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Preview: #PoloGolfJC

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The Polo Golf Junior Classic, one of three match play tournaments on the AJGA schedule, features juniors going head-to-head on the golf course, all for a chance to play in the final match. Over the years, the final match has brought excitement and seen names you've heard and also a few you will be hearing soon.

2009 – Oliver Schniederjans

Schniederjans built momentum leading up to the 2009 Polo Golf Junior Classic with five top-15 showings in national competition. He finished T6 in stroke play, earning a No. 7 seed in match play, where he would defeat Cory Whitsett in the finals, 1-up. Whitsett went on to play college golf at Alabama, helping the team bring home a national championship in 2013.

During his junior career, Schniederjans claimed 12 top-10 finishes in national competition including his win at PGA National and a victory at the 2009 Jones Cup Junior Invitational. He played college golf at Georgia Tech where he earned ACC Player of the Year in 2014 and rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

2009 – Lexi Thompson

In 2009, Thompson put together five victories and two top-10 finishes in national competition. She finished third in stroke play at the 2009 Polo Golf Junior Classic behind fellow LPGA Tour player Jessica Korda. Thompson defeated Victoria Tanco in the final, 3 and 2.

Thompson claimed 15 top-10 finishes in AJGA events including three victories. Her best year was 2008 when she placed in the top 10 in all nine career AJGA events. Thompson also competed in the Wyndham Cup in 2007 and 2008 for the East Team with a record of 3-4-1. She turned professional in 2010 and won her first major at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

2006 – Morgan Hoffmann

In his third season with the AJGA, Hoffmann had already claimed one victory and eight top-10 finishes coming into the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic. He finished T4 in stroke play, just three strokes off the lead and two behind future college teammate and fellow PGA TOUR player Rickie Fowler. Using the high seed to his advantage, Hoffmann defeated Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa in the round of 32 before eventually beating Fowler in the finals, 3 and 2.

Hoffmann notched four AJGA victories from 2003-08, including the 2006 Polo Golf Junior Classic and the 2007 Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf. His performances earned him first-team Rolex Junior All-America honors in 2007, before capping his junior career with a win at the 2008 Houston Boys Invitational at Redstone presented by HP and Administaff. Hoffmann signed with Oklahoma State University, where he was named the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.