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FootJoy
Signs On in Greensboro
Top
Players, Top Course, Top Sponsor Will Unite in June
By Lindsey
Parrott
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The
top boy’s golfers from around the country will measure
their games at the FootJoy Boys Invitational, June 14-18, on
one of North Carolina’s premier courses, Forest Oaks Country
Club, home of the PGA TOUR’s Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
FootJoy, the leading manufacturer of golf shoes and gloves,
will elevate the American Junior Golf Association tournament
as the event’s new title sponsor.
In its two-year history, the top players in the nation have
emerged with the title in one of junior golf’s strongest
fields.
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Chairman Mark Brazil (left) congratulates Brian Harman
after last year's event. |
Last year’s champion, Polo Golf Junior Player of the Year
Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., won three AJGA majors and the
U.S. Junior Amateur in 2003. In addition, 2002 champion Seung
Su Han of Chino Hills, Calif., tied the AJGA record of four
tournament wins in one season, joining Phil Mickelson and Tiger
Woods. Han also went on to claim Polo Golf Junior Player of
the Year honors.
Not only are the players of the FootJoy Boys Invitational some
of the top juniors from around the world, but the course where
the tournament will be played, Forest Oaks Country Club, is
home to the PGA TOUR’s annual Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
"The juniors will be playing where the big boys play,”
said Tournament Chairman Mark Brazil, who is also the tournament
director for the PGA TOUR’s Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
event.
Forest Oaks Country Club and the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
have a rich history with two of golf’s greatest, Sam Snead
and Davis Love III. Snead won the Greensboro PGA TOUR event
eight times over a 28-year period earning him the title of Greensboro’s
greatest champion.
"I think the Juniors will really enjoy Davis’ new
design.”
Love, who is an AJGA alumnus and a previous AJGA national chairman,
is currently ranked fourth in the world and won the PGA TOUR
event in 1992. Forest Oaks Country Club was redesigned by Love
in 2002 and is one of his signature courses.
The undulating course features difficult grass and sand bunkers,
elevated greens, and plenty of water hazards throughout.
"We are truly excited about FootJoy’s Participation
as our new title sponsor, I know FootJoy shares our vision of
creating a PGA TOUR-like experience for the participants.
"Our goal has always been to create the No. 1 boys tournament
in the country,” said Brazil. “With FootJoy as our
sponsor I think we are that closer to reaching our goal.”
"I would like to create relationships and continue to get
to know the top junior boys of the AJGA. This will make it easier
for me to recruit them to play in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
once they made it to the PGA TOUR.”
Last year the AJGA tournament ended in a battle to the finish.
Harman and Giwon Suh of Orlando, Fla., began the 2003 final
round tied for the lead at 3-under-par. Harman played a smooth
round that was steady and conservative, while Suh struggled
on the back nine, giving Harman (69-71-67-68—275) the
win.
With the addition of FootJoy and Forest Oaks, the FootJoy Boys
Invitational is looking forward to another exciting year with
the world’s top junior talent. |
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