Twenty-four of the nations brightest minds and junior golfers were named to the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, the American Junior Golf Association and HP announced Thursday, Sept. 30. Sponsored by HP since 1988, the 2010 team consists of 12 young men and 12 young women who demonstrate the ability to excel both on the golf course and in the classroom.
To be eligible for the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, boys must have placed in the top 10 of an AJGA Open or Invitational, while girls needed a top-five finish. The selections were then based on grade point average, class rank, SAT/ACT/PLAN/PSAT scores, leadership skills, community service and writing ability. Candidates were required to submit an essay no longer than 500 words on an original topic relating to golf.
These outstanding individuals will be honored at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet, Nov. 21, at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. By being named to this team, each player is also eligible to participate in the Polo Golf Junior Classic, one of the most prestigious events in junior golf, which will take place on PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion and Haig Courses, Nov. 20-26.
This years overall essay winner was Drew Kirby of Baton Rouge, La. Catholic High School, where Kirby is enrolled as a senior, will receive a computer compliments of HP.
Four student-athletes were named to the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team for the second straight year: Ashley Armstrong of Flossmoor, Ill.; Marika Liu of Beverly Hills, Calif.; Patrick Rodgers of Avon, Ind.; and Stani Schiavone of Bangor, Pa.
HP is delighted once again to recognize academic excellence with the naming of the 2010 HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, said John Dayan, vice president of marketing, Personal Systems Group Americas, Hewlett Packard. The AJGA works hard to prepare young adults for life after high school by instilling honor, perseverance and good sportsmanship. HP is proud to be associated with the AJGA and this great group of young adults.
The
American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who
aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The
AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an
annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000
junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship
opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the
Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial
assistance to young players in need.
Titleist,
the AJGAs National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the
Associations success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade
of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007,
after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGAs second Premier
Partner.
AJGA
alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf.
Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA
Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie
Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.
Click here to see all of the 2010 HP Scholastic Junior All-Americans.
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ESSAY AWARD WINNER Drew
Kirby of Baton Rouge, La.
"My Life as a Junior
Golfer"
It was summer vacation, around 2003
Took a lesson at Sea Island, because it was free
I was more of a baseball player, at the age of eleven
But I fell in love with this game; a true gift from
heaven
Eagles and birdies, bogeys and par
The rules and words of golf seemed quite bizarre
Yet honor, etiquette and personal integrity
Were tools of the trade brought to the first tee
Theres something very magical, about the fairways
and green,
The beauty of Gods landscape was something to be
seen
A great walk spoiled it was not, so peaceful, and pure
It became my obsession to play this game, for sure
Perfection was not possible, could I compete was my
fear
First 90, then 80, could 70 be near?
Tournaments were great fun; new friends made each day
From high school and State Ams, to qualifiers and
AJGA
So many great events, I cant list them all
Southern Jr., The Bubba, River Creek; best of times I
recall
Many personal triumphs and disappointments along the
way
Yet when scores are long forgotten, the great
memories will stay
Golf is far more than competition; its a life-long
pursuit
More than being a student-athlete, teammate or
recruit
My best memories thus far; time with friends, mom and
dad
Traveling the country playing golf, in good weather and
bad
Or just playing for fun, with a friendly 9-hole walk
Where we could trash talk and laugh; tell stories or
just talk
This great game is now my passion, and I treasure its
role
In teaching me about discipline, adversity and
setting a goal
I appreciate my coach, and his knowledge of the game
That he so graciously shared with me; I hope to do
the same
I am thankful for my parents, the sponsors, clubs and
tours
Junior golf would not exist without support by you
and yours
So I look forward to my future as I search for a new
school
To achieve my dream of college golf is really pretty
cool
But no matter where I land, or where my fortune is
made
Golf is no doubt for me, the greatest game ever
played