BRASELTON, Ga. -- The field has been set for the 2007 Polo Golf Junior Classic, one of the world’s most prestigious junior golf tournaments. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Polo Golf Junior Classic will be played at the Ginn Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., Nov. 17-23. This year’s field will feature 80 Rolex Junior All-Americans, including 2007 Rolex Junior Players of the Year Peter Uihlein of Bradenton, Fla., and Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla.
The Polo Golf Junior Classic, which has been conducted annually since 1978, marks the first tournament of the American Junior Golf Association’s 2008 season. The invitation-only field is made up of 159 boys and girls, ages 12-18, from around the world. The 2007 Polo Golf Junior Classic will feature players from 30 states and 10 foreign countries (Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, China and Taiwan).
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.
At the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic, Morgan Hoffmann of Saddlebrook, N.J., captured his first AJGA Invitational title after defeating Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, Calif., 3 & 2, in the match play finals at Sea Island Golf Club. Hoffmann, ranked No. 2 in the Polo Golf Rankings, will return to defend his title after winning the inaugural Junior PLAYERS Championship in September.
In the Girls Division, Esther Choe of Scottsdale, Ariz., notched a 3 & 2 victory over Cydney Clanton of Charlotte, N.C., to claim her fourth AJGA Invitational crown. Choe, a 2007 graduate, just completed her first season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour.
As the 2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, Uihlein will look to dethrone Hoffmann and earn his second AJGA Invitational victory of the year. In 2007, Uihlein captured the FootJoy Boys Invitational while also finishing fourth at the Thunderbird International Junior and tied for fourth at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Uihlein and Hoffmann are two of the nine first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans in the Boys Division that will compete at this year’s Polo Golf Junior Classic. Bud Cauley (Jacksonville, Fla.), David Chung (Fayetteville, N.C.), Wesley Graham (Port Orange, Fla.), Cody Gribble (Dallas), Luke Guthrie (Quincy, Ill.), Gregor Main (Danville, Calif.), and Cory Whitsett (Houston, Texas), all hope to use their stellar seasons as momentum heading into the event.
Hurst headlines the Girls Division field as the 2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year. This season, Hurst captured three wins, including two AJGA Invitational titles, while also finishing second three times.
In addition to Hurst, 10 other first-team girl Rolex Junior All-Americans will look to start the 2008 season with an Invitational victory. Courtney Ellenbogen (Blacksburg, Va.), Mina Harigae (Monterey, Calif.), Jennifer Johnson (La Quinta, Calif.), Ayaka Kaneko (Honolulu), Kimberly Kim (Pahoa, Hawaii), Stephanie Kono (Honolulu), Kristen Park (Buena Park, Calif.), Jane Rah (Torrance, Calif.), Alexis Thompson (Coral Springs, Fla.), and Allie White (Lancaster, Ohio) are all primed to take home the title at the 2008 season’s opening event.
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 (Palmer) and Independence (Watson) 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 (Watson) Course.
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.
- AJGA -
Polo Golf Junior Classic
Ginn Reunion Resort - Legacy (Palmer) & Independence (Watson) Courses
Reunion, Fla.
November 17-23, 2007
Quick Facts
• There are 80 Rolex Junior All-Americans entered in the tournament field, including Rolex Junior Players of the Year Peter Uihlein and Vicky Hurst.
