TOURNAMENT RECAPS In-Bee Park, 14, of Eustis, Fla., and Chile's Benjamin Alvarado, 17,
held off challengers to earn their respective titles Dec. 30 at the Junior
Orange Bowl International Golf Championship.
Park, the 2002 Golfweek Girls' Player of the Year and U.S. Girls'
Junior Amateur champion, shot a 1-under 70 to finish four shots clear of
Elisa Serramia, 18, of Spain.
''I felt a little bit nervous,'' said Park, who became the youngest
champion in tournament history.
Top-ranked Paula Creamer, 16, of Pleasanton, Calif., who opened with a
tournament-record 7-under 65 withdrew after the first round with the flu.
Creamer won the Junior Champions Tour Championship, the AJGA Polo Junior
Golf Classic, the Doral Publix Junior and was going for her fourth
consecutive title of the 2002-'03 season.
In the boys' division, Alvarado, who attends a special school for
gifted athletes, held off a late charge by Korea's Hyedong Kim, 16, to win
by two. But the victory didn't come easy for the three-time South American
Junior champion (2000-'02), who had a bit of deja vu on No. 18.
''When Hyedong hit it close I had memories of how I lost the Junior
World Championship earlier this year,'' said Alvarado, who shot even-par
72 to finish at 5 under. ''But it worked out this time, which was nice.''
Kim, the Korean Junior champion (2000-'02), finished at 3 under. * FCWT Gator Junior
Ryan Heisey of New Bern, N.C., carded rounds of 72-72-73 for a 7-over
217 total and a first-place finish Dec. 31 at the Gator Junior. Patrick
Gibson of Thonotosassa, Fla., was second, two shots back.
In the 13-15 division, Brian Whittle of Golden City, Mo., won his first
event in only his second appearance at an FCWT event. After coming in
second at Far Oaks, Whittle used his course management skills on the
University of Florida Golf Course to edge Gavin Cambre of Orlando, Fla.,
by two strokes.
Whitney Sylvan of Columbia, S.C., also went home with a trophy in her
second FCWT event. After losing in a playoff at TPC Woodlands, Sylvan set
her sights on the winner's trophy. Sylvan cruised to the girls 16-19
title, winning by 10 strokes. * FCWT Grand Haven Junior Classic
Mark Perry captured his second consecutive Grand Haven Classic title
Dec. 28 thanks to a solid back-nine. The Atlanta resident got off to a
shaky start after an opening 40, but was even par on the homestretch to
guarantee the victory over Kyle Sawicki, who finished four shots back.
In the boys 13-15 division, Kyle Hammond finished at 151 to claim his
first FCWT title. Hammond defeated Andrew Nottenkamper by one shot.
Sarah Hurwitch of Potomac Falls, Va., overpowered the girls' division
by finishing 16 shots clear of any challengers. * FCWT Junior Open at TPC Woodlands
Stephen Mayo led the Junior Open at TPC Woodlands from start to finish.
The Austin, Texas, resident used ''solid ball striking and a hot putter''
to card a final-round 76 Dec. 28 for a six-shot victory over Scott Barton
(Dallas) and Michael Schachner (Libertyville, Ill.).
In the girls' 15-19 division, Daphne Vines of Austin, Texas, captured
the title with a 234 total. Vines finished four ahead of Julia Best
(Bulverde, Texas). * Texas Junior Tour at Barton Creek
William Osborne triumphed at the Texas Junior Tour's Barton Creek event
Dec. 29 after finishing with an even-par 142 total. Osborne edged Austin's
Brian Meck by two strokes to claim the title.
In the girls' division, Alejandra Llaneza shot a final-round 74 to beat
Ashley Knoll (76) in the race for top honors. * Donald Ross Junior
Brendon Todd outlasted Nathan Stamey in a playoff to win the Donald
Ross Junior Dec. 28 on Pinehurst No. 5. The Cary, N.C., resident carded
rounds of 71-74 to finish tied with Stamey at 145 after two rounds before
winning in overtime.
A three-way tie for third included Jonathan Mount, Lawson Patty and
Ryan Heisey. * Doral-Publix Junior Classic
Tyler Leon of Sarasota, Fla., received an early Christmas gift Dec. 23
at the Doral-Publix Junior Classic. Leon posted rounds of 71-68-71 to
finish four strokes ahead of Gainesville's (Fla.) Robert Gates Jr. and
capture the boys' 16-18 title.
