TOURNAMENT RECAPS

Event: IJGT Mizuno Mid-Season Championship
Course: Savannah Harbor
Date: Feb. 5-6
Site: Savannah, Ga.
Winners: Spencer Cole (73-70--143), Greer, S.C./Seira Nakashima (75-74--149), Northbrook, Ill.
Runners-up: Stuart Howieson (75-68--143), Surrey, England/Yu Young Lee, (75-75--150) Orlando, Fla.
Skinny: Spencer Cole rolled in a 10-footer on the second playoff hole Feb. 6 to beat Stuart Howieson and win the IJGT Mizuno Mid-Season Championship, earning him a spot on Team USA at the Mizuno North America Cup held this summer in Toronto, Canada.
Howieson posted a final-round 4-under 68 to force the playoff with Cole, who shot 70 on the final day.
In the girls' division, Seira Nakashima continued her torrid pace on the IJGT circuit, holding on to win by a shot over Yu Young Lee. With the victory, Nakashima also earned a trip to the Mizuno North America Cup.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/


Event: FCWT Clearwater Junior
Course: Airco GC
Date: Feb. 5-6
Site: Clearwater, Fla.
Winners: Victor Billskoog (70-72--142), Miami/Marika Lendl (75-71--146), Bradenton, Fla.
Runners-up: Jonathan Smart (73-70--143), Sheffield, England/Isabelle Lendl (71-78--149), Goshen, Conn.
Skinny: Marika Lendl came back Feb. 6 to beat her little sister, Isabelle, posting a final-round 1-under 71 to win by three shots. Isabelle, the first-round leader with an opening 71, struggled on Day 2 to 78. The sisters, also daughters of retired tennis start Ivan Lendl, were tied until Isabelle's 4-over three-hole stretch midway through her final nine holes.
In the boys' division, Victor Billskoog held off Jonathan Smart, making a birdie on No. 9, his final hole, for a one-shot victory. Both players tied for the low round of the tournament with 70s, Billskoog on Day 1 and Smart on Day 2.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: La Cantera Junior Golf Classic
Date: Jan. 15-17
Winners: Sang Chun (74-75-67--216), Winter Springs, Fla./Lucy Nunn (77-74-75--226), Lawton, Okla.
Runners-up: Travis Woolf (74-76-74--224), Arlington, Texas/Anya Alvarez (77-81-78--236), Tulsa, Okla.
Course: La Cantera GC
Site: San Antonio
Skinny: Sang Chun, who has lived in the United States for six months, needed only 67 shots to complete his final 18 holes Jan. 17 at the La Cantera Junior Golf Classic for an eight-stroke victory over Travis Woolf.
In the girls' division, Lucy Nunn won by 10 strokes over Anya Alvarez.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: IJGT at Colleton River
Date: Jan. 15-17
Winners: Roberto Diaz (73-77-73--223), Veracruz, Mexico/Kristin Wetzel (77-82-80--239), Middletown, N.Y.
Runners-up: Carlos Sainz (78-75-72--225), Elgin, Ill./Ashlen Christie (82-88-77--247), Winnipeg, Canada
Course: Colleton River (Nicklaus, Dye courses)
Site: Bluffton, S.C.
Skinny: Roberto Diaz posted bookend 73s Jan. 17 at the IJGT at Colleton River event to win by two shots over Carlos Sainz, who carded a final-round 72.
In the girls' division, Kristin Wetzel cruised to an eight-shot victory with rounds of 77-82-80--239.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: IJGT at Bayonet and Black Horse
Date: Jan. 22-23
Winners: Austyn Karle (73-70--143), Scottsdale, Ariz./Taylore Karle (80-72--152), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Runners-up: Brett Bocci (76-68--146), Hillsborough, Calif./Jane Rah (79-79--158), Torrance, Calif.; Jamie Lee (80-78--158), Temecula, Calif.
Course: Bayonet and Black Horse
Site: Seaside, Calif.
Skinny: Austyn Karle didn't let his sister or anyone else beat him Jan. 23 at the IJGT at Bayonet and Black Horse event. Karle used rounds of 73-70--143 to complete a three-shot victory over Brett Bocci.
Karle's sister, Taylore, rebounded from a first-round 80 with a final-round 72 to win the girls' division by six shots over Jane Rah and Jamie Lee.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: Mission Inn Junior Golf Classic
Date: Jan. 15-17
Winner: Chris Johnson (70-77-69--216), Brunswick, Ga.
Runner-up: Will Roebuck (76-72-70--218), London
Course: Mission Inn (Las Colinas)
Site: Irving, Texas
Skinny: Chris Johnson closed with 69 Jan. 17 at the Mission Inn Junior Golf Classic to win by two strokes over Will Roebuck. Johnson, a co-leader after a first-round 70, lost his lead after a disappointing 77 in Round 2. His 69 on Day 3 was matched only by Chesson Hadley.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: Teal Bend Junior Golf Classic
Date: Jan. 15-17
Winners: Chris Jensen (73-71-68--212), Los Altos, Calif./Christina Stockton (73-76-72--221), Auburn, Calif.
Runners-up: Shane Mason (70-75-70--215), San Diego/Maki Kamimura (77-80-75--232), West Covina, Calif.
Course: Teal Bend GC
Site: Sacramento, Calif.
Skinny: Three weeks prior, Chris Jensen opened with a 5-under 67 at the Metropolitan Junior Golf Classic, but finished in third place. At the Teal Bend Junior Golf Classic Jan. 17, Jensen did the opposite, closing with 68 for a three-stroke victory over Shane Mason.
In the girls' division, Christina Stockton cruised to an 11-stroke victory over Maki Kamimura.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: Sea Island Junior Golf Classic
Date: Jan. 29-30
Winners: Jackson Beindorf (75-70--145), Vero Beach, Fla./Brittany Rendell (90-103--193), Winnetka, Ill.
Runners-up: David Yujin Chung (73-72--145), Fayetteville, N.C./Kelley Brennan (94-100--194), Winnetka, Ill.
Course: Sea Island GC (Seaside Course)
Site: Sea Island, Ga.
Skinny: Jackson Beindorf out dueled David Yujin Chung on the sixth playoff hole to win the Sea Island Junior Golf Classic. After finishing 36 holes tied at 145, Beindorf made bogey at the sixth extra hole to claim the title.
Both players earned exemptions to the FCWT National Championship in May.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: IJGT Mizuno West Coast Mid-Season Championship
Date: Jan. 29-30
Winners: Rickie Fowler (33-66--99), Murrieta, Calif./Jamie Lee (38-70--108), Temecula, Calif.
Runners-up: Trey Herring (34-68--102), Killeen, Texas/Kaitlin Drolson (36-72--108), Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Course: Gold Canyon Resort (Sidewinder Course)
Site: Phoenix
Skinny: A hailstorm pelted the Sidewinder Course at Gold Canyon Resort so bad Jan. 29 it forced IJGT officials to shorten the first round of the IJGT Mizuno West Coast Mid-Season Championship to nine holes. The next day, Rickie Fowler gave his own pounding to the Phoenix layout, posting a final-round 66 for a three-shot victory.

