TOURNAMENT RECAPS

Event: FCWT Kiawah Island Junior Golf Classic
Course: Kiawah Island (S.C.), Ocean Course and Turtle Point
When: Jan. 17-19
Where: Kiawah Island, S.C.
Winner: John-Tyler Griffin, Wilson, N.C. (76-72-77--225)
Runner-up: Bryce Mueller, Chapel Hill, N.C. (77-80-77--234)
Skinny: John-Tyler Griffin took the lead after Round 2 and never let it go. Griffin shot 77 Jan. 19 at the Ocean Course for a nine-shot victory over Bryce Mueller. Mueller, who is a sophomore, was playing in his second event of the season after a tie for third earlier this season at Duke. Matt Scarlett of Boynton Beach, Fla. finished alone in third, 10 shots back.
- For complete results, click here.

Event: FCWT Teal Bend Junior Golf Classic
Course: Teal Bend Golf Club
When: Jan. 17-19
Where: Sacramento
Winners: David Leuterio, Sacramento, Calif. (71-68-70--209)/Jennifer Shipley, Clovis, Calif., (69-72-76--217)
Runners-up: Robbie Fillmore, Salt Lake City (73-67-76--216); Jamie Lovemark, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., (70-74-72--216)/Casey Gee, Sacramento, Calif. (73-73-73--219)
Skinny: David Leuterio shot a second-round 68 to seal victory at the Teal Bend Junior. Leuterio, who closed with 70, cruised to a seven-shot victory Jan. 19 thanks to his five-birdie, one-bogey second round.

Robbie Fillmore, who had a second-round 67 closed with 76 to finish runner-up along with Jamie Lovemark (72).

In the girls' division, 16-year-old Shipley followed her opening 69 with rounds of 72-76 to claim her first FCWT title. Casey Gee finished two back after three consecutive rounds of 73. Both Shipley and Gee have earned exemptions to the Laura Diaz FCWT National Championship.
- For complete results, click here.

Event: FCWT La Cantera Junior Golf Challenge
Course: La Cantera Golf Club
When: Jan. 17-19
Where: Sacramento, Calif.
Winners: Weldon Martin, Houston (73-78-70--221)/Ashley Freeman, Belleville, Ill., (80-81-76--237
) Runners-up: Mitch Hendon, Burlesion, Texas (74-76-75--225); Austin Schauer, Spring, Texas, (76-75-74--225)/Christine Brijalba, El Paso, Texas (79-85-79--243), Amber Lindgren, Kokomo, Ind., (76-85-82--243), Sarah Ruybalid, Pueblo, Colo. (82-78-83--243)
Skinny: Weldon Martin, 16, had rounds of 73-78-70 to capture his first FCWT title. The victory earned the teen an exemption to the FCWT National Championship at PGA West in May. Finishing in a tie for second and also earning exemptions to the National Championship were Mitch Hendon and Austin Schauer.

In the girls' division, Ashley Freeman posted rounds of 80-81-76 to seal her first FCWT title. Christine Brijalba (79-85-79), Sarah Ruybalid (82-78-83) and Amber Lindgren (76-85-82) finished six back. All four players earned exemptions to the Laura Diaz FCWT National Championship.
- For complete results, click here.

CURTIS CUP CAPTAIN
EXPECTS YOUTHFUL IMPACT

By Beth Ann Baldry and Jay A. Coffin

Martha Wilkinson Kirouac is trying to keep an open mind. The U.S. Curtis Cup captain doesn't want to set her sights on any particular players before the U.S. Golf Association's announcement of the team Feb. 7 at its annual meeting.

''I don't have a vote in this and I'm pretty happy that I don't because I think they've got a real tough job in front of them,'' said Kirouac. ''Bottom line is there are some really good players out there. . . . You don't get to player No. 8 and drop off a cliff.''

Especially impressed by the talent and experience of the under-21 set, Kirouac is expecting a number of new faces on the team that will face Great Britain & Ireland June 12-13 at England's Formby Golf Club.
- For more, click here.

NEWS AND NOTES

* Six top amateurs received invitations to play in the LPGA's first major of 2004, the Kraft Nabisco Championship March 25-28 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The names tournament director Terry Wilcox selected should sound quite familiar: Erica Blasberg, Paula Creamer, Elizabeth Janangelo, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Jane Park and Michelle Wie.
- For more, click here.

* The LPGA's Safeway International will host an amateur prequalifying tournament Feb. 18 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Arizona. The event is open to all women amateurs with a USGA handicap of 3.4 or less. The two amateurs with the lowest scores will be invited to participate in the Safeway International's pro qualifier March 15 at Legacy Golf Resort.

* It wasn't pretty, the weather or the golf. But Brittany Lincicome made the best of the challenging conditions Jan. 10, topping a contingent of college players to win the 49th Harder Hall Invitational.

