10.15.03
TOURNAMENT RECAPS
* Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational
In Polish, the word for long is dlugi (pronounced DWOO-gi). On Oct. 13 at
the Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational, Tiffany Chudy -- the
prodigious daughter of a Polish immigrant -- proved that long is tough to
beat in any language.
The long-hitting 17-year-old quickly closed the door on her competitors in
Round 3, following her opening efforts of 69-81 with a steady 71 at sunny
Sea Trail's Rees Jones Course for her first national victory.
Combined with Jon McLean's three-stroke victory for the boys'
division title, Chudy's triumph completed a sweep for Jim McLean prodigies.
* AJGA Ashworth Postseason Junior at Norman
Oklahoma native Jeff Cox shot a final-round 72 to win the AJGA
Ashworth Postseason Junior at Norman Oct. 12.
Cox claimed his first national victory at his home course, Belmar Golf Club,
in Norman, Okla. The high school senior carded a career-best 66 in the
opening round and maintained the lead throughout the final day.
"I definitely played more aggressive yesterday and thought way too much
today," Cox said. "I started off well with a par and birdie, but then just
began rushing everything. It took me until No. 9 before I started to calm
down again."
Utah's Stuart Golf finished six strokes back at 4-over 144 while
Texan Tyler Talman took third at 145.
* FCWT Junior Golf Central Kickoff at University of Oklahoma
Zach Pederson withstood a late challenge Oct. 12 to win the FCWT
Junior Golf Central Kickoff at University of Oklahoma. Pederson shot rounds
of 69-73 for a two-shot victory and his first FCWT title.
Kody Capps (74), Robert Streb (73) and Linc Townsend
(75) finished tied for second at even-par 144.
* Junior Golf Shootout at The Links at Hiawatha Landing
David May's three-birdie, final-round 75 was enough to edge
Michael Wagner Oct. 12 at the Junior Golf Shootout at The Links at
Hiawatha Landing.
Wagner finished one stroke back at 3-over 147 while Cody Paladino was
alone in third at 148 after a closing 71.
* SJGT Auto Trader UGA Junior Classic
Hudson Swafford shot back-to-back 70s for a 140 total and a
four-stroke victory Oct. 12 at the SJGT Auto Trader UGA Junior Classic.
Matthew Dale and Brandon Bunn were second, four behind the
Tallahassee, Fla., resident.
Rachel Carpenter outlasted Vicki Yi in a playoff to claim the
girls title. Carpenter, who played in the 12-14 age division, shot 83-75 on
the University of Georgia Golf Course to defeat Yi, who competed in the
15-18 age division.
- For complete results, visit www.golfw
eek.com/amateur/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
HOGGARD: TIMELY FIX
Midway through his grueling second round at this week's Golfweek/Precept
Junior Invitational Justin Silverstein warily eyed a tournament
official for a long moment before shooting him an inquisitive thumbs-up
sign.
Silverstein wasn't in the lead, not even close, and the 17-year-old Rancho
Santa Fe, Calif., resident had little interest in how the rest of the field
was faring. Silverstein's preoccupation was with time. Specifically, the
amount of time he and the other members of his foursome were taking to round
Sea Trail's Rees Jones Course.
FOR PACE OF PLAY
- For more, visit www.g
olfweek.com/articles/2003/juniorgolf/boys/36183.asp
NEWS AND NOTES
* The Woodlands High School girls golf team, three-time Texas state
champions, presented Annika Sorenstam with a food basket, flowers, a
card, a handmade poster (with ink smudged by the rain) and a cake that could
have fed the entire field last week at the Samsung Championship.
''I don't know if I've inspired them with my cooking or golf,'' said
Sorenstam, who worked as a chef in the offseason.
Sorenstam pretended to blow out candles that weren't on the cake, and then
made it clear that ''Hall of Famer'' doesn't always apply to those close to
retirement.
* Before he packs for college Jon McLean, the 17-year-old son of
renowned teacher Jim McLean, plans to pack on some pounds.
