “It means a lot to be a part of that group. I like competing, and I also enjoy the practice time that competitive golf requires. Golf instills life lessons and teaches us to deal with adversity.”
Lee Faulkner, Young’s friend and father to Davidson College-bound son Nate, shares, “Justin’s work ethic, meaningful practice sessions and goal setting stand out to me. And he’s so incredibly supportive. He’s a mentor to Nate and other junior golfers, and he’s played a major role in Nate’s success.”
When he’s not immersed in competition, don’t be surprised to find Justin out on the links with Mason … or Nate … or any other aspiring young golfer. Hopefully, they’re paying close attention.
