TOURNAMENT RECAPS
* AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic

It was a Swedish bonanza in the final boys match Nov. 30 at the 25th Polo Golf Junior Classic.

Niklas Lemke and Oscar Floren squared off on Walt Disney World Resort's Magnolia course in hopes of capturing the prestigious crown as well as the attention of top college coaches.

Both 18-year-olds are members of the Swedish Boys team and are quite familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses. Lemke's hot putter proved to be the difference in the final match, however, as he bested Floren, 3 and 2.

Lemke, the Swedish Junior National Match Play champion and runner-up at the European Boys Junior Championship, is hoping his solid play this week will improve his chances of playing college golf in the United States. Next week, he'll travel to Oklahoma State and Augusta State for his first official visits.

Floren, who made his golf debut in the U.S. last week, considered the final round a ''success for Sweden'' and said that he couldn't be disappointed in the outcome of the match since it's the first golf he's played since the beginning of October.

In the girls division, Paula Creamer again cruised through the front nine under par to send her opponent scrambling to stay alive. Ashley Knoll found herself 3 down after seven holes as Creamer birdied Nos. 2, 6 and 7 to make the turn at 3 under.

The 16-year-old from Pleasanton, Calif., played the remaining holes even par to close the match on the 16th, winning 3 and 2.

''There's something about that front nine,'' Creamer said. ''I hit the ball really well and I made the putts I needed to make.'' Creamer, who took home four AJGA titles last summer as well as the Scott Robertson Memorial, said that it was an honor to join the elite group of past champions.

''I can't describe what I'm feeling right now, it's amazing,'' she said.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/

* AJGA Callaway Golf Junior All-Star

Lance Lopez of Fresno, Texas, shot 5-under 67 Nov. 30 to recover from a four-stroke deficit and take home his first AJGA title at the Callaway Golf Junior All-Star Series Championship at ChampionsGate Golf Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.

''It was a monster out there,'' said Lopez, 15, who finished at 2-under 214. ''Somehow I managed to play through it. I felt really comfortable coming into today. I was making solid contact all week and it just added up.''

Michael Green of Augusta, Ga., came in second at 216.

In the girls division, Jennifer Osborn, who came into the final round with a six-stroke lead, shot 74-68-78 to close out her first AJGA victory as well.

Playing through a difficult wind, Osborn like Lopez struggled to score well during the final round, finishing with 78, 10 shots higher than her previous day's score.

Rounding out the girls division top three were Jennifer Hong of Windermere, Fla., at 224 and Stefanie Page of The Woodlands, Texas, at 225.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/

* IJGT at TPC at Sawgrass

Ben Herrera of Waukee, Iowa, came from three strokes behind Pablo Larrazabal of Barcelona, Spain, to win the Boys 16-19 Division Dec. 1 in a playoff at the TPC at Sawgrass.

On the first hole of sudden death, the 497-yard, par-5 16th hole on the Stadium Course, Larrazabal went for the green on his second shot and ended up in the water.

Herrera laid up on his second shot and knocked his third shot just off the back of the green. After chipping to within a foot of the hole, Herrera tapped in his par and the victory after Larrazabal's 25-foot attempt for par slid past the hole.

Both players finished at 4-over 220. Andrew Milloy of LaSalle, Ontario, came in third at 222.

Anna Schaefer shot 79-78-74 to take home honors in the girls 11-19 division, winning by 11 strokes over Rhea Nair.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* IJGT at Bayonet and Black Horse

Taylor Hobin of Antioch, Calif., followed his first-round 78 with a 1-under 71 Nov. 24 to win the boys 16-19 division of the IJGT at Bayonet and Black Horse by two strokes.

Jake Yount of Danville, Calif., shot back-to-back 74s to win the boys 13-15 division by four strokes.

