By Matt Larson
Sponsorship Coordinator

As 84 of the best junior golfers in the world are currently preparing to head to the Phoenix area and Grayhawk Golf Club, home course of honorary chairman, three-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year and 2005 FBR Open Champion Phil Mickelson, let’s examine the organization that helped create one of the most coveted invitationals in junior golf, the Thunderbird International Junior.

Founded in 1937, The Thunderbirds are involved with many prestigious golf tournaments in the Phoenix area.

The Thunderbirds began in 1937 when the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce expanded its role as a convention and tourism bureau. Five young executives were selected to lead the committee. The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce suggested that the committee become an "official" group and expand its membership with each of the five selecting 10 additional members to make up a committee of 55. The Thunderbird name was chosen because the emblem of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was, and still is, a Thunderbird derived from American Indian symbols.

One of the early inductees was Bob Goldwater, an avid golfer. Goldwater thought it would be a great idea to sponsor a golf tournament. That first year, Goldwater sold the tickets, recruited volunteers and set up the golf course at the Phoenix Country Club. The Phoenix Open caught on, and in 69 years, has developed into one of the leading stops on the PGA TOUR.

When a Thunderbird reaches the age of 45, their status changes from Active to that of Life Member. Although they are relieved of continuous duties, it is not unusual to see a Life Thunderbird lending a helping hand at The FBR Open or one of the many other Thunderbird-sponsored events. One of the most popular and well-heralded is the Thunderbird International Junior.

From its modest beginnings in the 1930’s, the FBR Open has grown, as have The Thunderbirds, to become one of the leading donators to charity in the Phoenix area, raising more the $20 million for Valley charities over the years. The FBR Open, according to economic impact studies completed by the FBR Open, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Arizona State’s Carey School of Business, makes an annual contribution to the Valley economy of more than $100 million. Besides the FBR Open, The Thunderbirds also commit their time and energy to the Thunderbird-ASU Collegiate Invitational, the Senior Golf Classics and to one of the most notable junior golf tournaments in the world, the Thunderbird International Junior.

The Thunderbird International Junior, started in 1999, has quickly become one of the most prestigious junior golf events in the world.

In 1999, The Thunderbirds, in conjunction with the American Junior Golf Association, held the inaugural Thunderbird International Junior at Grayhawk Golf Club.

“The vision established by Phil Mickelson, The Thunderbirds and Grayhawk Golf Club was to create the ultimate junior championship, the world's best field on a world-class course,” said Peter Ripa, AJGA assistant executive director. “If juniors earned a coveted invitation to the championship we were going to ensure they could get there. The expenses of food and beverage, travel and accommodations would be provided.”

This vision was realized and the first event of its kind in junior golf was born, bringing together a world-class field of Rolex Junior All-Americans and U.S. and International champions of junior golf from throughout the world. This event annually features future champions of the golfing world.

Past champions of the Thunderbird International Junior are a who’s who of collegiate golf and golf’s future. Former Duke University teammates Virada Nirapathpongporn and Brittany Lang were champions of the 2000 and 2002 events respectively. On the boys side, the past two low amateurs at The Masters Tournament, Ryan Moore and Casey Wittenberg took top honors in 2001 and 2002. Brian Harman, two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year, won the 2003 edition of the event.

Volunteers man the scoreboard at the Thunderbird International Junior, another special touch to a world-class event.

“The Thunderbird International Junior is annually one of the best junior golf tournaments in the world,” said Jason Etzen, AJGA executive vice president of development. “The tremendous support that The Thunderbirds give to the AJGA and golf in general, has made, and will make this event once again an unforgettable experience for all those who participate.”

In addition to The Thunderbirds and the AJGA, the partners in making this world-class event possible are Grayhawk Golf Club, the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Fund and Callaway Golf. Much like The FBR Open, The Thunderbirds and the AJGA annually team-up to make a donation to and an impact on the Phoenix community. Thanks to the generous support of the partners listed above, the event looks to increase its $30,000 donation in 2004 to nearly $50,000 in 2005.

"The Thunderbird International Junior enables The Thunderbirds to partner with Phil Mickelson, Grayhawk Golf Club and Callaway Golf in support of the AJGA's laudable goals and to showcase the Valley of the Sun and FBR Open to the world's most talented junior golfers," said Mike Kennedy, Tournament Chairman and Thunderbirds member.

The 2005 Thunderbird International Junior will take place May 27-30 in Scottsdale, Ariz., once again on Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course. A record 12 foreign countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan) will be represented at this years event as well as over 50 Rolex Junior All-Americans, again proving it to be one of the strongest fields in junior golf. Make sure to keep up with the live scoring or check the final agate to see who grabs the Phil Mickelson Trophy as the future of golf again rolls through the Valley.