In the girls' division, Jamie Lee shot a final-round 70 to catch Kaitlin Drolson and then beat her on the third playoff hole.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

For college coaches, or coaches at any level, choosing which players will compete is an age-old hotbed for controversy.
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/articles/2005/juniorgolf/boys/41320.asp

NEWS AND NOTES

* Michelle Wie will play in this year's Women's British Open, the Ladies Golf Union said Feb. 7.

The 15-year-old Wie accepted a special exception from the LGU to play at the July 28-31 event at Royal Birkdale.
­ For more, visit www.golfweek.com/articles/2005/pro/majors/women/britishopen/41464.asp

* In-Bee Park of Henderson, Nev., has accepted a sponsor exemption to play the LPGA Takefuji Classic, April 14-16 in Las Vegas. Park shot 71-72-71--214 to tie for eighth in last year's event.

* Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., has accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill, May 5-8 at Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Va. Pressel will also play in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, March 24-27, at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif

* The First Tee announced five regional qualifying sites for this year's First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

The regional qualifiers will determine 40 of the 78 junior spots in the Champions Tour event, which will be played Sept. 2-4 and will include teams of two amateurs, a junior and a Champions Tour player. Each 18-hole qualifier is open to boys and girls ages 13-18.

Qualifying sites: June 15 -- ChampionsGate (Fla.) Golf Club (International Course); June 21 -- Redstone Golf Club (Jacobson Hardy Course), Humble, Texas; June 28 -- SCGA Golf Course, Murrieta, Calif.; July 11 -- Poppy Ridge Golf Course, Livermore, Calif.; July 18 -- Saint Andrew's Golf Club, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

The First Tee will award 30 exemptions based on a participant selection process and eight exemptions will be distributed by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.

* The seventh season of the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt Junior Challenge will begin Feb. 12 in San Diego. Winners from each local event will be invited to one of 21 regional championships held throughout the country. The top 84 junior golfers will be invited to Orlando, Fla., later in the year to compete in the National Championship. For more information, visit www.thegolfchannel.com.

