PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Nathada Huachai
Age: 16
Residence: Windermere, Fla.
Golfweek/Titleist ranking: 21 Nathada Huachai stood alone on the putting green at ChampionsGate golf course late in the afternoon Oct. 2, waiting for an end to a tournament that didn't want to end. After two days of six-hour rounds on an already difficult golf course toughened further by annoying downpours and wind gusts that reached upwards of 25 mph, Huachai was surely ready to hop in the car, head home and hit the couch. She wasn't necessarily excited about what turned into an eight-hole sudden-death playoff with Amalie Valle of Norway to decide the IJGT's first East Coast major of the season. But that doesn't mean she wasn't ready for it. If there's something Huachai is used to, it's the long haul. Born in Thailand, Huachai's family moved to Australia in 2002. It was there Huachai started getting serious about golf, working her game at Royal Perth Golf Club. Last May, she came to America with her father and brother.

"I wanted to play against a bigger field of competitive girls," said Huachai, who just turned 16 last week. She enrolled at The Crenshaw School, a small private school in Orlando, Fla., where she gets out every day at 11:30 a.m. to work on her game at Grand Cypress. "I'll get up at 6 a.m., do gym work, go to school, get out, then maybe do more gym work and practice," she said. Her hard work has led to several victories this year including the Innisbrook Easter Classic and last week's IJGT at World Woods, where she blew away the field with rounds of 70-69 (5 under) for a 10-stroke victory.

"Everything's just working right now," she said. Over two days of tough conditions at ChampionsGate, Huachai posted rounds of 75 and 77 for an 8-over 152 total. She would have gone home early with a five-stroke victory had Valle's family not picked this week to come to Disney World. "She just came here for vacation, to go to the parks and stuff," Huachai said of the Norwegian. Good timing, then, led to Valle's entry and resulting rounds of 74 and 78, which forced the overtime with Huachai. Bad timing had her on extra hole No. 8, wounding the plans she'd made that morning to go shopping when golf was done. Huachai looked to have the tournament closed out two holes prior after landing her approach to 8 feet, but a grinding Valle rolled in a monster birdie putt to extend match. The longest playoff in IJGT history ended only when Huachai slammed her pitching wedge from 110 yards to kick-in distance. The two girls drove back for an awards ceremony over two hours late and attended only by remaining family members and IJGT staff members.

In the Huachai camp were her father, Nathapoi and her 15-year-old brother Komsith, who earlier had finished 11th in his age division. Her mother, Daranee, remains working in Thailand, where Huachai returns every summer because of her father's limiting tourist Visa.

"He can't stay in America for more than 6 months (at a time) so we have to go with him," she said. "We can't stay here yet, because we're not old enough to stay by ourselves." That's the reason Huachai's name didn't show up at any AJGA events or other big tournaments last summer. It wasn't a question of her ability. Still, she's extremely patient about her situation, fully appreciative of the opportunity she does have. She's a little antsy to see what she can do against some of the bigger names, and will have that opportunity in November at the Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament. "If I do qualify and make it I'll play as an amateur just to get experience and learn what I need to improve to be a professional," she said. If not, she doesn't mind waiting.

NEWS AND NOTES

* Peter Uihlein finished eagle-birdie to win the Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational Sept. 17, edging Arnond Vongvanij by shot at the Country Club of Spartanburg (S.C.) Both Uihlein and Vongvanij, who attend the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Fla., shot final-round 64s, tying the 18-hole tournament scoring record. Uihlein stood two shots back on the par-5 17th, where he reached the green in two and knocked in the 15-foot eagle putt. He slammed his approach on 18 to 10 inches, setting up his winning birdie.