In the girls 11-19 division, defending champion Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., followed her first-day 75 with 78 Sunday for a 153 total and an 11-stroke victory over Jill Womble of Pleasanton, Calif.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* IJGT at PineIsle Resort

Brett Munson carded a 5-under 67 Nov. 24 to vault into first place with a 1-over 145 total at the IJGT PineIsle Resort tournament. Munson overcame a five-stroke deficit to edge Adam Boghosian by two strokes in the boys 16-19 division.

Jonathan Fly took home the boys 13-15 title after birdieing the second playoff hole against D.J. Magee.

Esther Moon shot a final-round 84 for a seven-stroke victory in the girls 15-19 division.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* FCWT Thanksgiving Desert Open

Colin Wilcox posted a 5-under 68 Dec. 1 to come from behind and capture the boys 16-19 division of the FCWT Thanksgiving Desert Open. Wilcox's 4-under 215 total gave him a three-stroke victory over Chris Myers at the Omni Tucson (Ariz.) Resort.

Myers threatened to make a move when he made the turn at 3 under, but a double bogey and bogey kept him from overtaking Wilcox. Myers posted a final-round 71 to finish at 218.

Adam Beckman's 230 total earned him the title in the boys 13-15 group. Shawn Tonkin finished alone in second, four strokes back.

In the girls 15-19 division, Carling Coffing had a final-round 74 for a nine-stroke triumph over Caroline Kerns and Alexandrea Schulte.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* FCWT Colonial Thanksgiving Classic in Williamsburg

Despite carding a final-round 79, Todd Shagin won his first FCWT event Dec. 1 at the Colonial Thanksgiving Classic in Williamsburg, Va. Shagin's 7-over 223 total was good for a two-stroke victory over Will Shambley.

In the girls 15-19 age group, Kate Laegeler prevailed over Chelsea Chiapella in a playoff after both finished regulation play at 28-over 244.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* FCWT Florida Thanksgiving Challenge

The Island Course at Innisbrook in Tarpon Springs, Fla., did not yield any sub-par rounds until the final day at the Florida Thanksgiving Challenge. Minkyu Han posted one of two rounds below par as his final-round 71 Dec. 1 gave him a 6-over 222 total and a two-stroke victory over Tyler Brown and Dave Tiffenberg in the boys 16-19 division.

FCWT veteran Zachary Pranger won his first event of the season with a 158 total. Pranger entered the final round four shots back and said that he did not expect to win. Adam Seitz made it a close call, finishing one shot back at 159.

Elizabeth Dotson posted rounds of 76-75-78 for a one-shot triumph over Tiffany Chudy.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* FCWT at Wolf Creek

At the Wolf Creek Junior, Ty Sanders carried his strong play into the second day, shooting 71 Nov. 24 for a five-stroke victory over Jake Creel (73).

In the girls 15-19 division, Amanda Henry's 79 was the only sub-80 round in the tournament. Henry's 15-over 159 total was 12 stokes ahead of her nearest competitor, Lauren Huhnerkock.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* FCWT Deacon Junior Open

Despite a double-bogey, bogey start, Sean Moore managed to capture the crown at the Deacon Junior Open Nov. 24. Moore's final-round 72 gave him a two-stroke edge over Tyler Brown.

Preston Yates took home the trophy in the boys 13-15 age group with a 149 total. Raffi Simel finished a distant second, six strokes back at 155.

Ashley Freeman won the girls 15-19 division by ten strokes. Freeman's 80-79 performance at Bermuda Run (N.C.) Country Club gave her the victory in her first FCWT event of the season. Rachel Ingram finished second at 169.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* PJGT

Joe Cermak posted rounds of 73-77 at the Golfweek Colonial Junior Dec. 1 to take the boys 16-19 crown. Cermak's 150 total at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., put him three strokes ahead of Nick Weiss who finished alone in second.

In the girls 15-19 division, Rachel Ingram carded a final-round 80 to edge Kiley Bishop and Chrissy Gonzalez by a stroke.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* Texas Junior Golf at Cypress Lakes

Lance Lopez carded back-to-back sub-par rounds at Cypress Lakes Golf Club to claim the boys title Nov. 24. Lopez's 3-under 141 total gave him a four-stroke victory over Christopher Paiz.

