BRASELTON, Ga. -- Junior golf’s top honors will be announced as 48 boys and 48 girls will be named Rolex Junior All-Americans by Rolex and the American Junior Golf Association.
Introduced by the AJGA in 1978, the Rolex Junior All-America Teams annually recognize those players who have established themselves as the world’s premier junior golfers. This year’s selections distinguished themselves through their outstanding play in 76 national events, 54 of which were conducted by the AJGA.
For the second consecutive year, the Rolex Junior All-America Teams were determined exclusively through the Polo Golf Rankings (as of Oct. 10). Teams include 12 players on the boys’ and girls’ first teams, 12 players on the boys’ and girls’ second teams, and 48 honorable mention recipients (24 boys, 24 girls).
These 96 junior golfers, ages 12-18, hail from 23 states and three foreign countries. The honorees will be formally presented this distinction at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet Nov. 18 at The Grande Ballroom at Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla.
Former Rolex Junior All-Americans comprise the top players on both the PGA and LPGA Tours. Of the PGA TOUR’s recent top-10 money leaders, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia were all Rolex Junior All-Americans. On the LPGA Tour, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Angela Park and Brittany Lincicome were named Rolex Junior All-Americans as junior golfers before working their way to the top of the pay-for-play ranks. Other notable professional AJGA alumni who help make up the list of past Rolex Junior All-Americans include Mark Calcavecchia, Woody Austin, Scott Verplank, Hunter Mahan, Stacy Prammanasudh, Sherri Steinhauer and Christina Kim.
The boys on the Rolex Junior All-America First Team include Peter Uihlein of Bradenton, Fla., and Bud Cauley of Jacksonville, Fla., who appeared on last year’s first team as well. Uihlein, who is the only boy to be named to this team for the third consecutive year, hovered at the top of the Polo Golf Rankings the entire season, never falling lower than fourth. He ascended to the No. 1 spot at season’s end by way of seven top-10 finishes in national events and one AJGA Invitational victory. Cauley, now a two-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American, ended the season at No. 4 in the Polo Golf Rankings with the help of a tie for second at the Thunderbird International Junior and tie for third at The Junior PLAYERS Championship.
Sihwan Kim of Buena Park, Calif., Cory Whitsett of Houston, Wesley Graham of Port Orange, Fla., Cody Gribble of Dallas, Spencer Cole of Greer, S.C., Gregor Main of Danville, Calif., and David Chung of Fayetteville, N.C., are all making return appearances as Rolex Junior All-Americans but are members of the first team for the first time.
Morgan Hoffmann of Saddlebrook, N.J., Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., and Jae Han Chun of Ansung-city, South Korea, celebrated their first appearances on the Rolex Junior All-America Teams with first-team selections.
On the girls’ side, four 2006 Rolex Junior All-America First Team selections made a return appearance, including Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., who was ranked No. 1 in the Polo Golf Rankings at the end of the 2007 season. She put together a season that included eight top-10 finishes and three AJGA victories. Stephanie Kono of Honolulu, a three-time Rolex Junior All-American, Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., a five-time Rolex Junior All-American, and Taylore Karle of Scottsdale, Ariz., a three-time Rolex Junior All-American, compile the remainder of repeat first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans.
Kimberly Kim of Pahoa, Hawaii, Kristen Park of Buena Park, Calif., Ayaka Kaneko of Honolulu, Jane Rah of Torrance, Calif., Allie White of Lancaster, Ohio, and Jennifer Johnson of Carlsbad, Calif., all made their way onto the first team for the first time after being named Rolex Junior All-Americans in past years.
Courtney Ellenbogen of Blacksburg, Va., and Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., earned first-team accolades in their first time being named to the Rolex Junior All-America Teams.
Along with the sponsorship of the Rolex Junior All-America Teams, the distinguished timepiece maker also continues to sponsor the Rolex Junior Players of the Year, the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet and two of the AJGA’s most competitive major championships: the Rolex Tournament of Champions and the Rolex Girls Junior Championship.
Rolex is also the Founding Corporate Partner of the Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant. The ACE Grant is designed to give top-flight junior golfers the ability to play a national junior golf schedule regardless of their financial resources. In 2007, with the help of Rolex and various individual donors, nearly 80 junior golfers were able to compete in events they otherwise could not afford.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.
For more information, please contact Steve Ethun in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1786, sethun@ajga.org or visit the AJGA’s Web site at ajga.org.