The high school senior birdied three of the last five holes to card a 2-over 74. Her 1-under 287 total edged Naree Song (72) by two strokes. Song, who also finished runner-up last year to her twin sister, Aree, poured in 18 par putts to post the second-lowest round of the day.

The victory is Lincicome's first since capturing the FHSAA Class 2A Championship for the second consecutive year. Although Lincicome is scheduled to finish high school this spring, don't be fooled by the University of Florida visor perched atop her blonde ponytail. Despite plenty of interest from coaches around the country, the 18-year-old has decided to skip college.
-For more, click here.

* The AJGA Ashworth Junior Series, traditionally a boys-only circuit, will open the Ashworth Junior at Hot Springs to girls. The event, to be played April 16-18 in Hot Springs, Ark., must have a minimum of 15 girls sign up by March 6 in order to field a girls division.

The Ashworth Junior Series is designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet participated in an AJGA open event, invitational or Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series event over the past two years.

The Ashworth Junior at Hot Springs girls division winner will receive two tournament exemptions while the top-3 finishers earn one exemption. No performance stars will be awarded.

For more information, contact the AJGA at (877) 373-2542 or e-mail jjenkins@ajga.org.

* Top finishers in Southeastern Junior Golf Tour events will have even more to play for this season. In 17 select events, winners in any boys division, ages 14-18, will earn an exemption into an AJGA open event while top-5 finishers will be given a performance star.

A girl who wins an overall SJGT event will earn a AJGA exemption. The overall girls champion at the SJGT Championship will receive two exemptions. Second and third-place finishers at the SJGT Championship will earn one exemption.

Select SJGT events:
Feb. 14-15, Hampton Club, St. Simons Island, Ga.
Feb. 21-22, Timberton GC, Hattiesburg, Miss.
March 6-7, Forest Hills GC, Augusta, Ga.
April 6-7, Summer Grove, Newnan, Ga.
April 17-18, University of Florida GC, Gainesville, Fla.
May 24-25, Jekyll Island GC, Jekyll Island, Ga.
June 2-3, Vestavia CC, Birmingham, Ala.
June 7-8, Huntsville CC, Huntsville, Ala.
June 8-9, The Moors G&CC, Milton, Fla.
June 14-15, Springhouse GC, Nashville, Tenn.
June 28-29, Stonebrook GC, Pace, Fla.
June 29-July 1, Lookout Mt., Lookout Mountain, Ga.
July 12-13, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
July 20-22, SJGT Championship, Grand National GC, Opelika, Ala.

* The Canadian Junior Golf Association has teamed with the Canadian PGA in 2004. Two events, the CJGA Ontario PGA Junior Championship and CJGA Saskatchewan PGA Junior Championship, will be endorsed by the CPGA.

The CJGA Ontario PGA Junior will be played June 19-20 at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Georgetown, Ontario, while the CJGA Saskatchewan PGA Junior is Aug. 16-18 at Melfort Golf and Country Club in Melfort, Saskatchewan. For more information, visit http://www.cjga.com or call (877) 508-1069.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Teddy Collins
Age: 17
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: N/R (01.22.04)
Residence: Louisville, Ky.
The Skinny: Collins won the International Junior Masters last June and also carded a runner-up finish in 2003 at the AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational thanks to a final-round 68.

The High School senior, who is a four-time Academic All-State selection, scored 1,400 on his SAT last year and says Stanford is his top school of choice.

In Collins' free time he teaches golf to juniors at the Urban Junior Golf League.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

TEXAS JUNIOR GOLF TOUR
Jan. 24-25 - Tour Championship (San Antonio)

RECRUITING CENTRAL
Beginning in August, players at Division III schools will not be allowed to maintain eligibility via redshirting. The measure, approved at this year's NCAA Convention, will limit student-athletes to four seasons of athletics competition and practice.

Also at the annual meeting a proposal was passed that grants student-athletes the right to initiate contact with another Division III institution to discuss transfer without first receiving permission from officials at institutions they are currently attending.

Beginning in the fall of 2004, student-athletes interested in transferring to another school will be able to download a ''self release'' form from the NCAA Web site.

In another vote, delegates defeated a proposal to shorten the practice and playing season.

- For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Check the Jan. 24 issue of Golfweek for complete coverage of Michelle Wie's historic week at the Sony Open.

POLL QUESTION
After her strong performance (72-68) at the Sony Open, do you think 14-year-old Michelle Wie will play another PGA Tour event this season?

Have an interesting junior note to report, or know an interesting junior we can profile? E-mail Golfweek scoreboard editor Graham Elliott at gelliott@golfweek.com.

Have a question about the Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index? E-mail rankings@golfweek.com.