TOURNAMENT RECAPS

Event: FCWT Tanglewood Jr. Challenge
Course: Tanglewood (Championship course)
When: March 20-21
Where: Clemmons, N.C.
Winners: J.T. Hoffman (74-74--148)/Lauren Daughtie (76-75--151)
Runners-up: Drew Weaver (74-74--148)/Tyrette Metzendorf (73-81--154)
Skinny: Despite bad weather, 17-year-old Lauren Daughtie posted rounds of 76-75 to win her first FCWT event of the season March 21. Overnight leader Tyrette Metzendorf finished second after a final-round 81. Eighth-grader Hunter Ross, 14, finished in third with rounds of 75-81. In the boys' division there was a tie after 36 holes. J.T. Hoffman and Drew Weaver both finished at 4-over 148 after rounds of 74-74. Hoffman, 17, and Weaver, 16, already had earned exemptions into the National Championship this season and both were looking for their first FCWT victory. In the playoff, Hoffman made par on the first extra hole to take the title.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: AJGA Ashworth Junior at Diablo Grande
Course: Legends West course
When: March 20-21
Where: Patterson, Calif.
Winner: Dustin Rhone (72-69--141)
Runner-up: Kenneth McCready (71-71--142)
Skinny: Dustin Rhone climbed from a two-way tie for fifth following a first-round 72, to win his first AJGA event, the Ashworth Junior at Diablo Grande, with a final-round 3-under 69 and a 141 total. The 14-year-old Rhone kept his scorecard clean with only one bogey in the final round. Only one stroke behind the leader, the 16-year-old Kenneth McCready shot 1 under in the final round to finish second with a 142 total.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: Kathy Whitworth Invitational
Course: Mira Vista GC
When: March 15-16
Where: Fort Worth, Texas.
Winner: Paula Creamer (70-64--134)
Runner-up: Morgan Pressel (72-71--143)
Skinny: Paula Creamer's decisive victory at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational March 16 could be a sign of things to come for the Californian.
The high-profile event served as a tune-up for many players who will compete at the U.S. Girls' Junior July 19-24 at Mira Vista Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas. While Creamer gained confidence for junior golf's grandest stage, her sights are currently set on this week's LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Creamer, who was the only player at the Whitworth to break par over the two-day tournament, dominated the field with an 8-under 134 total. Morgan Pressel finished nine shots back in second place after a final-round 71, while Lauren Espinosa placed third at 147. Creamer's final-round 64 broke the competitive course record of 68 set by Nadine Ash at the 1994 Southwestern Conference Championship.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Event: AJGA Ashworth Junior at Highland Oaks
Course: Highland Oaks GC
When: March 13-14
Where: Dothan, Ala.
Winner: Blake Stark (76-69--145)
Runner-up: Allen Koon (75-73--148)
Skinny: Blake Stark equaled his career best of 69 March 14 in the final round to overcome a number of competitors and take medalist honors in the Ashworth Junior at Highland Oaks. Entering Sunday's round, Stark was three shots off the lead in a tie for 12th place. He previously only had competed in AJGA qualifiers and a postseason event and had only carded one career round in the 60s.
''Coming into the final round,'' Stark said, ''I was just hoping to finish in the top 10 and earn an exemption.''
The 16-year-old Stark did that and more, getting off to a quick start and continuing his outstanding play to shoot 34 on the front and 35 on the back for his 3-under 69. This, coupled with Saturday's 76, gave him a 145 total, and a three-shot victory. With the victory, Stark received two exemptions in the AJGA's Performance Based Entry system.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

So here it is, your personal guide to get you into the program of your dreams. After all, it is your future we're talking about. Right?
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/articles/2004/juniorgolf/boys/38119.asp

NEWS AND NOTES

* True Temper and PGA Tour player/AJGA alum David Gossett will team to host an event in Memphis, Tenn., in 2005. The tournament will include 84 of the nation's top 12- to 18-year-old boy and girl junior golfers. The dates and course for the tournament have not been announced.

Gossett began his relationship with the AJGA in 1994, winning six tournaments over the next five years. Being named the 1997 Rolex Junior Player of the Year highlighted Gossett's career with the AJGA. The 1999 U.S. Amateur winner turned professional in 2000 and won his first PGA Tour title in 2001 while playing on a sponsor exemption at the John Deere Classic. Last year, Gossett had six top-25 finishes.