* CARMEL, IND. ­ From a distance, not a whole lot seemed "junior" about the Junior Solheim Cup. The posh Bridgewater Club, located 10 miles from Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind., was also designed by the legendary Pete Dye. Flatscreen TVs in restroom stalls let everyone know they didn't stick the kids in any kind of second-rate establishment. The range, lined with international flags, featured placards with a player's name at each hitting station. Even the team make ups were similar: An outspoken teen with the game to back her comments highlighted the American contingent (Morgan Pressel), while a Sorenstam (Charlotta) commanded the Europeans. But when Taylor Karle, 15, hit the flagstick on the 17th hole Sept. 7 to close out the day's final match, the high-pitched shrills that followed rivaled anything heard at a Backstreet Boys concert, reminding fans that these were indeed, teenage girls, with a whole lot of game. Karle's 5-foot birdie putt was conceded by England's Melissa Reid, giving the Americans their 10th singles win of the day and a dominating 16-8 victory over Europe.

"I knew that I had the adrenaline going and everything," said Karle, who hit a 9-iron from 127 yards. "Yesterday they were all there cheering me on. It just gave me the greatest feeling." The U.S. cheer of choice this week was "U-S-A, all the way," a mantra they enjoyed screaming at night in the hotel hallway for their opponents to hear. After losing the Cup two years ago in Sweden, the U.S. team knew it would need a solid performance to pull away from the 6-6 deadlock following Tuesday's play. Jennie Arsenault, 17, led the charge with a commanding 6-and-5 victory over Norway's Lene Krog in the morning's opening match. The Iowa native never made a bogey as she cruised around the Bridgewater Club with red, white and blue bandanas tied around her left leg and waist and a glittery USA tattoo on her left cheek. Megan Grehan and Sydnee Michaels were the only Americans to post a perfect 3-0 record. Michaels sailed through her match against Caroline Masson, 5 and 4, with four birdies and an eagle while Grehan survived a roller-coaster round against Beatriz Recari that changed leads multiple times. After entering the 13th hole all square, Grehan won Nos. 14-16 to close the match, 3 and 2. Morgan Pressel went 2-0-1 in her final junior event and played the part of team cheerleader. To keep her peers pumped for play Pressel put together a mix of high-energy songs for each car that carried players to the course. Hot off a fifth-place showing at the State Farm Classic, Pressel anchored the U.S. team with a 6-and-4 drumming over Azahara Munoz, a freshman at Arizona State. Munoz, the 2004 British Girls' champion, along with Eastern Carolina's Krog, were allowed to compete for Europe despite having enrolled in college. While the AJGA didn't allow players from the class of 2005 to participate, the European selection criteria deems anyone under the age of 19 to be eligible. As long as players represent their countries and do not use school logoed equipment or clothing, it does not violate NCAA regulations.

"They're definition of junior is totally different than ours," said AJGA executive director Stephen Hamblin. "Our definition is someone who is not 19 and who hasn't entered college. That's probably something we'll talk about as far as maybe trying to get more balanced on the eligibility." While the teams seemed equally matched after the first day of competition concluded in a tie, the putts simply didn't fall for the Europeans down the stretch. Only Carlota Ciganda and Anna Nordqvist managed to score points Wednesday. Still, captain Sorenstam was impressed.

"They're very aggressive and show no fear," said Sorenstam. "The young girls nowadays are so good. I wish I was that good when I was young." It was just two years ago in Sweden that Paula Creamer took part in the Junior Solheim. Now she's practically the marquee player with the "big girls" as a rookie on this year's U.S. team.

"It just shows how good juniors are," said Arsenault of Creamer's professional ascent. "I don't think many people understand how good we are." Esther Choe, a Junior Solheim veteran at age 16, knows of another U.S. teammate who could fare just as well in two years time: "I'd bet you anything Morgan's going to be on the next Solheim team."