• Thirty states, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, China and Taiwan are represented in the field of 159 players, which is comprised of boys and girls ages 12-18.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, November 17
7:30 - 9:40 a.m.: Practice Round off Nos. 1 and 10 tees
Legacy (Palmer) Course
Noon - 1:10 p.m.: Practice Round off Nos. 1 and 10 tees
Independence (Watson) Course
Sunday, November 18
7:30 - 8:40 a.m.: Practice Round off Nos. 1 and 10 tees
Legacy (Palmer) Course
7:30 - 9:40 a.m.: Practice Round off Nos. 1 and 10 tees
Independence (Watson) Course
6 - 9 p.m.: Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet
Grande Ballroom
Monday, November 19
7:30 - 9:27 a.m.: First Round - Stroke Play
Legacy (Palmer) and Independence (Watson) Courses (Nos. 1 & 10 Tees)
Tuesday, November 20
7:30 - 9:27 a.m.: Second Round - Stroke Play
Legacy (Palmer) and Independence (Watson) Courses (Nos. 1 & 10 Tees)
3 p.m.: Stroke Play - Awards Ceremony
Scoreboard
Wednesday, November 21
7:30 - 9:27 a.m.: First-Round Matches
Legacy (Palmer) and Independence (Watson) Courses (Nos. 1 & 10 Tees)
Noon - 1:10 p.m.: Second-Round Matches
Independence (Watson) Course (Nos. 1 & 10 Tees) Thursday, November 22
7:30 - 8:40 a.m.: Quarterfinal Matches
Independence (Watson) Course (No. 1 Tee)
12 - 12:30 p.m.: Semifinal Matches
Independence (Watson) Course (No. 1 Tee)
Friday, November 23
8 - 8:15 a.m.: Championship Matches
Independence (Watson) Course (No. 1 Tee)
First-Team Rolex Junior All-Americans to Watch
PETER UIHLEIN, Bradenton, Fla. (Polo Golf Ranking: 1)
2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year...Became the fifth boy to win Rolex Junior Player of the Year honors twice, and first to do so in non-consecutive years...Started the year with a fourth-place finish at the Thunderbird International Junior, followed by his first AJGA Invitational win at the FootJoy Boys Invitational...Finished tied for fourth at the Rolex Tournament of Champions...Advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur, losing to eventual runner-up Anthony Paolucci...Recorded a tie for ninth at the inaugural Junior PLAYERS Championship...Three-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Three-time member of the Canon Cup East Team
MORGAN HOFFMANN, Saddlebrook, N.J. (Polo Golf Ranking: 2)
Won the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic, defeating Rickie Fowler, 3 & 2...Captured the crown at the inaugural Junior PLAYERS Championship...First-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Member of the 2007 Canon Cup East Team
BUD CAULEY, Jacksonville, Fla. (Polo Golf Ranking: 3)
Posted three top-three finishes in 2007...Opened the season with a second-place finish at the Verizon Junior Heritage, followed by a tie for second at the Thunderbird International Junior...Finished tied for third at the Junior PLAYERS Championship...Two-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Two-time member of the Canon Cup East Team
CORY WHITSETT, Houston, Texas (Polo Golf Ranking: 4)
Won the 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur, defeating Anthony Paolucci 8 & 7 in the 36-hole final...Finished tied for third at the FootJoy Boys Invitational...Carded a fifth-place finish at The PING Invitational...Recorded five top-10 finishes in 2007...Two-time Rolex Junior All-American...Member of the 2007 Canon Cup West Team
WESLEY GRAHAM, Port Orange, Fla. (Polo Golf Ranking: 5)
Advanced to the round of 16 at the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic...Recorded runner-up finishes at the Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan and the HP Boys Junior Championship...Finished tied for eighth at the Thunderbird International Junior and tied for 10th at the Rolex Tournament of Champions...Advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur, losing to eventual champion Cory Whitsett...Two-time Rolex Junior All-American
VICKY HURST, Melbourne, Fla. (Polo Golf Ranking: 1)
