By Sara Wagoner
Communications Manager

Easter Weekend kicks off the 2007 AJGA tournament season, and the AJGA staff has been busy preparing to make it special. It's a big task, as the weekend includes 480 juniors, three states and four tournaments.

As in years past, the AJGA will welcome players to its National Headquarters for the Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga., April 5-8. 

Past champions of this event, now in its 14th year, make up an impressive list, which includes Charles Howell III, Brittany Lincicome, Virada Nirapathpongporn and Beth Bauer. Many talented juniors will be in Georgia fighting to join this esteemed group.

After capturing the title in 2006, first-team Rolex Junior All-American Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., will not return to defend her title. However, 2005 champion Kimberly Donovan of Hopkinton, Mass., will return seeking a second victory. Donovan will be joined by second-team Rolex Junior All-American Kristina Wong of Bradenton, Fla.

In the Boys Division, 2006 champion Bud Cauley of Jacksonville, Fla., will also not return in 2007. Brinson Paolini of Virginia Beach, Va., David Dannelly of Easley, S.C., and Coy Breen of San Antonio, all placing third in last year’s event, will return in hopes of heading home with the champion's trophy.

Moving across the Mississippi to the Panther Trail Course at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in The Woodlands, Texas, the 23rd edition of the PING Junior at The Woodlands will be in full force. The winner's circle here has been just as impressive, with Lucas Glover, Bob May, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang, Candie Kung, Grace Park and Cristie Kerr having raised the winner's trophy.

The 2007 tournament boasts an equally impressive field that is sure to provide an entertaining week. Looking to claim a second-consecutive victory, first-team Rolex Junior All-American Sydney Burlison of Salinas, Calif., will be on hand to defend her title. Joining Burlison will be first-team Rolex Junior All-American Lisa McCloskey of Montgomery, Texas, and second-team Rolex Junior All-American Jane Rah of Torrance, Calif.

Throw in two first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans, Conrad Shindler of Westlake, Texas, and Peter Uihlein of Bradenton, Fla., and three second-team Rolex Junior All-Americans in Cody Gribble of Dallas, Mu Hu of Champions Gate, Fla., and Josh Jones of The Colony, Texas, and you are sure to have one tight competition in the Boys Division. Jones will be on the prowl, looking for a victory after losing in a sudden-death playoff in 2006 to first-team Rolex Junior All-American Arnond Vongvanij of Bradenton, Fla.

Out in the Valley of the Sun will be the ReBath Heather Farr Classic. Returning to Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., for a fourth year, the tournament, now in its ninth year, will feature top-notch players. 2006 Girls Champion Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., is back to defend her title. Harigae took home the trophy with a one-stroke victory over Kristen Schelling of Mesa, who will return to try to dethrone Harigae.

Harigae and Schelling will be joined by three first-team Rolex Junior All-Americans who will also be looking to claim the 2007 champion title.  Taylore Karle of Scottsdale, Ariz., Stephanie Kono of Honolulu and Jenny Shin of Torrance, Calif., will all try to tame the desert course.

In 2006, Philip Francis won his first AJGA tournament at the ReBath Heather Farr Classic enroute to an impressive year that included four AJGA victories and the 2006 Rolex Junior Player of the Year honor.  With Francis gone in 2007, Andrew Yun of Tacoma, Wash., ranked third in the Polo Golf Rankings and a first-team Rolex Junior All-American, will look to start the 2007 season in grand fashion. 

Yun, who finished fifth in 2006, will be joined by fellow first-team Rolex Junior All-American and high school teammate Richard Lee of Chandler, Ariz. He will also face competition from second-team Rolex Junior All-Americans Sihwan Kim of Buena Park, Calif., and Gregor Main of Danville, Calif.

In addition to the three traditional Easter Weekend Open events, the AJGA will be hosting the Medicus Preseason Junior at Tapatio Springs in Boerne, Texas, April 6-8. The event, being held at the Tapatio Springs Resort & Conference Center, is the first event in a series of Medicus Preseason events to be held throughout the 2007 season.