Patrick Cansfield, a Michigan native, attended Oglethorpe University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Economics. As a member of the Oglethorpe University Golf Team, he achieved All-Conference and All-Academic Team honorsand was part of the 2012 NCAA National Championship team. In 2016, Cansfield began his career with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) in Georgia, taking on multiple roles in tournament operations and business affairs. Now serving as Director of Development, he oversees more than $2 million in annual revenue and plays a key role in managing the organization’s Online Auction. 
He collaborates with Global Partners, Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), Sports Commissions, and individual donors to expand opportunities for junior golfers striving to earn college scholarships.
An active leader in the sports tourism industry, Cansfield is a member of Sports ETA’s Young Professionals Community Group and is pursuing his Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) designation through the Sports Tourism Learning Institute and Sports ETA. He regularly attends industry conferences, contributes to the Sports Tourism Network, and has been featured on Playeasy.com’s podcast, Swinging for Success: Inside the AJGA’s Impact on Junior Golf. Recognized for his contributions, Cansfield earned the 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for Emerging Sports Event Planner. His dedication to professional growth led him to complete the Dale Carnegie Leadership Training Course, where he received the Highest Achievement Award, as voted by his peers. He resides in Cumming, Georgia, with his wife, Laura. Outside of promoting junior golf on a global scale, he enjoys tennis and cycling.