Following the awards presentation, LPGA Tour veteran and U.S Captain Colleen Walker led her team into the Bridgewater pool for an impromptu victory dip. On Thursday the team will play in a pro-am before taking part in the opening ceremonies at Crook Stick. Many players plan to stay around until Saturday to cheer on the Americans. "We're going to scream our brains out," said Choe. Of that, there is no doubt. (BY BETH ANN BALDRY)

* The Golf Channel's Mutual of Omaha Drive Chip & Putt national champions were crowned Sept. 24 at Eagle Creek GC in Orlando, Fla.:

AGES 7-8 1) Keenan Huskey, 8, Greenville, S.C * 2) Elliott Grayson, 8, Kings Mountain, N.C. 3) Sam Horsfield, 8, Davenport, Fla.
AGES 9-10 1) Alessandra Kutz, 10, Lake Mary, Fla.* 2) Austin Inman, 10, Wilmington, N.C. 3) Zachary Herr, 10, New Hope, Pa.#
AGES 11-12 1) Erica Pellegrini, 12, Chadds Ford, Pa.* 2) Ricky Lee, 12, Tucson, Ariz. 3) Brad Burgess, 12, Caistor Centre, Ontario
AGES 13-14 1) Daniel Stringfellow, 13, Roselle, Ill.* 2) Matt Wallace, 14, Asburn, Va. 3) Blake Brown, 14, Scottsdale, Ariz.
* - denotes national champion
# - denotes winner of putting playoff

* The AJGA released its 2005 HP Scholastic Junior All-American teams. They are as follows:
BOYS Louis Amira, Valencia, Calif. Valencia High School GPA 4.251/4.0 Rank in Class: 10/855
Benjamin Bench, Oklahoma City, Okla. Putnam City North High School GPA 4.458/4.0 Rank in Class: 15/526
Rob Bennett, Augusta, Ga. Academy of Richmond County GPA 94.631 Rank in Class: 4/237
Jeffrey Chen, Walnut, Calif. Los Altos High School GPA 4.20/4.0 Rank in Class: 12/465
Jed Dirksen, Hampton, Iowa Hampton-Dumont High School GPA 4.0/4.0 Rank in Class: 1/80
Josh Dupont, Poway, Calif. Cathedral Catholic High School GPA 4.125/4.0 Rank in Class: 15/353
Scott Langley, Ballwin, Mo. Parkway South High School GPA 4.196/4.0 Rank in Class: 31/536
Daniel Mayer, Winter Park, Fla. Trinity Preparatory School GPA 4.28/4.0 Rank in Class: N/A
Kyle Stough, Laurel, Md. DeMatha Catholic High School GPA 4.15/4.0 Rank in Class: N/A
Kirk Whitehead, Marietta, Ga. The Lovett School GPA 96.471 Rank in Class: N/A

GIRLS
Ashley Baker, Dublin, Ohio Dublin Jerome High School GPA 4.343/4.0 Rank in Class: 5/307
Katie Conway, Wading River, N.Y. Shoreham-Wading River High School GPA 97.9 Rank in Class: 2/209
Rebecca Durham, St. Simon's Island, Ga. Glynn Academy GPA 98.69 Rank in Class: 1/395
Ashley Freeman, Belleville, Ill. Belleville East High School GPA 5.0/4.0 Rank in Class: 1/554
Meghan Gockel, Dallas, Texas Plano West Senior High School GPA 4.26/4.0 Rank in Class: 20/944
Brooke Goodwin, Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Fuquay-Varina High School GPA 4.58/4.0 Rank in Class: 2/330
Michelle Grilli, Lutherville, Md. Pikesville High School GPA 5.333/4.0 Rank in Class: 10/283
Kelsey Lindenschmidt, West Chester, Ohio Ursuline Academy GPA 4.547/4.0 Rank in Class: 3/154
Whitney Neuhauser, Barboursville, Va. Monticello High School GPA 4.57/4.0 Rank in Class: 97%/249
Sarah Thead, Poway, Calif. Poway High School GPA 4.1/4.0 Rank in Class: 4/793

* The Lowcountry Golf School Junior Golf Tour begins Oct. 22-23 at Waterway Hills in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The six junior golf tournaments will be held monthly at different Myrtle Beach National Company golf courses and will run through April of 2006, culminating with the LCGS Junior Tour Championship at Willbrook Plantation. For more information, check www.lcgsjuniortour.com.