2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year...Posted three victories and three runner-up finishes in 2007...Won two AJGA Invitationals – the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship and The PING Invitational...Won the Birks & Mayors Junior Championship for the second year in a row...Finished second at the Thunderbird International Junior, and tied for second at the Rolex Tournament of Champions...Two-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Two-time member of the Canon Cup East Team
KIMBERLY KIM, Pahoa, Hawaii (Polo Golf Ranking: 2)
Competed in 11 events in 2007 and finished in the top 10 at each tournament...Won the Thunderbird International Junior and ReBath Heather Farr Classic...Finished second at The PING Invitational, Westfield PGA Junior Championship and Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship...Four-time Rolex Junior All-American...Two-time member of the Canon Cup West Team and PING Junior Solheim Cup U.S. Team
STEPHANIE KONO, Honolulu, Hawaii (Polo Golf Ranking: 3)
Posted five top-three finishes in the 2007 season...Won the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship...Tied for second at the ReBath Heather Farr Classic...Advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship...Two-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Two-time member of the Canon Cup West Team
KRISTEN PARK, Buena Park, Calif. (Polo Golf Ranking: 4)
Recorded five top-five finishes in 2007, including a pair of victories...Defeated Ayaka Kaneko in the match play final of the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, 4 & 3...Won the Kathy Whitworth Invitational...Finished tied for second at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and tied for third at the McDonald’s Betsy Rawls Girls Championship...Two-time Rolex Junior All-American...Member of the 2007 Canon Cup West Team
MINA HARIGAE, Monterey, Calif. (Polo Golf Ranking: 5)
Carded nine top-10 finishes in 2007, including two victories...Won the GolfWorld West Coast Championship and The Verizon Junior Heritage...Finished second at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship...Three-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American...Three-time member of the Canon Cup West Team
Boys Division
Bjorn Akesson, Malmo, Sweden
Spencer Anderson, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Bo Andrews, Raleigh, N.C.
Mauricio Azcue, Mexico City, Mexico
Blayne Barber, Lake City, Fla.
Joseph Barr, Versailles, Ky.
Wilson Bowen, Winnetka, Ill.
Sean Brannan, Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Sam Braver, Roswell, Ga.
Bud Cauley, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sam Chien, San Diego, Calif.
Christopher Cho, Kent, Wash.
Rak Cho, Brea, Calif.
David Chung, Fayetteville, N.C.
Austin Cody, North Charleston, S.C.
Benjamin Cohen, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Andrew Colvin, Longwood, Fla.
Michael Cromie, Cary, N.C.
Sean Dale, Jacksonville, Fla.
Brandon Dalinka, Newtown, Pa.
Sean Einhaus, Borken, Germany
Aaron Fitzpatrick, Heidelberg, Germany
Alex Frankel, Atlanta, Ga.
Wesley Graham, Port Orange, Fla.
Mitchell Gray, Florence, S.C.
Cody Gribble, Dallas, Texas
Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill.
Hunter Hamrick, Montgomery, Ala.
Jeff Hatten, Farmington, Conn.
Zeyu He, Shen Zhen, China
Tommy Higham, Shelley, Idaho
Morgan Hoffmann, Saddlebrook, N.J.
Mu Hu, Shen Zhen, China
Michael Jae Woo Im, Fullerton, Calif.
Sam Jandel, Dayton, Ohio
Josh Jones, The Colony, Texas
Alex Kang, Oak Park, Calif.
Hojin Kang, Longwood, Fla.
Jeffrey Kang, Fullerton, Calif.
Masahiro Kawamura, Yokkaichi-City, Japan
Pete Kellermann, Jacksonville, Fla.
Maximilian Kieffer, Duesseldorf, Germany
Alex Shi Yup Kim, Fullerton, Calif.
Chan Kim, Chandler, Ariz.
Brooks Koepka, Wellington, Fla.
Anders Kristiansen, Hafslundsoy, Norway
William Kropp, Edmond, Okla.
James Kwon, Houston, Texas
Shane Lebow, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Jordan Lee, Tarzana, Calif.
Hyun Seok Lim, Fullerton, Calif.
Jace Long, Dixon, Mo.
Gregor Main, Danville, Calif.
Erik Mayer, Appleton, Wis.
Cory Mehl, Seattle, Wash.
Paul Mitzel, Mercer Island, Wash.
