BRASELTON, Ga. -- Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the American Junior Golf Association’s Polo Golf Junior Classic will play host to the top junior golfers in the world at Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., Nov. 17-23. This is the event’s second stint in the Orlando area after being conducted at Walt Disney World Resort from 1995-2003.
The Polo Golf Junior Classic, which has been conducted annually since 1978, marks the first tournament of the AJGA’s 2008 season. The invitation-only field is made up of 156 boys and girls, ages 12-18, from around the world. Last year’s event featured players from 28 states and six foreign countries (Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Sweden).
The event consists of 36 holes of stroke play, after which the field is cut to the top 32 boys and 32 girls. Match play then decides the champion in each division. The Ginn Reunion Resort’s Legacy and Independence Courses will be used for the stroke play rounds and the first round of match play. The final four rounds of match play will be held on the Independence Course.
The list of former champions at the Polo Golf Junior Classic is one of the most impressive on the AJGA’s schedule of 81 events. Morgan Pressel (2004), Brian Harman (2003), Paula Creamer (2002), Nick Dougherty (1999), Hunter Mahan (1998), Beth Bauer (1995, 1997), Trevor Immelman (1995), Grace Park (1994, 1996), Tiger Woods (1991) and Stewart Cink (1989) all won the prestigious title during their careers with the AJGA.
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. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. 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, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.
For more information, please contact Steve Ethun (sethun@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1786 or visit the AJGA’s Web site at ajga.org.
Contacts: Steve Ethun,
American Junior Golf Association
(678) 425-1786
Nikki Lindgren,
Ginn Reunion Resort
(407) 662-1026