True Temper has agreed to be the title sponsor of the True Temper Junior Championship hosted by David Gossett in 2005 and 2006.

* Tom Barton of Dallas has made a five-year commitment to help fund the AJGA's Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant. The goal of the ACE Grant is to give top golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources.

Barton, a financial adviser, joins Rolex Watch USA as a founding partner of the ACE Grant, enabling the program to aid approximately 25 juniors in 2004.

''The ACE Grant is one of the most important initiatives the AJGA has ever undertaken,'' said AJGA executive director Stephen Hamblin. ''With the support of Mr. Barton, Rolex Watch USA and other donors, aspiring young golfers have an opportunity to gain exposure for a college golf scholarship even if they do not have the financial means.''

* The Royal Canadian Golf Association announced March 23 its Team Canada lineup for the 2004 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup. Ryan Lidkea and Jordan Mason of Delta, British Columbia, Dale Vallely of Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Keven Fortin-Simard of Roberval, Quebec have been selected to represent Canada at the international event.

The team will first play in San Jose, Costa Rica, April 15-18 in a 54-hole qualifying tournament against Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. The top two teams will advance to the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup June 18-26 at Bearspaw Country Club in Kyoto, Japan.

* The 10th Nike Winternational Junior Series of Golf concluded its season March 21 at Pinehurst. Eighty high school boys and girls were members during the 2003-04 season, a nine tournament series based at Pinehurst.

Below is a list of this season's Nike All-Americans:
Lee Bedford, freshman, Cary, N.C.
Corrine Carr, sophomore, Pinehurst, N.C.
Andrew DiBitetto, senior, Rochester, N.Y.
Christian Hazzard, junior, Pinehurst, N.C.
Jordan Hicks, senior, Southern Pines, N.C.
Maude-Amiee LeBlanc, freshman, Windsor, Ontario
Blair Miller, senior, Southern Pines, N.C.
Doug Novogrodsky, senior, Woodridge, N.Y.
Joe Poole Jr., junior, Raeford, N.C.
Patrick Scheil, sophomore, Williamsburg, Va.
Jack Ulrich, sophomore, Southern Pines, N.C.

Short Shots: The Northern California Section of the PGA announced that its Link Up 2 Golf classes for adults and other player development clinics and programs will be launched this spring and summer at more than 100 courses, clubs and range facilities throughout Northern California and Northwestern Nevada. The Link Up 2 Golf program is open to new, former and occasional golfers, with easy sign-up at www.playgolfamerica.com. . . . The Florida Junior Tour kicked off its season March 13-14 at the Ritz-Carlton GC in Orlando. In the boys' 16-18 age division, after 36 holes, Robert Gates (No. 5 in the Golfweek/Titleist rankings), Seath Lauer (No. 48) and Cameron Knight were tied with a two-day total 146. On the first playoff hole (the par-5 18th), Gates, of Gainesville, who will attend Texas A&M this fall, made par to take the title. In the girls' 16-18 age division, Mandy Friction, 17, of Merritt Island, shot 87-81--168 to win the division by three strokes over Natalia Godoy of Weston. . . . A Canadian junior golf team from Ontario routed the South Carolina junior golf team during the sixth Can-Am Matches held March 20-21 at Wachesaw Plantation Country Club in Murrell's Inlet, S.C. The matches are an annual event between eight top-ranked juniors from the Golf Association of Ontario and a team from South Carolina. With the triumph, Canada leads the series at 4-2. . . . This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Chicago City Amateur Championship, one of the area's storied amateur tournaments. On July 16-18, 100 competitors will vie for the title at the legendary Jackson Park Golf Course. For more information on the Chicago City Amateur or Chicago Park District golf, visit www.cpdgolf.com. . . . Nan Ryan, founder and executive director of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships, announced a new scholarship program. Participants in select Midwest chapters of The First Tee will be eligible to apply for two scholarships in the 2004 Pepsi Little People's tournament. One applicant between ages 12-14 and another between ages 15-17 will be selected to join the ranks of Little People's golfers at the tournament to be held June 20-23 at five Quincy, Ill., area golf courses. For more information on the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships or this scholarship program, visit www.littlepeoplesgolf.com.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Esther Choe
Age: 14
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 11^th (as of 03.22.04)
Residence: La Quinta, Calif.
The Skinny: Choe came into the national spotlight light at an early age. At last year's U.S. Girls' Junior, Choe, then 13, advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Sukjin-Lee Wuesthoff.

