Newsmakers: January 8, 2008

Junior Round-up

Alex Ching

Sean Einhaus of Borken, Germany, took home the title at the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship December 30 after shooting a 6-under-par 274. He finished regulation holes tied with the 2007 Rolex Junior Player of the Year Peter Uihlein of Bradenton, Fla. On the first playoff hole, Uihlein missed a 3-foot par putt to give Einhaus the victory. The two players will soon be competing together when they join the Oklahoma State University golf team next fall.

12-year-old Alexis Thompson had a busy two weeks. She successfully defended her title at the Doral-Publix Junior Classic December 23. She then followed that up with her first major amateur title at the Dixie Amateur January 6.

Alex Ching of Honolulu, will compete in his first professional event this week when he tees off at the PGA TOUR's Sony Open Thursday. Ching qualified for the event after winning the one-spot qualifier December 17. Ching competed in the 2007 Mission Hills Desert Junior where he finished tied for 15th. Ching will continue playing golf at the University of San Diego in the fall of 2008.

Lindy Duncan of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., earned a spot in the LPGA's Ginn OPEN April 14-20 after defeating Sookhee Baek on the second playoff hole during the Ginn OPEN Got Game Challenge January 6. Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg, Pa., will also participate in the qualifier prior to the event April 15.