Jonathan Moore finished alone in third at 215.
Paula Creamer recorded her third consecutive victory as she cruised to
a nine-stroke triumph over Emma Cabrera in the girls' division. * PJGT Iron Gloves Phoenix Open
Johan Edin carded a final-round 71 Dec. 22 to capture the Iron Gloves
Phoenix Open title. Edin finished with a 1-under 141 total, 11 shots ahead
of Michael Williams.
In the girls' 15-19 division, Ann Marie Mangini of Kirksville, Mo.,
shot 81-84 to take first place. While Mangini wrapped up the top spot,
Brooke Schneider and Lauren Stechman battled for second place. Schneider
and Stechman finished 178 and 179, respectively. * Innisbrook Christmas Junior Classic
Chanin Puntawong posted a 3-under 69 Dec. 22 to take over the top spot
at the Innisbrook Christmas Junior Classic.
Puntawong's 214 total was three strokes ahead of his nearest
competitor, Will Wilcox.
In the girls' division, Brittany Lincicome cruised to victory with a
71-72-71 performance. The Pinellas Park, Fla., resident's 214 total bested
Hana Young by 27 strokes.
Courtney Harter faltered to a final-round 87 to finish alone in third.
* Junior
Orange Bowl
-
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complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/
- For complete
results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/
PILLER: FROM THE CART
PATH Victory has a thousand fathers and mothers. But defeat is an orphan.
This famous phrase offers a basic lesson; never abandon your player during
or after a bad round or tournament.
Defeats are more common in golf than victories, and the junior player
needs a supportive adult more in defeat than triumph. Never walk away
during a bad round.
Life lessons abound
in victory and defeat
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
NEWS AND
NOTES Wie shot 1-over-par 73, but failed to make the cut Jan. 14 in the
Monday qualifier for the Sony Open. Wie was the only female in the field
of 96 players trying to earn the four remaining slots for the event. * The PGA of America and Jack Nicklaus have partnered to present
$115,000 in grants to support instruction at 17 chapters of The First Tee,
a program designed to create affordable learning facilities and access to
golf with a special emphasis on youngsters who otherwise may not have an
opportunity to experience the game and its positive values.
* Seventeenth-ranked Jonathan Moore announced he has changed his verbal
commitment from Georgia Tech to Oklahoma State.
''It happened about three or four weeks ago,'' Moore said last month at
the Junior Orange Bowl International. ''Georgia Tech was a great place but
it just didn't feel quite for me.
''I had always wanted to go to OSU growing up so we decided to take a
visit . . . it (OSU) was more my style and the pace I move at.''
Moore will be joining OSU in two years. Casey Wittenberg, Tyler Leon
and Niklas Lemke, who beat Moore 5 and 4 at the AJGA Polo Junior Classic
last month, will all be freshman at OSU this fall.
''Casey and Tyler and I are great friends and I hope we can have a lot
of fun,'' Moore said.
* Short shots: Joey Knapek, a senior at Winter Haven High School
and Chris McConnell, a freshman at Florida Southern University were killed
in a car accident on Interstate-4 in Florida Jan. 2. Knapek's parents have
started a golf scholarship fund in their son's name. . . . New eligibility
criteria have been announced for the Southern Junior Amateur Championship,
slated for June 10-12 at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. The
tournament is now open to players worldwide; it had been limited to
residents and students from the 14 states that comprise the Southern Golf
Association. . . . . Fourteen-year-old Jae An shot 74 Jan. 13 to earn a
spot in this year's New Zealand Open, scheduled to be played Jan. 16-19 at
Auckland Golf Club. Last year, An became the youngest player to qualify
for the championship.
* Michelle Wie believes female golfers not only belong on the
PGA Tour, but will one day dominate the sport. And the 13-year-old from
Honolulu is trying her best to prove it.
-
For more, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
PLAYER TO
WATCH ''My dad (Neil) introduced me to the game, but I took an interest on my
own,'' said Carroll, who has had found early success.
His top accomplishment is advancing to the quarterfinals of the AJGA
Junior Polo Golf Classic.
Outside of golf, he enjoys his computer. ''I am kind of a computer
freak,'' said Carroll.
His favorite PGA Tour player is Sergio Garcia, ''he is out there for
the fun of the game.''
If Carroll could attend any professional event, he would like to go to
the U.S. Open.
