By
Greg Smith
Manager of Media Relations
 |
Former
Champions: |
2004
James Lee, La Habra, Calif.
Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla.
2003
Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga.
Jennie Lee, Huntington Beach, Calif.
2002
Niklas Lemke, Linkoping, Sweden
Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif.
2001
Spencer Levin, Elk Grove, Calif.
Aree Song, Bradenton, Fla.
2000
Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn.
Elizabeth Janangelo, West Hartford, Conn.
1999
Nick Dougherty, Lancashire, England
Naree Song, Bradenton, Fla.
1998
Hunter Mahan, McKinney, Texas
Celeste Troche, Asuncion, Paraguay
1997
Erik Compton, Miami, Fla.
Beth Bauer, Valrico, Fla.
1996
John Klauk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Grace Park, Phoenix, Ariz.
1995
Trevor Immelman, South Africa
Beth Bauer, Valrico, Fla.
1994
Mark Northey, Roswell, Ga.
Grace Park, Phoenix, Ariz.
1993
Michael Boyd, Tulsa, Okla.
Kellee Booth, Coto de Caza, Calif.
1992
Eddy Lee, Corona, Calif.
Wendi Patterson, Atlanta, Ga.
1991
Tiger Woods, Cypress, Calif.
Emilee Klein, Studio City, Calif.
1990
Chris Stutts, Leoma, Tenn.
Emilee Klein, Studio City, Calif.
1989
Stewart Cink, Florence, Ala.
Vicki Goetze, Hull, Ga.
1988
Jaxon Brigman, Abilene, Texas
Vicki Goetze, Hull, Ga.
1987
Jeff Manson, Long Beach, Calif.
Adele Moore, Dallas, Texas
1986
Bryan Pemberton, Pleasanton, Calif.
Stefania Croce, Milan, Italy
1985
Steve Termeer, Conroe, Texas
Kristin Parker, The Woodlands, Texas
1984
Brian Watts, Carrollton, Texas
Cheryl Morley, Winter Park, Fla.
1983
Michael Bradley, Valrico, Fla.
Page Dunlap, Sarasota, Fla.
1982
Peter Jordan, Woodale, Ill.
Tracy Kerdyk, Coral Gables, Fla.
1981
Sam Randolph, San Diego, Calif.
Jenny Lidback, Baton Rouge, La.
1980
Adam Armagost, N. Palm Beach, Fla.
Amy Benz, Clearwater, Fla.
1979
Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla.
Heather Farr, Phoenix, Ariz.
1978
Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla.
Jenny Lidback, Baton Rouge, La.
|
In terms of junior golf, there is no greater test than the Polo
Golf Junior Classic. When this year’s field takes to Sea
Island Golf Club’s Seaside and Plantation Courses, they
can rest assured they will play alongside the game’s toughest
competition. No matter who wins, no matter who takes home the
trophies, playing in this event is indicative of a successful
year and a glimpse into the future of this game. One thing can
be guaranteed: there is never a lack of talent at this Thanksgiving
tradition.
For
the second consecutive year, the AJGA returns to Sea Island
Golf Club for this prestigious event. The Seaside and Plantation
Courses will challenge the golfers’ physical skills, while
proving to be a strong mental test as well. The 2005 participants
are sure to face one of the most rewarding and demanding layouts
junior golf has to offer.
This year’s field features 90 Rolex Junior All-Americans,
led by Rolex Junior Player of the Year Peter Uihlein of Bradenton,
Fla. Uihlein makes his way to Sea Island coming off a season
in which he won three events, including the Robert Trent Jones
Golf Trail Junior over Columbus Day Weekend. Uihlein also captured
titles at the First American Title Junior Classic and the Bobby
Chapman. Overall, the 16-year-old earned 11 top-10 finishes
in 2005, and was a member of the East Canon Cup Team.
Six fellow Rolex Junior All-American First Teamers will all
be looking to challenge Uihlein.
In only two summers of AJGA competition, Murrieta, Calif., native
Rickie Fowler has shown the ability to go low. Fowler’s
two victories in 2005, the Hudson Junior and the Western Junior
Amateur, were both highlighted by Fowler’s final-round
64s. Fowler narrowly missed picking up his third win of the
summer at the Mission Hills Desert Junior where the 16-year-old
carded rounds of 66-70-68—204 to finish in second place.
Four first-team selections, all from the West Coast and with
plenty of experience, will also be looking to mount a charge
on the boys’ side.
Two-time Rolex Junior All-American Jordan Cox of Redwood City,
Calif., will be looking to follow up his semifinal run in 2004
by advancing deep into match play again this year. Cox made
the most of the 2005 season winning the Rolex Tournament of
Champions and playing on the victorious West Canon Cup squad.
Fellow West Canon Cup teammates Kyle Stanley of Gig Harbor,
Wash., Philip Francis of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Rory Hie of
Lakewood, Calif., all bring plenty of experience to the table.
Stanley won this summer’s HP Boys Junior Championship
and finished second to Cox at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Francis has been one of junior golf’s top players since
he came onto the national scene. Francis picked up a win at
the 22nd Annual Scott Robertson Memorial in May and followed
it up with three more top-five finishes this summer. Hie, a
two-time Rolex Junior All-American, has 17 career top-10 finishes
to his credit.
Having lost in the semifinals of his last two match play appearances
(2004 Polo Golf Junior Classic and 2005 U.S. Junior Amateur)
to the eventual champions, Arnond Vongvanij is looking to break
through this week at Sea Island. The Bradenton, Fla., native
captured his second AJGA title at the Ringgold Telephone Company
Junior Classic in June and followed that up with a third-place
finish at the HP Boys Junior Championship.
The Girls Division, much like the boys’ side, features
a number of first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans leading one
of the most competitive fields in junior golf.
Esther Choe of Scottsdale, Ariz., a three-time Rolex Junior
All-American comes into the week coming off a summer in which
she won two events (Hiwan Junior presented by Stonecreek Funding
and Rolex Tournament of Champions), finished second at the McDonald’s
Betsy Rawls Girls Championship, and was a member of both the
Canon Cup West Team and the PING Junior Solheim Cup U.S. squad.
Fellow Canon Cup West Team members Angela Park of Torrance,
Calif., Jane Rah also from Torrance, and Mina Harigae of Monterey,
Calif., are all hoping to find themselves deep into match play
this week at Sea Island.
Park defended her 2004 title at the Robert Trent Jones Golf
Trail Junior in October. Rah added her first AJGA title to her
resume with a victory at the Family Toyota/Family Honda Junior
presented by The First American Corporation. Rah carded rounds
of 69-68-66—203 on her way to victory.
Another first-team selection who established herself as one
of the top junior golfers in 2005 was Kimberly Donovan of Hopkinton,
Mass. Donovan began the season with a bang, winning the Mizuno
Junior at Chateau Elan and following it up by claiming the title
at the Scott Robertson Memorial in May.
Megan Grehan of Mamaroneck, N.Y., a three-time Rolex Junior
All-American, comes to the Polo Golf Junior Classic looking
to continue a year which saw her add six top-10 finishes to
her already impressive resume, including a win at The Lincoln
Mercury Junior at Canoe Brook in August.
In a sport that defines careers not just by the number of trophies
won, but the way the game is played, there is no greater gathering
of champions than the Polo Golf Junior Classic. In bringing
together the game’s best, this event has become more than
just a junior golf tournament, it has become a celebration of
those who play the game. |
