Junior golf’s top honors were announced Tuesday, Oct. 29, as 49 boys and 48 girls were named Rolex Junior All-Americans
by Rolex and the American Junior Golf Association.
Introduced by the AJGA in 1978, the Rolex Junior All-America Teams annually recognize players who have proven to be the world’s premier junior golfers. This year’s selections distinguished themselves through their outstanding play in 114 national events, 100 of which were conducted by the AJGA. The Rolex Junior All-America Teams were determined exclusively through the Polo Golf Rankings as of Oct. 16.
The teams are comprised of 97 junior golfers, ages 13-18, from 24 states, Puerto Rico and seven foreign countries (Bolivia, China, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and Zimbabwe). These standouts will be honored at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet, Nov. 24, at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Five girls from the 2012 Rolex Junior All-America First Team return in 2013, including Rolex Junior Player of the Year Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif., who makes her sixth consecutive appearance on the First Team. In her final junior golf season, Lee won all three starts of the year, competed for the victorious squads at the Wyndham Cup (West Team) and PING Junior Solheim Cup (United States), and earned the No. 1 spot in the Polo Golf Rankings. The six-time, first-team Rolex Junior All-American totaled nine career AJGA victories, four coming at Invitationals.
Also celebrating six years on the Rolex Junior All-America Team is Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., who returns to the First Team for the third consecutive year. Chung earned her spot after five top-10 finishes in AJGA competition in 2013. The year began with a runner-up finish at the ANNIKA Invitational in January and two months later, she won the Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions with a tournament-low, final-round 68. Chung also tied for second at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, an event she has competed in consecutively since 2008.
Casey Danielson of Osceola, Wis., makes her third appearance on the Rolex Junior All-America Team after previous years on the First Team (2012) and Second Team (2011). In her final season with the AJGA, Danielson finished third at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and competed on the victorious PING Junior Solheim Cup United States team. Danielson, a former AJGA Player Representative, is a freshman on the Stanford women’s golf team.
Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif., was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American for the second consecutive year. At No. 5 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Lee posted six top-six finishes, highlighted by runner-up showings at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and The PING Invitational. After helping the West Team win the Wyndham Cup, she helped capture the PING Junior Solheim Cup for the U.S. team.
The fifth girl to return to the First Team is Nicole Morales of South Salem, N.Y., who recorded four top-four AJGA finishes this season. Morales played in the quarterfinals of the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November 2012 and won the Thunderbird International Junior in May. She tied for fourth at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and The PING Invitational later in the year. The 2013 AJGA Player Representative played on the winning PING Junior Solheim Cup United States team as well as the East Team at the 2013 Wyndham Cup.
The seven remaining First Team selections are: Abbey Carlson of Lake Mary, Fla.; Yueer Cindy Feng of Orlando, Fla.; Megan Khang of Rockland, Mass.; Amy Lee of Brea, Calif.; Gabriella Then of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Lilia Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif.; and Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif.
First-team Rolex Junior All-Americans
Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla.
Carlson, 15, earned a spot on the First Team after a number of top finishes in 2013. In March, she recorded a third-place finish at the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Château Élan and began the summer with a sixth-place showing at the AJGA Junior at Quad Cities. Building off the momentum, the high school sophomore posted two runner-up finishes in the heat of the summer at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship and Junior PGA Championship. She capped the season with a T6 showing at The PING Invitational and currently sits at No. 8 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Carlson, 15, earned a spot on the First Team after a number of top finishes in 2013. In March, she recorded a third-place finish at the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Château Élan and began the summer with a sixth-place showing at the AJGA Junior at Quad Cities. Building off the momentum, the high school sophomore posted two runner-up finishes in the heat of the summer at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship and Junior PGA Championship. She capped the season with a T6 showing at The PING Invitational and currently sits at No. 8 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J.
Chung, 18, earned first-team honors after securing five top-10 finishes in AJGA competition in 2013. The year began with a runner-up finish at the ANNIKA Invitational in January and two months later, she won the Goodman Networks Junior at Traditions with a tournament-low, final-round 68. Chung also finished tied for second at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, an event she has competed in consecutively since 2008. She also has earned Rolex Junior All-America honors since 2008, four years on the first team (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013) and two on the second (2009, 2010). Chung now plays for the University of Southern California (USC) women’s golf team.
Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis.