The 5-foot-9, 115-pounder intends to put his college career on hold until
next year in the hopes he can add some bulk and distance to his game.
''It'll be better,'' Jon McLean said following his victory at the
Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational Oct. 13. ''I've been thinking
about it for a while because I've always been a little guy.''
In the interim, McLean will workout at his dad's facility at Westin Hills in
South Florida and take some college classes.
* Practice rounds for this year's Polo Golf Junior Classic at Disney Resort
in Orlando, Fla., will be held Nov. 23 (7 a.m.-1 p.m.) on the Palm Course
and Nov. 24 (7 a.m.-1 p.m.) on the Magnolia Course. For tee time information
call the AJGA at 877-373-2542 (extension 714).
* Last week's Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational was less a
tournament and more a family vacation for Canada's Christopher Ross.
Ross is the son of Royal Canadian Golf Association executive director
Stephen Ross and the pair -- along with older brother Andrew,
who is a sophomore at Arkansas State -- spent most of the week enjoying warm
weather before they put the clubs away for what is always a long winter
North of the Border. ''Not playing (in the winter) makes them sharper,''
said Stephen Ross. ''It makes them really want to play when the time
comes.''
* Short shots: The PJGT will launch the East Coast Putting Challenge
Oct. 25-26 at the Iron Gloves/ PJGT Long Island Junior Classic in New York.
Putting Challenges will also be held at the tour's events in Hilton Head
Island, S.C. (Dec. 6-7) and Miami (Dec. 27-28). Winners from each putting
event will win a custom-fitted Musty Wood mallet putter and advance to the
2004 PJGT Tour Championship at Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla., in May. . . .
First-time and renewal AJGA members may sign up online for the 2004 season
at www.ajga.org. Players renewing their
membership between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31 will receive a divot repair player
badge set.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Prior to the tournament, Chudy, who consistently out-drove her playing
partners using a Cobra 9.5 degree driver, traded her trusty Titleist putter
for a new Ping.
It was that new putter that sealed the victory for Chudy when she holed a
12-footer for birdie with three holes to play for a commanding lead.
''I had a game plan and I kept it together,'' said Chudy, who works with
Adam Harrell at the Jim McLean school at Westin Hills in south
Florida. ''I've been trying to play shots instead of just hitting it at the
pin.''
Chudy is undecided on a college but is considering Florida, Florida
International, Coastal Carolina and Tulsa.
Name: Tiffany Chudy
Age: 17
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 43rd (Final 2002-03)
Residence: Miramar, Fla.
The Skinny: While it was the confident 17-year-old's booming drives that
drew much of the attention in her breakthrough victory Oct. 13 at the
Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational, it was probably the newest club
in her bag that lifted her to the winner's circle.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
FCWT
IJGT
Oct. 18-19-- Purdue University Kampen, West Lafayette, Ind.
Oct. 17-19-- ChampionsGate, Orlando, Fla.
Oct. 24-26-- Seaview Marriott Resort, Galloway, N.J.
RECRUITING CENTRAL
Prospective student-athletes and parents should take note of the seriousness
of the latest NCAA Division I proposal regarding academic eligibility,
measurement of academic performance and accountability at NCAA institutions.
In July the NCAA Division I Management Council introduced a proposal that
will go before the Board of Directors next year for approval. As part of the
rewards/penalties program, if an institution had a scholarship
student-athlete who failed to meet eligibility standards and withdrew from
school, that school would be prohibited from re-awarding that athlete's
scholarship to an incoming student-athlete.
Coaches in all sports will be under increased pressure to recruit players
with good academic records with the hope that academic performance will
continue in college.
- For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College
Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.
THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Check the Oct. 25 issue of Golfweek for full coverage from the
Golfweek/Precept Junior Invitational.
POLL QUESTION
Annika Sorenstam qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame on Oct. 10 who
will be next (Note: a player needs 27 points and 10 years of membership to
qualify)?
Have a question about the Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index? E-mail rankings@golfweek.com.
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.