More than four dozen tournaments are open to Ventura County junior golfers at all skill levels in 2007.

Players from throughout the area have access to some of the best courses in Southern California.

Until Mike Andonian founded the Ventura County Junior Golf Association 40 years ago, those opportunities were limited.

"Mike opened a lot of doors for a lot of kids," said longtime county teaching pro Mark Wipf, who cut his teeth on VCJGA tour events.

Andonian, 81, a Camarillo resident for 42 years, died on June 15. Services are scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Las Posas Country Club, 955 Fairway Drive, in Camarillo.

Former U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin, PGA Tour regular Paul Stankowski and former LPGA Tour player Dana Dormann are among a long list of VCJGA graduates who have enjoyed successful high school, amateur and professional careers.

Not only did Andonian found the VCJGA, he ran the tour for 25 years, said current executive director Sean Farnan. He was also a math teacher and golf coach for 21 years at Ventura High until 1987. Matt Ellison of Ventura won the 1974 CIF individual golf title.

"Mike was an institution at Ventura when I got here," said former Ventura football coach and athletic director Phil McCune. "He was a tremendous math teacher."

When former Ventura athletic director, boys' basketball coach and math instructor Mickey Perry began teaching classes in calculus, he leaned on help from Andonian.

"He was a very bright man," said Perry. "He helped me a lot the few years I taught calculus."

His impact with the junior golf program won't be soon forgotten, said Wipf.

Through the VCJGA, Andonian was able to schedule tournaments at some of the most exclusive courses in the county.

"Most of the kids weren't able to get on courses like Las Posas, Saticoy or North Ranch," said Wipf.

Obeying the rules of golf was a priority for Andonian.

Wipf will never forget a VCJGA event at Elkins Ranch.

"One young man was having a bad day and we could hear him from the other side of the course," Wipf said. "Mike heard it, too. I could see Mike driving his cart with his head down low. He told the young man to leave the course."

In founding the VCJGA, Andonian was quoted as saying, "I don't worry about producing championship golfers. I want to produce golfers so they will go on to play for the rest of their lives."

Andonian was an accomplished golfer.

He won the Michigan State Amateur Championships four times, the Southern California Senior Championships eight times, the Ventura men's club championship eight times, the Camarillo men's club and Las Posas Country Club titles three times. He qualified for the U.S. Open in 1961.

Andonian was "one terrific golfer," said Perry. "I never played with anybody who could putt like him."