Asked to pick a local favorite for the golf tournament being held at his course this week, Champions Retreat assistant professional Ryan Williams went with the only club member in the field.

Cody Shafer, a rising sophomore at Greenbrier, received a special invitation to play in The Club Car Junior, an American Junior Golf Association event running Tuesday through Thursday. Shafer placed second in the Class AAAA state tournament held at Bartram Trail and also finished runner-up in June's Columbia County Junior.

"I think he's got a good shot," Williams said. "And he's got local knowledge."

Shafer shot 70 to finish third in qualifying for the AJGA's Heritage Junior Championship in June. He'll have the comfort level of playing his home course this week, but he'll be up against nationwide competition. Golfers from 15 states will converge on Champions Retreat.

Shafer will have plenty of competition locally. Evans golfer Jacob Tilton has been invited. Former Augusta Prep golfer Lee Knox will play, as will Augusta's Shepherd Archie III, Nick Edry, Dykes Harbin, Chase Parker and Clark Palmer.

Knox will play for the University of Alabama next year. Palmer has committed to the University of North Carolina.

"Those are two kids I would expect to play well," said Steve Ethun, the AJGA's director of communications. "They're sleeping in their own beds each night, and they're playing a course they're familiar with."

Previous qualifiers and special invites brought the field to 85 juniors before Sunday, when 14 golfers were added in a local qualifier at Forest Hills Golf Club.

The event begins with today's Junior-Am, a fundraising event that will feature an appearance by Augusta native and PGA Tour golfer Charles Howell, who'll serve as event host.

Proceeds will be split among The First Tee of Augusta, the AJGA's foundation and tournament sponsor Club Car's foundation.

Ethun said the inaugural tournament should become a permanent fixture on the schedule with the sponsorship of Club Car and Howell lending his name to the event.

"We have high expectations for this event," Ethun said. "We realize that this is a very golf-rich community. We've got the main components to make this a great event. We've got a great sponsor and a great venue."

The event will span 54 holes, played on the 27-hole course's Island and Creek sides, and the course hasn't received extra preparation.

"It's a little dry," Williams said. "But we don't have to do anything extra with it. It's difficult enough as it is."

Reach Stephen Fastenau at (706) 863-6165 ext. 116 or stephen.fastenau@augustachronicle.com.