# AJGA #
BOYS FIRST TEAM
Bud Cauley, 17, Jacksonville, Fla. – Cauley, 17, has been named Rolex Junior All-American for three consecutive years. With a successful 2007, Cauley was able to earn the No. 4 spot in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings, starting the year with a tie for second at the Thunderbird International Junior and rounding out the AJGA season with a tie for third at The Junior PLAYERS Championship. Cauley is a two-time member of the Canon Cup East Team with three AJGA victories to his name. He has verbally committed to continue his golf career at the University of Alabama in the fall of 2008.
Jae Han Chun, 17, Ansung-City, South Korea – Chun, 17, is a senior at Keystone National High School. In six tournaments in 2007, Chun had five top-10 finishes including two victories. He took home his first win at the Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Boyne Highlands and a week later won the Randy Wise Junior Open. Chun was ranked No. 13 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
David Chung, 17, Fayetteville, N.C. – Chung, 17, a two-time Rolex Junior All-American, had eight top-10 finishes during national junior golf competition in 2007. He finished fourth at The PING Invitational and third at the Scott Robertson Memorial and the Western Junior Championship. Chung was ranked No. 10 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to continue his golf career at Stanford University in the fall of 2008.
Spencer Cole, 18, Greer, S.C. – Cole, 18, who attended the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Fla., but recently enrolled as a freshman at the University of Alabama, ended the AJGA season as the eighth-ranked junior in the final Polo Golf Rankings. He received first-team Rolex Junior All-America honors, in part, by winning the The Verizon Junior Heritage (68-71–139) in Hilton Head, S.C., in February, and the weather-shortened Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan (72-37-36—145) in Braselton, Ga., in April. He ended his junior career as a five-time winner of national junior golf events, a three-time Rolex Junior All-American and a two-time selection to the Canon Cup East Team.
Wesley Graham, 17, Port Orange, Fla. – Graham, 17, a senior at Spruce Creek High School, is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. In 2007, Graham had six top-10 finishes including runner-up finishes at the Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan and the HP Boys Junior Championship. Graham was a member of the 2007 Canon Cup East Team and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings. Graham has verbally committed to continue his golf career as a Florida State Seminole in the fall of 2008.
Cody Gribble, 17, Dallas, Texas – Gribble, 17, is a junior at Highland Park High School. Gribble is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American, this year as a first-team selection. Gribble took home two victories this season – the Wellstone Communities Junior at Craig Ranch in April and the Western Junior Championship in June. He has been a member of the past two Canon Cup West Teams (2006-07) and was ranked No. 7 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Luke Guthrie, 17, Quincy, Ill. – Guthrie, 17, is a senior at Quincy Senior High School. Guthrie recorded four top-10 finishes in national junior golf events in 2007. He took home is first AJGA victory at the Rand Graphics-Wildcat Golf Wichita Junior Championship after carding a 73-72-70–215 tournament total. He also finished third at the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions. Guthrie was a member of the 2007 Canon Cup East Team. He finished the season ranked No. 9 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to continue his golf career as a member of the University of Illinois golf team.
Morgan Hoffmann, 18, Saddlebrook, N.J. – Hoffmann, 18, is a senior at The Heritage Academy and a first-time Rolex Junior All-American. Hoffmann recorded five top-20 finishes at national junior golf tournaments this season, including wins at the inaugural Junior PLAYERS Championship in September and the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Championship. Hoffmann also played for the Canon Cup East Team. Ranked No. 3 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings, Hoffmann has verbally committed to Oklahoma State University.
Sihwan Kim, 18, Buena Park, Calif. – Kim, 18, is a 2007 graduate of Sunny Hills High School and a newly enrolled freshman at Stanford University. He earned his fifth Rolex Junior All-America honor by being named to the first team in 2007. Kim had a great final season of junior golf earning three victories. His victory at the Mission Hills Desert Junior was his third consecutive at the event, tying him with Phil Mickelson for the most consecutive wins at the same event. He also took home the Rolex Tournament of Champions trophy and the Orange Bowl International Junior title. Kim also finished his AJGA career with the second-most victories of all-time with eight. He finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Gregor Main, 18, Danville, Calif. – Main, 18, a senior at the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., earned victories during the 2007 season at the TomatoBank Northern California Classic and at the season-ending PING Invitational where he took home an eight-shot win. The two-time Rolex Junior All-American currently serves on the AJGA Board of Directors as a Player Representative. He was ranked No. 12 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to continue his golf career as a UCLA Bruin for the fall of 2008.