''The U.S. Open has the best field, the hardest conditions and it shows
you the game maxes out,'' he said.
Name: Cornelius Carroll
Age:
16
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 13th (as of Jan.
14)
Residence: St. Simmons Island, Ga.
The Skinny: Golf is a fairly
new activity for Carroll, who started playing five years ago.
Golfweek/Titleist
Performance Index (as of Jan. 14) GIRLS
BOYS
1. Tyler
Leon 69.58
2. Robert Gates Jr. 69.80
3. Benjamin
Alvarado 70.52
4. Brendon Todd 70.83
5. Chanin
Puntawong 70.96
6. Ryan Cairns 71.32
7. Lance
Lopez 71.32
8. Trent Leon 71.49
9. Greg Rodgers
71.51
10. Jonathan Moore 71.56
- For complete rankings,
visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/boys.asp
1. Paula Creamer 69.36
2. Emma Cabrera
72.21
3. In-Bee Park 72.33
4. Nicole Hage 72.84
5.
Ashley Knoll 72.92
6. Julieta Granada 72.92
7. Jane
Park 72.92
8. Carmen Alonso 73.15
9. Elisa
Serramia 73.25
10. Brittany Lincicome 73.31
- For
complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/ratings/girls.asp
Numbers
crunching: Happy New Year. And with the new year we gear up for a record number of
Golweek/Titleist ranked events. The 2002-'03 schedule will include 436
tournaments and is already underway.
So far, there are few surprises.
Tyler Leon and Paula Creamer top the rankings. Both finished the
2001-'02 season ranked in the top 10, Leon at No. 9 and Creamer at No. 3.
In fact, each have been a fixture in the rankings the last few years.
Creamer was ranked 76th and Leon was No. 73 at the conclusion of the
1999-'00 season. Following the 2000-'01 season, Creamer was No. 10 while
Leon was 53rd.
Leon, who will begin his collegiate career at Oklahoma State next fall,
won the Doral/Publix Junior Dec. 23 and advanced to the second round of
the AJGA's Polo Golf Junior Classic Nov. 28.
Leon, who has a 71 stroke average in five ranked rounds, won the
Doral/Publix by four shots over second-ranked Robert Gates Jr.
Creamer has started the new season with three victories in three
starts. The 16-year-old is averaging 70.14 in seven ranked rounds. She won
the Junior Champions Tour Nov. 3 by 11 shots, the Polo Golf Junior Classic
Nov. 30 and recently won the Doral/Publix Junior Classic Dec. 23 by nine
shots. Creamer opened the Junior Orange Bowl with 65 before having to
withdraw because of illness.
Familiar faces rule new year
- For more, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
RECRUITING
CENTRAL The NCAA study reports that of 355,688 student-athletes participating
in 1999-2000 at member institutions, 59 percent were men and 41 percent
women. The NCAA also indicated a slight decrease in the participation rate
for men in 2000-01 to 58 percent while women increased to 42 percent. In
1981-82, which was the first year the NCAA offered championships for
women, of a total 231,985 student-athletes, 72 percent were men and 28
percent women.
The number of male student-athletes participating per campus at NCAA
schools in all divisions has decreased from 215.8 players in 1981-82 to
199.1 participants in 2000-01. The number of female athletes per campus
was 143.9 in 2000-01, up from 94.3 in 1981-82.
The GAO report tracks numbers from all four-year institutions (NCAA and
NAIA) and counts 9,479 women's teams in 1998-99, up 66 percent from
1981-82, and 9,149 men's teams in 1998-99, up 0.4 percent from 1981-82.
The NCAA also currently reports more women's teams than men's teams at
member institutions, but more male participants because there are more
males per team. (The average squad size for NCAA Division I-A football
teams was 115.7 players in 2000-01, up from 103.1 in 1981-82.)
These reports, generated from studies on Title IX, will be used by
President Bush's commission currently assessing complaints of squad-size
reduction in some men's sports including golf.
The following information is from the Federal Government
General Accounting Office reports to Congress and from statistics released
by the NCAA 1982-2001 Sport Sponsorship Participation Report.
- For more, college
recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.
POLL QUESTION Log on to golfweek.com and participate in the ''It's Your Honor'' poll question. This week: Who has the best chance of unseating Tiger Woods atop the money list in 2003 (Listing based on 2002 money list)?
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.