Tommy Chung Hao Mou, Taipei, Taiwan
Will Ovenden, Spartanburg, S.C.
Brinson Paolini, Virginia Beach, Va.
Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas
Mark Pollak, San Antonio, Texas
Patrick Reed, Baton Rouge, La.
Ramsey Sahyoun, Reseda, Calif.
David Sanders, Mt. Laurel, N.J.
Matthew Schovee, Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
Stephen Scialo, New City, N.Y.
Geoffrey Shaw, Edmond, Okla.
Ty Spinella, Aledo, Texas
Dong Su, Richmond, British Columbia
Taylor Travis, Fremont, Calif.
Peter Uihlein, Bradenton, Fla.
Christopher Walker, The Woodlands, Texas
Minghao Wang, Reunion, Fla.
Adam Wennerstrom, Austin, Texas
Cory Whitsett, Houston, Texas
Pontus Widegren, Danderyd, Sweden
Brock Wilson, Beaumont, Texas
Yao-Chun Yang, Troy, Mich.
Sang Yi, Carrollton, Texas
Michael Yiu, Laguna Hills, Calif.
Andrew Yun, Chandler, Ariz.
Robbie Ziegler, Canby, Ore.
Girls Division
Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J.
Elisa Aoki, Bradenton, Fla.
Kyndall Ardoin, Gibsland, La.
Ellie Arkin, Reedsburg, Wis.
Lila Barton, Dallas, Texas
Brooke Bettis, St. Charles, Ill.
Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J.
Sydney Burlison, Salinas, Calif.
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla.
Christine Cho, La Crescenta, Calif.
Won Joo Choi, Temecula, Calif.
Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala.
Chelsey Cothran, Springdale, Ark.
Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif.
Lindy Duncan, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Courtney Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Va.
Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C.
Danielle Frasier, Encinitas, Calif.
Courtney Gunter, Matthews, N.C.
Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.
Caroline Hedwall, Löddeköpinge, Sweden
Vicky Hurst, Melbourne, Fla.
Evan Jensen, Belleair, Fla.
Pearl Jin, San Gabriel, Calif.
Eunae Jo, Ridgewood, N.J.
Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif.
Ayaka Kaneko, Honolulu, Hawaii
Mitsuki Katahira, Wheaton, Ill.
Casey Ann Kennedy, Venice, Fla.
Joy Kim, Pinole, Calif.
Kimberly Kim, Pahoa, Hawaii
Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga.
Sue Kim, Langley, British Columbia
Jennifer Kirby, Paris, Ontario
MacKinzie Kline, Encinitas, Calif.
Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii
Louise Larsson, Forshaga, Sweden
Isabelle Lendl, Bradenton, Fla.
Marika Lendl, Bradenton, Fla.
Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif.
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif.
Mary Michael Maggio, Conway, Ark.
Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas
Haley Millsap, Pace, Fla.
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif.
Katy Nugent, Wichita, Kan.
Kaori Ohe, Yamagata-City, Japan
Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif.
Lalita Patipaksiri, Cypress, Calif.
Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif.
Margarita Ramos, Mexico City, Mexico
Crystal Reeves, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Kamryn Ruffin, Pryor, Okla.
Sarah Salvo, Glendale, Calif.
Haley Sanders, Rogers, Ark.
Milena Savich, Carmel, Ind.
Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif.
Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla.
Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y.
Marta Silva Zamora, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
Heather Smith, Fort Worth, Texas
Jaclyn Sweeney, Bradenton, Fla.
Katie Sylvan, San Diego, Calif.
Tessa Teachman, Baton Rouge, La.
Julia Thead, Poway, Calif.
Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla.
Stephanie Wagstaff, Asheville, N.C.
Jessica Wallace, Langley, British Columbia
Sally Watson, Edinburgh, Scotland
Lauren Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Lindsey Weaver, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio
Kristina Wong, Bradenton, Fla.
Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix, Ariz.
Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz.
Field accurate as of Nov. 6, 2007
Past Champions
2006: Morgan Hoffmann, Saddlebrook, N.J.; Esther Choe, Scottsdale, Ariz.
2005: Jamie Lovemark, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Angela Park, Torrance, Calif.
2004: James Lee, La Habra, Calif.; Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla.
2003: Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga.; Jennie Lee, Huntington Beach, Calif.
2002: Niklas Lemke, Linkoping, Sweden; Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif.
2001: Spencer Levin, Elk Grove, Calif.; Aree Song Wongluekiet, Bradenton, Fla.
2000: Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn.; Elizabeth Janangelo, West Hartford, Conn.
1999: Nick Dougherty, Lancashire, England; Naree Song Wongluekiet, Bradenton, Fla.
1998: Hunter Mahan, McKinney, Texas; Celeste Troche, Asuncion, Paraguay
1997: Erik Compton, Miami, Fla.; Beth Bauer, Valrico, Fla.
1996: John Klauk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Grace Park, Phoenix, Ariz.
1995: Trevor Immelman, South Africa; Beth Bauer, Valrico, Fla.
1994: Mark Northey, Roswell, Ga.; Grace Park, Phoenix, Ariz.
1993: Michael Boyd, Tulsa, Okla.; Kellee Booth, Coto de Caza, Calif.
1992: Eddy Lee, Corona, Calif.; Wendi Patterson, Atlanta, Ga.
1991: Tiger Woods, Cypress, Calif.; Emilee Klein, Studio City, Calif.
1990: Chris Stutts, Leoma, Tenn.; Emilee Klein, Studio City, Calif.
1989: Stewart Cink, Florence, Ala.; Vicki Goetze, Hull, Ga.
1988: Jaxon Brigman, Abilene, Texas; Vicki Goetze, Hull, Ga.
1987: Jeff Manson, Long Beach, Calif.; Adele Moore, Dallas, Texas
1986: Bryan Pemberton, Pleasanton, Calif.; Stefania Croce, Milan, Italy
1985: Steve Termeer, Conroe, Texas; Kristin Parker, The Woodlands, Texas
1984: Brian Watts, Carrollton, Texas; Cheryl Morley, Winter Park, Fla.
1983: Michael Bradley, Valrico, Fla.; Page Dunlap, Sarasota, Fla.
1982: Peter Jordan, Woodale, Ill.; Tracy Kerdyk, Coral Gables, Fla.
1981: Sam Randolph, San Diego, Calif.; Jenny Lidback, Baton Rouge, La.
1980: Adam Armagost, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Amy Benz , Clearwater, Fla.
1979: Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla., Heather Farr, Phoenix, Ariz.
1978: Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla.; Jenny Lidback Baton Rouge, La.
Media Accommodations
The AJGA is prepared to make covering the Polo Golf Junior Classic an enjoyable experience. Whether it be on-site professional communications staff or timely results, the AJGA is ready to honor all media requests. At the event, the AJGA will provide:
• Information about the tournament and its participants leading up to the event
• Assistance with player interviews before, during and after the tournament
• A golf cart to make covering the tournament as easy as possible
• Assistance locating players on the course
• A recap with results after each tournament round in a timely manner
During the week of the tournament, the AJGA will have at least four communications representatives on hand to assist the media. These media officials will write an AP style recap and produce agate results each tournament day. These will then be faxed and/or e-mailed to all media outlets. Interviews with AJGA Tournament Directors, Tournament Chairmen and juniors can be conducted before/after every round.
The AJGA Web site, ajga.org, is a tremendous media resource. The tournament Web site, which is linked from the AJGA homepage, includes recaps, results, live scoring, list of participants, tee times and sponsor information.
Please contact Steve Ethun in the AJGA Communications Department before the tournament by phone at (678) 425-1786 or by e-mail at sethun@ajga.org so he may be better prepared to serve you at the tournament site.