Peter Uihlein, 18, Bradenton, Fla. – Uihlein, 18, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American and is currently a senior at The Pendleton School. He is a four-time Rolex Junior All-American and was named Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2005. He has seven top-10 finishes in national junior golf competition including a victory at the FootJoy Boys Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., and a second-place finish at the Orange Bowl International Junior. Uihlein is a three-time member of the Canon Cup East Team and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Cory Whitsett, 16, Houston, Texas – Whitsett, 16, is a sophomore at Memorial High School and a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. In June 2007, he finished tied for third at the FootJoy Boys Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., in July he notched his first victory at the U.S. Junior Amateur, defeating Anthony Paolucci of Dallas to win 8 and 7. And in October, he finished fifth at The PING Invitational in Stillwater, Okla. Whitsett was ranked No. 5 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Boys Second Team
Joseph Barr, Versailles, Ky.
Austin Cody, North Charleston, S.C.
Sean Dale, Jacksonville, Fla.
Mu Hu, Shen Zhen, China
Mark Johnson, Tulsa, Okla.
Alex Kang, Oak Park, Calif.
Alex Shi Yup Kim, Fullerton, Calif.
Lion Kim, Lake Mary, Fla.
Scott Langley, St. Louis, Mo.
Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas
Ramsey Sahyoun, Reseda, Calif.
Sang Yi, Carrollton, Texas
Boys Honorable Mention
Bo Andrews, Raleigh, N.C.
Sean Brannan, Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Sam Braver, Roswell, Ga.
Jacob Burger, Orangeburg, S.C.
Sam Chien, San Diego, Calif.
John Hahn, Kent, Ohio
Hunter Hamrick, Montgomery, Ala.
Zeyu He, Shen Zhen, China
Michael Jae Woo Im, Fullerton, Calif.
Josh Jones, The Colony, Texas
Chan Kim, Chandler, Ariz.
Brooks Koepka, Wellington, Fla.
William Kropp, Edmond, Okla.
Hyun Seok Lim, Fullerton, Calif.
Jace Long, Dixon, Mo.
Brinson Paolini, Virginia Beach, Va.
John Peterson, Fort Worth, Texas
John Popeck, Washington, Pa.
Patrick Reed, Baton Rouge, La.
David Sanders, Mount Laurel, N.J.
Geoffrey Shaw, Edmond, Okla.
Taylor Travis, Fremont, Calif.
Adam Wennerstrom, Austin, Texas
Andrew Yun, Tacoma, Wash.
GIRLS FIRST TEAM
Courtney Ellenbogen, 16, Blacksburg, Va. – Ellenbogen, 16, is a junior at Blacksburg High School. Her seven top-10 finishes in national junior golf events gave her a No. 9 ranking in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings. Ellenbogen took home her first of three AJGA victories at the Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan over Easter Weekend. She followed that win up with victories at the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions and the TomatoBank Northern California Classic. Ellenbogen was a member of the 2007 Canon Cup East Team.
Mina Harigae, 17, Monterey, Calif. – Harigae, 17, a senior at Stevenson High School, is a five-time Rolex Junior All-American including first-team Rolex Junior All-America honors in 2005, 2006, and now, 2007. In 10 events, Harigae only finished outside the top 10 once during the 2007 season. She took home two victories – The Verizon Junior Heritage and the GolfWorld West Coast Championship – as well as two runner-up finishes – Rolex Girls Junior Championship and TomatoBank Northern California Classic. Harigae is a three-time member of the Canon Cup West Team and a two-time member of the PING Junior Solheim Cup U.S. Team. She finished the season ranked No. 5 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to continue her golf career at Duke University in the fall of 2008.
Vicky Hurst, 17, Melbourne, Fla. – Hurst, 17, a senior at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, has been a Rolex Junior All-America first-team selection in 2006 and 2007. Hurst’s 2007 was a year of achievements with three wins, including two AJGA Invitational victories, and two runner-up finishes at Invitational events. In June, Hurst won the Birks & Mayors Junior Championship at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., at 10-under-par 206. She went on to win back-to-back AJGA Invitationals, first in July at the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship in Malvern, Pa., at 10-under-par 206, five strokes ahead of the competition, and again in October at The PING Invitational in Stillwater, Okla., at 2-over-par 218. Hurst finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Jennifer Johnson, 16, La Quinta, Calif. – Johnson, 16, is a junior at Marywood Palm Valley High School. She is now a two-time Rolex Junior All-American and had a breakout year in 2007. Johnson notched six top-10 finishes including three victories at the Mission Hills Desert Junior, the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior and the PING Phoenix Junior. Johnson also finished tied for third at The PING Invitational. Johnson was ranked No. 12 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Ayaka Kaneko, 17, Honolulu, Hawaii – Kaneko, 17, a senior at the Sacred Hearts Academy, is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. Kaneko had five top-10 finishes during the 2007 season including a victory at the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior and a runner-up finish during the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Kaneko was a member of the victorious Canon Cup West Team where she went undefeated. She finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings. Kaneko has verbally committed to continue her golf career at Pepperdine University in the fall of 2008.
