Patrick Cansfield and Ryan Flanagan
Building golf’s future
For Ryan Flanagan and Patrick Cansfield, golf is more than a sport, it’s a lifelong passion that shaped their paths from junior players to industry leaders. Both now hold influential roles with the American Junior Golf Association, and their journeys reflect a shared commitment to growing the game, creating opportunities, and inspiring the next generation of golfers.
Ryan Flanagan (left) and Patrick Cansfield
Flanagan’s love for golf began at 3 years old, playing with his parents at Somerset Country Club in Kentucky. That early start led to a competitive junior career, high school golf, and collegiate play at Campbellsville University. It was his connection to the AJGA, first as a junior golfer and Liberty National ACE Grant recipient that set the stage for his future. The financial support of the Liberty National ACE Grant allowed him to compete in AJGA events and ultimately earn a college golf scholarship, a life-changing opportunity that continues to inspire his work.
After joining the AJGA as an operations intern in 2013, Flanagan’s career took off. He quickly rose to tournament director and now serves as senior regional director for the Midwest, where he has spent more than a decade expanding the region’s reach and impact. Under his leadership, the Midwest has partnered with top venues, Fortune 500 companies and professional players to deliver world-class events, while contributing more than $5 million to the Liberty National ACE Grant and local charities, including $900,000 in 2025.
… Ryan Flanagan and Patrick Cansfield embody the AJGA’s mission of developing golf’s next generation. Their stories … reflect not only their personal dedication to the sport but also their shared belief in golf’s power to change lives.
Guided by a leadership philosophy centered on consistency, mentorship and high standards, Flanagan is dedicated to advancing the sport he loves. “Every day is a new challenge,” he said. “We’re constantly evolving, and the future is bright as we continue to grow the next generation of golfers.”
Patrick Cansfield’s journey to the AJGA began much like Flanagan’s, as a junior golfer competing on the AJGA circuit. Growing up in Michigan, Cansfield’s talent and passion for the game helped him earn a spot playing NCAA Division III golf for Oglethorpe University near Atlanta, where he earned a degree in business administration and management. After gaining experience in the financial sector with Merrill Lynch and UBS, Cansfield returned to golf through an AJGA operations internship in 2016, helping deliver 23 tournaments nationwide.
From there, Cansfield’s career advanced rapidly. He became a tournament director and later moved into tournament business affairs, where he helped build the AJGA schedule, secure local sponsors and manage budgets for events across multiple regions. In 2021, he transitioned into his current role as director of business development, focusing on sponsorship sales and foundation initiatives, a position that perfectly blends his financial expertise with his love for the game.
Cansfield’s leadership style combines servant leadership with visionary thinking, rooted in humility, resilience and optimism. Inspired by lessons from family and mentors, he strives to anticipate the future while creating an environment where others can thrive. For him, the most rewarding part of the job is the people, from PGA and LPGA Tour players to junior golfers chasing their dreams. “Those moments of connection, whether with a business partner or a young player celebrating their first AJGA event, are what stand out,” Cansfield said.
Looking forward, Cansfield is focused on the global growth of junior golf. He envisions expanding AJGA events into new regions and uncovering talent in underrepresented communities, ensuring that more juniors have the exposure they need to pursue scholarships and careers in the game.
Together, Ryan Flanagan and Patrick Cansfield embody the AJGA’s mission of developing golf’s next generation. Their stories, from junior competitors to influential leaders, reflect not only their personal dedication to the sport but also their shared belief in golf’s power to change lives. As the game continues to grow and evolve, their leadership ensures that opportunities for young athletes will continue to flourish for decades to come.
Tim Jackman