In the girls division, Sara Brown posted a sizzling 4-under 68 to finish the tournament at even par and capture the title. Stefanie Page came in second at 148 after a final-round 71.
- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

NEWS AND NOTES
* Thirteen-year-old phenoms Mina Harigae and Sydney Burlison met in the final match of the California Women's Amateur Nov. 10 for the second consecutive year.

The duo made headlines last year when they squared off in the final match at the tender age of 12.

And the outcome in 2002 at Carmel Valley's Quail Lodge was similar with Harigae winning, 1 up.

Although the Monterey Peninsula pair are best friends, they show no mercy when it comes to tournament play.

''In between shots we're most of the time goofing around,'' Harigae told the Monterey County Herald. ''Once we get over the ball though, the jokes are over.''
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

* At 13, Taiwan's Lo Shih-kai accomplished something that eluded even Tiger Woods.

Lo became the youngest player to start in a PGA European Tour event, competing in the Hong Kong Open Nov. 28. He beat the mark held by Sergio Garcia, who was 15 when he played in his first European Tour event.

Lo opened with rounds of 73-73 and missed the cut by eight shots at Hong Kong Golf Club.

ELLIOTT: INTERNATIONALS
MAKE MARK AT POLO

While standing in front of the well-decorated leaderboard at the 2002 AJGA Polo Junior Golf Classic it was impossible not to notice a cluster of men's and women's college coaches in attendance. At one stage, there were more than 50 coaches roaming the Palm and Magnolia courses at Walt Disney World Resort in search of a potential recruiting gem.

For any of the 173 juniors who earned invitations to this prestigious event it was a superb opportunity to catch the attention of a college coach. For a well-traveled few, it was their first, and maybe only, chance to land a college scholarship.
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Robert Gates Jr.
Age: 16
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 22^nd (final 2001-02 ranking)
Residence: Gainesville, Fla.
The Skinny: Robert Gates Jr. made his first appearance at the Polo Junior Golf Classic last week and fought his way into the semifinal round before losing to eventual champion Niklas Lemke.

Gates, a junior at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Fla., had some strong showings this summer at several AJGA events including a runner-up finish at the Robert Trent Jones Junior Classic.

Gates picked up the game when he was 3 and says that he is interested in few things other than golf.

''I pretty much wake up, go to school and practice,'' he said.

Although he resides in ''Gator Country,'' Gates is hesitant to answer when asked if he's a University of Florida fan. ''I don't really keep up with college sports. I think that's a safe answer,'' Gates said.

His college of choice? Gates says he's keeping his options open.

Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index
BOYS
The first edition of the 2002-03 Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index will be published on Dec. 9.
-For complete rankings visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/boys.asp

GIRLS
The first edition of the 2002-03 Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index will be published on Dec. 9.
- For complete rankings visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/girls.asp

WINNER'S MOVEMENT
The first edition of the 2002-03 Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index will be published on Dec. 9.

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

FCWT
Dec. 13-15 -- FCWT Thunderbird Junior Invitational at ASU, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.

IJGT
Dec. 13-15 -- IJGT Tucson National, Tucson, Ariz.

RECRUITING CENTRAL
The effects of Title IX on college athletics is front page news these days, including a segment this week on CBS's ''60 Minutes.'' In August 2002, President Bush began a series of public hearings to determine if changes needed to be made in the way Title IX is applied to athletics.

Much of the controversy arises from low participation rates and/or a low proportion of women in some college athletic departments. This has resulted in athletic directors instructing men's coaches to reduce squad size to achieve gender proportionality within the institutions' athletic programs as mandated by this law.

Title IX has been responsible for creating most athletic opportunities for girls and women since its inception in 1972. The public hearings will help determine if reducing squad size for men's teams is a reasonable way for colleges to be in compliance under the intent of the law.

-For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Log on to golfweek.com and participate in the ''It's Your Honor'' poll question. This week: Who had the most memorable year?

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.