Newsmakers: February 18, 2008

Junior Round-up

Two-time Rolex Junior All-American Ayaka Kaneko of Honolulu, will be right at home this weekend when she tees off at the LPGA’s Fields Open in Hawaii. Kaneko received a sponsor exemption into the event, which is being held at Ko Olina Resort in Honolulu.

Also receiving a sponsor exemption into this week’s field is Rikako Morita of Kyoto, Japan. Morita received honorable mention Rolex Junior All-America honors in 2006 after finishing third at the 2006 Rolex Girls Junior Championship. 

College Round-up

Rice’s Michael Buttacavoli took home top honors at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational. The event was held at Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah. Buttacavoli finished at 7-under-par with Denver’s Scott Tashie but won in a playoff. Kentucky took home team honors.

Glory Yang

Iowa’s Tyrette Metzendorf took home the individual victory Feb. 12 at the Baja Invitational played at the Bajamar Resort. Her 8-over-par helped the Hawkeyes clinch the team victory.

UCLA was victorious at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge that finished up Feb. 13 at Palos Verdes Golf Club. Glory Yang led the team with a 3-over-par 216 to tie for second.

Taking home top honors at the event was Natalie Sheary of Wake Forest, who fired a 2-over-par 215 tournament total. In a five-way tie with Yang were Pepperdine’s Taylore Karle, Arizona State’s Azahara Munoz and Florida’s Whitney Myers and Jessica Yadloczky.

Stephanie Yocum of Cal Poly shot a 7-over-par 151 tournament total to take home the individual victory at the Lady Braveheart Challenge held at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif., Feb. 12. Yocum finished one shot ahead of the field and helped lead Cal Poly to the team victory.

Professional Round-up

Three-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year Phil Mickelson earned his 33rd PGA TOUR victory Sunday at the Northern Trust Open. Mickelson shot a final round 1-under-par 70 to stay two shots ahead of Jeff Quinney and move up to 13th all-time in career PGA TOUR victories.