Danielson, 18, opened her 2013 campaign with a quarterfinals appearance at the Polo Golf Junior Classic before continuing on to finish among the top 10 in three of four starts. In her final season with the AJGA, Danielson finished third at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and competed on the victorious PING Junior Solheim Cup United States team. Danielson, a former AJGA Player Representative and three-time Rolex Junior All-American honoree is a freshman on the Stanford women’s golf team.
Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla.
Feng, 17, is No. 6 in the Polo Golf Rankings after adding five top-10 national finishes to her decorated junior career. After a T3 showing at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, she captured a T2 finish at the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Innisbrook hosted by Sean O’Hair. In addition to a ninth-place showing at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, the high school senior reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Feng was named to the First Team after earning first-team Rolex Junior All-America accolades in 2009 and 2010.
Feng, 17, is No. 6 in the Polo Golf Rankings after adding five top-10 national finishes to her decorated junior career. After a T3 showing at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, she captured a T2 finish at the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Innisbrook hosted by Sean O’Hair. In addition to a ninth-place showing at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, the high school senior reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Feng was named to the First Team after earning first-team Rolex Junior All-America accolades in 2009 and 2010.
Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass.
Khang, 16, earned first-team honors after four national junior golf finishes inside the top three, including a win at The PING Invitational, in 2013. The victory was her top finish in AJGA competition and her best finish nationally was a tie for second at the Scott Robertson Memorial in May. The Rockland High School junior is aligned second in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif.
In her final junior golf season, Lee, 18, won all three starts of 2013, competed for the victorious United States squad at the PING Junior Solheim Cup, helped the West team win the Wyndham Cup, and earned the No. 1 spot in the Polo Golf Rankings. This marks the sixth time she has been named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American. A 2013 graduate of Valencia High School, Lee totaled four prestigious wins at AJGA Invitationals: 2013 Rolex Tournament of Champions, 2013 Rolex Girls Junior Championship, 2012 The PING Invitational and 2012 ANNIKA Invitational. By winning the Rolex Tournament of Champions and Rolex Girls Junior Championship, Lee became the first girl since Kellee Booth in 1993 to win both tournaments in the same year. Lee is currently a freshman at UCLA.
In her final junior golf season, Lee, 18, won all three starts of 2013, competed for the victorious United States squad at the PING Junior Solheim Cup, helped the West team win the Wyndham Cup, and earned the No. 1 spot in the Polo Golf Rankings. This marks the sixth time she has been named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American. A 2013 graduate of Valencia High School, Lee totaled four prestigious wins at AJGA Invitationals: 2013 Rolex Tournament of Champions, 2013 Rolex Girls Junior Championship, 2012 The PING Invitational and 2012 ANNIKA Invitational. By winning the Rolex Tournament of Champions and Rolex Girls Junior Championship, Lee became the first girl since Kellee Booth in 1993 to win both tournaments in the same year. Lee is currently a freshman at UCLA.
Amy Lee, Brea, Calif.
Lee, 16, was named to the First Team after winning the Junior PGA Championship and recording five top-10 finishes in AJGA competition. A 2012 second-team Rolex Junior All-American, Lee finished third at the Thunderbird International Junior and was a member of the victorious U.S. squad at the PING Junior Solheim Cup. She is currently No. 3 in the Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to USC. Lee is a junior at Brea Olinda High School.
Lee, 16, was named to the First Team after winning the Junior PGA Championship and recording five top-10 finishes in AJGA competition. A 2012 second-team Rolex Junior All-American, Lee finished third at the Thunderbird International Junior and was a member of the victorious U.S. squad at the PING Junior Solheim Cup. She is currently No. 3 in the Polo Golf Rankings and has verbally committed to USC. Lee is a junior at Brea Olinda High School.
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Lee, 15, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American for the second consecutive year. At No. 5 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Lee posted six top-six finishes, highlighted by runner-up showings at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and The PING Invitational. After helping the West Team win the Wyndham Cup, she helped capture the PING Junior Solheim Cup for the U.S. team. Lee is a sophomore at Mira Costa High School.
Lee, 15, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American for the second consecutive year. At No. 5 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Lee posted six top-six finishes, highlighted by runner-up showings at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and The PING Invitational. After helping the West Team win the Wyndham Cup, she helped capture the PING Junior Solheim Cup for the U.S. team. Lee is a sophomore at Mira Costa High School.
Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y.
Morales, 17, earned a spot on the First Team after four AJGA finishes in the top four this season. Morales played in the quarterfinals of the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November and won the Thunderbird International Junior in May. She finished tied for fourth at the Rolex Tournament of Champions and The PING Invitational later in the year. Morales, a Player Representative to the AJGA Board of Directors, appeared on the Golf Channel’s Morning Drive to talk about pace of play as a part of her duties. She has earned first-team Rolex Junior All-America honors twice in her career and played on the winning PING Junior Solheim Cup United States team as well as the East Team at the 2013 Wyndham Cup.
Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
A 2013 graduate of Upland High School, Then makes her second and final appearance on the First Team. A two-time AJGA champion, including the 2011 Rolex Tournament of Champions victor, Then closed her junior career with wins at the Scott Robertson Memorial and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Her final AJGA season was highlighted by a T7 finish at the Thunderbird International Junior. A freshman at USC, she closed her AJGA career at No. 6 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
A 2013 graduate of Upland High School, Then makes her second and final appearance on the First Team. A two-time AJGA champion, including the 2011 Rolex Tournament of Champions victor, Then closed her junior career with wins at the Scott Robertson Memorial and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Her final AJGA season was highlighted by a T7 finish at the Thunderbird International Junior. A freshman at USC, she closed her AJGA career at No. 6 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif.
Vu, 16, makes her first appearance on the First Team after previously receiving Rolex Junior All-America honorable mention accolades in 2010. The Fountain Valley High School junior finished top 10 in all six AJGA starts in 2013, including a third career AJGA victory at the AJGA Junior at Robinson Ranch. She closed the season with runner-up performances at the AJGA Junior Challenge and The PING Invitational. Vu currently sits at No. 7 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Vu, 16, makes her first appearance on the First Team after previously receiving Rolex Junior All-America honorable mention accolades in 2010. The Fountain Valley High School junior finished top 10 in all six AJGA starts in 2013, including a third career AJGA victory at the AJGA Junior at Robinson Ranch. She closed the season with runner-up performances at the AJGA Junior Challenge and The PING Invitational. Vu currently sits at No. 7 in the Polo Golf Rankings.
Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif.
At No. 4 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Wu, 16, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American. She opened the season with a semifinal appearance at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November 2012 and a victory at the ANNIKA Invitational in January. She posted T15 finishes at the Thunderbird International Junior and Rolex Tournament of Champions, and advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The Diamond Bar High School junior was a member of the winning squads at the Wyndham Cup (West Team) and the PING Junior Solheim Cup (U.S. team). She has verbally committed to UCLA.
At No. 4 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Wu, 16, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American. She opened the season with a semifinal appearance at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November 2012 and a victory at the ANNIKA Invitational in January. She posted T15 finishes at the Thunderbird International Junior and Rolex Tournament of Champions, and advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The Diamond Bar High School junior was a member of the winning squads at the Wyndham Cup (West Team) and the PING Junior Solheim Cup (U.S. team). She has verbally committed to UCLA.
Second Team
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas
Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii
Kristen Gillman, Austin, Texas
Alexandra Kaui, Las Vegas, Nev.
Nelly Korda, Bradenton, Fla.
Hannah O'Sullivan, Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Kaitlyn Papp, Austin, Texas
Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif.
Kathleen Scavo, Benicia, Calif.
Sierra Sims, Austin, Texas
Samantha Wagner, Windermere, Fla.
Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif.
Honorable Mention
Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla.
Emily Campbell, Carrollton, Texas
Alice Chen, Princeton, N.J.
Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hailee Cooper, Montgomery, Texas
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii
Rachel Dai, Milton, Ga.
Mai Dechathipat, Howey in the Hills, Fla.
Alexandra Farnsworth, Nashville, Tenn.
Muni He, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Kayla Jones, Milton, Ga.
Jiayu Kong, Arcadia, Calif.
Marianne Li, Bellevue, Wash.
Mika Liu, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Amy Matsuoka, Newport Beach, Calif.
Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga.
Krystal Quihuis, Tucson, Ariz.
Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C.
Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas
Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga.
Taylor Tomlinson, Gainesville, Fla.
Maria Torres, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Elizabeth Wang, San Marino, Calif.
Anna Zhou, Palo Alto, Calif.