Taylore Karle, 18, Scottsdale, Ariz. – Karle, 17, is a 2007 graduate of Laurel Springs High School and is currenly a freshman at Pepperdine University. A three-time Rolex Junior All-American, Karle was named to the first-team in 2007. With six AJGA victories on her junior golf resume, Karle finished the 2007 season with four top-six finishes including a tie for second at the ReBath Heather Farr Classic held at Longbow Golf Club over Easter Weekend. Karle finished her junior golf career ranked No. 11 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Kimberly Kim, 17, Pahoa, Hawaii – Kim, 17, is now a four-time Rolex Junior All-American. In four years competing in AJGA events, Kim only placed outside the top 25 once, and has celebrated 13 top-10 finishes. In 2007, Kim posted a 7-under-par 209 for top honors at the ReBath Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Ariz., and a 10-under-par 206 for her second victory of the year at the Thunderbird International Junior in Scottsdale, Ariz. Kim was also runner-up at The PING Invitational at Karsten Creek Golf Club in October. Kim finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Stephanie Kono, 17, Honolulu, Hawaii – Kono, 17, a senior at Punahou School, is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American. Kono is a two-time member of the Canon Cup West Team, with an overall record of 6-2-0. In her career, Kono has celebrated eight top-five finishes. In 2007, she finished the ReBath Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Ariz., tied for second, and finished tied for third at The PING Invitational in October and U.S. Girls Championship July. Kono, ranked No. 3 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings, has verbally committed to continue her golf career at UCLA in the fall of 2008.
Kristen Park, 14, Buena Park, Calif. – Park, 14, is an eighth grader at St. Irenaeus Junior High. She is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American after being named to the Rolex Junior All-America First Team in 2007. She finished first at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational and was also victorious at the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship defeating Ayaka Kaneko of Honolulu 4 and 3. Park also had two top-three finishes in AJGA Invitationals during 2007 – tied for second at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and tied for third at the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship. Park was a member of the victorious Canon Cup West Team, the PING Junior Solheim Cup U.S. Team and was ranked No. 4 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Jane Rah, 16, Torrance, Calif. – Rah, 16, a junior at Torrance High School, is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American. Rah earned two victories during the 2007 season – PING Junior at The Woodlands and the Rolex Girls Junior Championship. Rah also finished fourth at the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions. Rah is a three-time member of the Canon Cup West Team as well as a two-time member of the PING Junior Solheim Cup U.S. Team. Rah was ranked No. 7 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings.
Alexis Thompson, 12, Coral Springs, Fla. – Thompson, 12, became the third-youngest player to win an AJGA Open event when she captured the Aldila Junior Classic crown in April. She recorded two additional AJGA top-10 finishes in 2007, including a tie for ninth at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship. Ranked No. 10 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings, Thompson also won the Westfield PGA Junior Championship and became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open.
Allie White, 17, Lancaster, Ohio – White, 17, is a senior at Lancaster High School. She has recently been named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American for the second straight year and is now a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. White had a stellar 2007 junior golf season that included four top-five finishes with a victory at the Hudson Junior Championship. White finished second at the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship and was a member of the Canon Cup East Team and the U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup Team. She finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final 2007 Polo Golf Rankings. White has verbally committed to continue her golf career as a North Carolina Tar Heel in the fall of 2008.
Girls Second Team
Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J.
Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif.
Cydney Clanton, Charlotte, N.C.
Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif.
Danielle Frasier, Encinitas, Calif.
Megan Grehan, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Fla.
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif.
Mary Michael Maggio, Conway, Ark.
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif.
Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla.
Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz.
Girls Honorable Mention
Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J.
Elisa Aoki, Bradenton, Fla.
Kyndall Ardoin, Gibsland, La.
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla.
Won Joo Choi, Temecula, Calif.
Lindy Duncan, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Rebecca Durham, St. Simons Island, Ga.
Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C.
Evan Jensen, Belleair, Fla.
Mitsuki Katahira, Wheaton, Ill.
Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga.
Diane Kwon, Fremont, Calif.
Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif.
Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas
Sarah Salvo, Glendale, Calif.
Haley Sanders, Rogers, Ark.
Milena Savich, Carmel, Ind.
Natalie Sheary, West Hartford, Conn.
Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y.
Jaclyn Sweeney, Bradenton, Fla.
Stephanie Wagstaff, Asheville, N.C.
Jessica Wallace, Langley, B.C.
Kristina Wong, Bradenton, Fla.
Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix, Ariz.
