Polo Golf will sponsor the current ranking system used by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA announced Friday. The Polo Golf Rankings are used in determining Rolex Junior All-America Teams, rounding out AJGA Invitational fields and filling Canon Cup teams.
The comprehensive ranking system was introduced in 2005, but its usage was limited to finalizing AJGA Invitational fields, and providing a resource for the selection of Rolex Junior All-America Teams. The Polo Golf Rankings played a much greater role in 2006. The criteria for each AJGA Invitational was scaled back, as the AJGA relied more heavily on the rankings to fill these fields.
Also in 2006, to determine the Rolex Junior All-America Teams more objectively, the Polo Golf Rankings were the major factor in the selection process. The Rolex Junior All-America Teams will be announced on October 25. With the Polo Golf Rankings viewable to the public, the selection process will be much more transparent and players will know where they stand on a year-round basis.
Additionally, the Canon Cup teams will be determined solely on the Polo Golf Rankings, eliminating captains’ picks. The Polo Golf Rankings are available at ajga.org and are updated after the completion of each week’s ranked tournaments.
“We are thrilled here at Polo Ralph Lauren to continue to expand our partnership with the AJGA – this is truly the future of golf and our future Polo Golf customers," said Denny DeMarino, National Sales Manager, Polo Golf.
Polo Golf, the “Official Sportswear of the AJGA,” outfits the AJGA staff and Canon Cup teams with products that represent the highest quality and design in the golf industry. Polo Golf, who is in its 12th year of sponsorship with the AJGA, also sponsors one of the AJGA’s top invitational events, the Polo Golf Junior Classic, which will be held November 18-24 at Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, Ga.
“The AJGA is very excited about this new partnership with Polo Golf,” said Jason Etzen, AJGA executive vice president of corporate partnerships. “Polo Golf has been a wonderful partner of the AJGA for the past 12 years and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership.”
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 AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 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 support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
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 Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 39 years, Polo's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include "Polo by Ralph Lauren", "Ralph Lauren Purple Label", "Ralph Lauren", "Black Label", "Blue Label", "Lauren by Ralph Lauren", "Polo Jeans Co.", "RRL", "RLX", "Rugby", "RL Childrenswear", "Chaps", and "Club Monaco" among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to http://investor.polo.com.
For more information, please contact Tonya Oskarson (toskarson@ajga.org) in the AJGA Development Department at (770) 868-4200.