From AJGA to PGA
PGA TOUR professional, Smylie Kaufman of Birmingham, Alabama, hosted a clinic Monday for the tournament participants. Kaufman interacted in a Q&A session with the junior golfers, signed autographs and even had time for a couple of selfies. Smylie began his AJGA career in 2006 and claimed his first victory at the 2008 AJGA Junior at Steelwood presented by AT&T. After completing school at LSU, Kaufman turned professional in 2014. Kaufman has one PGA TOUR victory at the 2015 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Polo Golf Dinner of Champions
The Polo Golf Dinner of Champions takes place tonight, Tuesday, June 27. The dinner will honor the recipients of the USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award and also the accomplishments of the tournament field and their quest to play in this prestigious tournament. This year's award recipients are Grant Fairbairn of Orinda, California, and Haley Bookholdt of Columbus, New Jersey. In the fall of 2017, Fairbairn will attend Harvard University and join the men's golf team, and Bookholdt has commited to Elon University.
New year, new course!
The 39th annual Polo Golf Junior Classic will be hosted at The Ridge at Back Brook for the first time. In Fall 2016, the Editors of GolfStyles Magazine named The Ridge as "The Best Private Course in New Jersey for 2016." The mission of the course is to "provide members and guests PGA TOUR-like playing conditions as a part of their 'Ridge Experience' each and every day that we are open for play," stated owner Joel Moore. With the support of Polo Ralph Lauren and The Ridge at Back Brook, 132 juniors will compete for the title of Polo Golf Junior Classic Champion.