The Californian got a head start on this year's championship at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational March 16, played at the site of the 2004 Girls' Junior. Choe tied for 11th at Mira Vista GC.

In 2003, Choe took home two national titles, the Orange Bowl International Junior and the AJGA I.R.I. Golf Group Arizona National Junior. She was also a member of the Ping Junior Solheim Cup team.

Choe lists an impromptu putting contest with PGA Tour player Fred Funk as one of her most memorable moments in golf. The two squared off last year at Choe's home course, La Quinta's PGA West, where Choe beat Funk, 4 up, in a nine-hole match. Funk requested a rematch, but Choe again proved too much for the veteran.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

AJGA
March 26-28 -- Ashworth Junior at Kingwood, Texas

IJGT
March 26-28 -- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.

PJGT
March 27-28 -- Golfweek Hoosier Classic, Legends of Indiana, Franklin, Ind.

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

PJGT
April 3-4 - GolfWorks Ohio Junior Open, Cooks Creek GC, Ashville, Ohio

Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index
(as of 03.22.04)

BOYS
1. Brian Harman 69.92
2. Trent Leon 70.23
3. Pablo Martin 70.26
4. Randy Lowry 70.48
5. Robert Gates Jr. 70.77
6. Toby Ragland 70.84
7. Chanin Puntawong 70.86
8. Miguel Cabrera-Bello 70.90
9. Zack Byrd 70.95
10. Tim Schaetzel 70.96
11. David May 71.08
12. Patton Kizzire 71.46
13. Jonathan Moore 71.50
14. Webb Simpson 71.73
15. Chris McCartin 71.77
16. Jon McLean 71.80
17. Jorge Campillo 71.86
18. James Lee 71.86
19. Tim McKenney 71.96
20. Robert Riesen 72.00
21. Zack Sucher 72.03
22. Vince Hatfield 72.06
23. Josh An 72.10
24. Jordan Cox 72.12
25. Sang Yi 72.26
- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/boys.asp

GIRLS
1. Jennie Lee 70.96
2. In-Bee Park 71.04
3. Paula Creamer 71.08
4. Morgan Pressel 72.21
5. Julieta Granada 72.31
6. Mallory Hetzel 72.78
7. Taylor Leon 72.80
8. Angela Park 72.91
9. Adriana Zwanck 73.09
10. Emma Cabrera-Bello 73.44
11. Esther Choe 73.44
12. Kimberly Meck 73.59
13. Stephanie Kono 73.83
14. Mina Harigae 74.06
15. Brittany Lincicome 74.32
16. Tiffany Chudy 74.33
17. Marika Lendl 74.39
18. Jennifer Shipley 74.40
19. Tiffany Joh 74.42
20. Brittany Nelson 74.50
21. Stefanie Page 74.59
22. Azahara Munoz 74.60
23. Lauren Espinosa 74.73
24. Megan Grehan 74.86
25. So-Hyun Park 74.88
- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/girls.asp

RECRUITING CENTRAL
More than 350 high school golfers signed letters of intent during the November early signing period, and hundreds more will sign during the late signing period that runs from April 14-Aug. 1.

Prospects trying to contact college coaches should be aware this is a busy time for coaches with the spring season under way and days getting longer. Anyone expecting a call back from a coach should let him or her know what days/evenings and hours are reasonable times to call and when the prospect will be available to talk.

Big programs have recruiting budgets to pay for phone time, but coaches at programs trying to stretch dollars between scholarships and travel will appreciate an offer to return a call ''collect.''
- For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Check the March 27 issue of Golfweek for a Rater's notebook review of California's Barona Creek GC as well as a complete recap of the Bay Hill Invitational.

POLL QUESTION
Should the Masters reinstitute its qualification exemption to include PGA Tour winners (from Masters to Masters)?

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.