* U.S. Kids Golf named its ''America's Top 50 Kids Teachers'' Jan. 14. Brian Bain, Brookline, Mass.; Robert Beach, Braintree, Mass.; Will Blackmon, Opelika, Ala.; Tommy Brannen, Augusta, Ga.; Robert Brown, Wellington, Fla.; Kent Chase, Phoenix; Rebecca Dengler, Wilmington, Del.; Chad Donegan, New Braunfels, Texas; Michele Drinkard, Bessemer, Ala.; Jim Gaugert Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis.; William Goggin, Warner Robins, Ga.; Johnny Gonzales, La Mesa, Calif.; Kevin Greenwell, Louisville, Ky.; Chris Haarlow, Greensboro, N.C.; Gerry Hammond, Columbus, Ohio; Rob Hary, Bloomington, Minn.; Rick Hemsoth, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Denny Hepler, Warsaw, Ind.; Steve Hogan, Omaha, Neb.; Tommy Joyce, Roanoke, Va.; Rick Kline, Kutztown, Pa.; Daniel Lanigan, Shelton, Conn.; Harvey Lannak, Rye, N.Y.; Don Law, Boca Raton, Fla.; James Leitz, Slidell, La.; J. Paul Leslie III, New Canaan, Conn.; John Lindeman, South Lyon, Mich.; Eric MacCluen, Avondale, Pa.; Ken Manthis, Mounds View, Minn.; Lisa Masters, Medina, Minn.; Carolyn McKenzie-Andrews, Winter Springs, Fla.; Stacy Miller-Arndt, Bethesda, Md.; Andre Panet-Raymond, Bradenton, Fla.; Jacques Panet-Raymond, Stow, Mass.; John Pillar, Hawley, Pa.; Kevin Roberts, New Durham, N.H.; Walter Robison, West Point, Ga.; Dave Simm, Tucson, Ariz.; Chris Smeal, San Diego; Kris Smith, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Lou Solarte, Wheaton, Ill.; Joel Suggs, Cincinnati; Patrick Tait, Littleton, Colo.; Jan Tellstrom, Indianapolis; Jim Thomas, Madison, Wis.; Matthew Trimbur, Champion, Pa.; Bob Usher, Overland Park, Kan.; Lori VanSickle, Rockland, Del.; Joe Vogel, Cooper City, Fla.; Mike Warobick, Rockledge, Fla.

* Summit Properties International, the LPGA's international licensing agency, has reached an agreement with One World Golf to license a golf club line designed specifically for junior girls ages 5 to 12. The LPGA Junior Tour Collection was introduced at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., Jan 26-30. It will be available at retail stores this spring. For more information, visit www.oneworldgolf.com.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Taylore Karle
Age: 14
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 27^th
Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Skinny: In all fairness, Taylore Karle is about a half-century from shooting her age. At 14, however, she has already won a tournament by that number.

It was just last June at the Nike Golf Junior at Las Cruces when Karle beat up on the field at Picachol Hills Country Club in Las Cruces, N.M., carding rounds of 71-72-70 to win by one more than a baker's dozen (14 shots).

Karle won six other junior tournaments in 2004, her last Dec. 19 at the FCWT Laura Diaz ASU Junior Golf Challenge. Her total victory of margin in those seven events was 47 shots.

On Jan. 23, Karle jump-started her '05 tally, beating fellow 14-year-old phenom Jane Rah of Torrance, Calif., by six strokes at the IJGT at Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside, Calif.

Her next stop was Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 1 for a Monday qualifier for the PGA Tour's FBR Open.

Karle bogeyed the first two holes, before realizing she had no reason to be nervous. She's Taylore-made for this. Besides, most of the guys out there weren't playing any better than she was.

''I was like, 'Wait, they're just like me,''' Karle told The Arizona Republic. ''I had fun . . . I think I'll learn a lot from today.''

Karle posted a 2-over 74, nine shots from a PGA Tour berth. Her brother, Austyn, finished one better.

''They practice a lot of hours,'' their dad Richard told The Republic. ''They don't put in much time at the mall.''

So instead of meeting boys, Karle spends a good amount of time beating them.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

INDEPENDENT
Feb. 12-13 -- MCI/Junior Heritage, Hilton Head, S.C.

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Golfweek assistant editor Beth Ann Baldry profiles Washington State sister act Anastasia and Maria Kostina.

POLL QUESTION
Bernhard Langer said last week he will not captain the 2006 European Ryder Cup team. Who gets your vote to lead the Europeans next year at the K Club in Dublin, Ireland?

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.