NEWS AND NOTES

• Morgan Pressel, who tied for second at the U.S. Women's Open last month, has petitioned the LPGA for a waiver to the tour's age limit of 18. "I'd actually been thinking about it for a while," Pressel, 17, told The Miami Herald July 7. "It's just a great opportunity in front of me, to get out and make a difference on tour. Playing as well as I've been, I just felt I was ready." Pressel, Golfweek's top-ranked amateur and junior, is playing the LPGA's Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic this week on a sponsor exemption. Besides her Women's Open finish, Pressel was T-19 at the Kraft Nabisco in March; T-19 at Michelob Ultra Open in May and T-23 at Chick-fil A Championship in May. She has a sponsor exemption to the State Farm Classic in September. "I've played well," Pressel told The Herald. "I've seen myself improve tremendously over the years. I just think playing full time on tour will improve my game even more." Outgoing LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw will review Pressel's request and have a decision in a couple of weeks. "I can confirm that she has petitioned," Votaw told The Palm Beach Post. "I can confirm that we are reviewing it. I have spoken with her, and I have spoken with her grandfather (Herb Krickstein)." In 2003, Aree Song was granted a waiver by the LPGA as a 17-year-old. Carmen Bandea, 15, of Snellville, Ga., also recently petitioned the LPGA for a waiver. Pressel previously had verbally announced she would attend Duke University in 2006. Pressel has contacted Duke coach Dan Brooks about her decision to turn pro. LPGA Qualifying Tournament sectional qualifiers are Sept. 20-23 in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Oct. 4-7 in Venice, Fla. The finals are Nov. 30-Dec. 4 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. "I certainly support her decision," Krickstein told The Palm Beach Post. "I think, golfwise, she's certainly ready, and I think in every way she's ready." (Staff and wire reports)

• Sixteen-year-old Oliver Fisher will make history at Chicago Golf Club August 13th when he becomes the youngest player to compete in the Walker Cup. "I knew I had a chance at making the team," Fisher said. "I've played well this season but, to be honest, I would have been disappointed not to have made the team but not surprised." Fisher will be 16 years, 11 months and zero days when the match takes place, one month and 10 days younger than Justin Rose when he played at Quaker Ridge in 1997. Fisher, the English Under 16-champion, has not looked out of place against older competition this year. The precocious youngster from Essex, England, finished second in the Brabazon, and then made it to the semi-finals of the British Amateur before losing to McElhinney on the last hole. "This is a big milestone in my career. Making the Walker Cup is high on everyone's list but I did not think this would come so soon." Fisher cemented his place in the side by helping England win the European Amateur Team Championships at Hillside. GB & I have won the last three matches, and captain Garth McGimpsey will be looking to lead his team to an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory.

• It was a whirlwind transition for 18-year-old Julieta Granada, who turned professional June 20, then six days later finished second at the Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Golf Classic. After the Paraguay native let University of Arizona coach Greg Allen know she wouldn't be enrolling in the fall, she traveled to Michigan and shot 74-69-69 to finish a shot behind winner Cristina Baena. Granada, the 2004 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion, has played in three LPGA events this year and made the cut in two, tying for 30th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and tying for 27th at the ShopRite Classic. The LPGA experience, along with the strong performances of fellow teens Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome, helped solidify her decision. "I know I can beat them so I know I'm in pretty good shape," said Granada of the LPGA rookies. "The route that I'm taking in playing the Futures Tour is probably tougher than whaty Paula and Brittany did, but there's no secret to how to make it out there." Granada was awarded a spot in the Ann Arbor field based on her No. 2 Golfweek/Titleist Amateur Ranking. The Futures Tour saves three spots in each field for players in the top 20 of Golfweek's amateur and college rankings.

SHORT SHOTS: IJGT Team USA held on to capture the third annual Mizuno North America Cup at Weston Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, July 7, defeating CJGA Team Canada, 20-8. The U.S. squad -- made up of Parker Houston, Wes Strang, Spencer Lawson, James Tallent, J.D. Archibald, Michael Flynn Jr., Bobby Fredeking, Morgan Hoffmann, Jennifer Johnson, MacKinzie Kline, Tyler Morris, Austyn Karle, Casey Piper and Rickie Fowler -- collected eight points during the final day's singles matches. "We're very excited about the victory," said John Stanley, a non-playing U.S. captain. "The Canadian team pushed us hard today and we're pleased to be bringing the cup back to the United States again." ... Cory Bacon of Cypress Calif., aced the 160-yard par-3 16th at Tijeras Creek Golf Club (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) June 29 at the Marty LaRoche Jr. Cup. ... Robert Galbreath, Jr., of Huntingdon Valley CC completed a come-from-behind victory for the second consecutive year at the Golf Association of Philadelphia's Junior Boys Championship. Galbreath, 14, came from 2 down with four holes to play to defeat 16-year-old Amory Davis, 1-up. He became only the eighth back-to-back winner of the championship and the first since 2001. ... Seventeen-year-old high school senior Joseph Bramlett lost to 46-year-old Dan Dubois, 2 and 1, in the final of the 94th California Amateur June 26 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Bramlett was vying to become the youngest California Amateur champion in 32 years, while DuBois, of Newport Beach, became the second-oldest player to win. ... Highly-touted 15-year-old South African Ashleigh Simon has accepted an invitation to compete in the 30th annual Westfield Junior PGA Championship, July 13-16 at Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio outside Cleveland. Simon, who has been compared to Michelle Wie, won the South African Open in 2004 at age 14 with a record-setting performance on her home course of Royal Johannesburg Golf Club. She also won the South African WPGA Pam Golding International in February, followed by a third-place finish at the Nedbank Women's Masters in March.