07.16.03
TOURNAMENT RECAPS
* AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions
Brendon Todd claimed his first American Junior Golf Association title
July 11, surviving a roller coaster final round to win the Rolex Tournament
of Champions.
Todd's closing 1-under 71 was good for a 9-under 278 total and a two-shot
victory over Brian Harman, the top-ranked player in the
Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index.
Todd was six shots ahead through four holes when he hit his tee shot out of
bounds at the par-5 fifth. Harman took advantage, knocking his approach shot
to within inches for birdie to cut the lead to three.
Harman tied Todd at 7 under after making birdie on the par-5 14th but Todd
finished with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 for the two-shot victory.
''To finally win an AJGA tournament and have it be a major is really, really
special,'' Todd said. ''My goal was definitely to win. I like the course a
lot and I had been playing really good.''
In-Bee Park raced away from the field with a final-round 69. Her 285
total was eight shots clear of Hannah Jun.
Park led by five strokes entering the final round and birdied Nos. 4, 5 and
6 to deny Jun, who closed with 68.
* AJGA Abacoa Junior Classic
Noah Goldman went from qualifier to champion within in five days at
the Abacoa Junior Classic.
Goldman -- who qualified for the event July 6 at Abacoa Golf Club in
Jupiter, Fla. -- closed with 70 for a 214 total. Lanny Benson and
Matthew Galloway tied for second at 1-under 215.
"I didn't think I would shoot low enough to qualify for the tournament,"
Goldman, 17, said. "But I felt up to the level of the other players."
In the girls division, Hagen Weintraub edged Yu-Jin Bang at
the third playoff hole to take the title.
Weintraub, 16, carded three consecutive rounds of 74 while Bang, competing
in her final AJGA tournament, had 75-74-73. Christine Yum took third
place at 7-over 223.
* AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior
Amanda Blumenherst carded a career-low round (a second-round 65) and
topped the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior's 18-hole record July 10 to take the
girls division title at the weather-shortened event.
The victory is Blumenherst's second in as many weeks and her fourth this
season (AJGA Midwest Junior Players, AJGA Southwestern Junior, AJGA
PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior).
"It was my goal to win three AJGA tournaments this year and this is my
fourth, so it is always really nice to fulfill your goals," said
Blumenherst, a favorite at this week's U.S. Girls' Junior in Fairfield,
Conn.
Jordyn Wells and Allison Goodman finished tied for second at
152, 16 shots back.
Frank Alafoginis, who also shot a career-best 67 in Round 2, was
crowed champion of the weather-plagued event. Alafoginis' 140 total was two
strokes better than Michael Schachner (66-76).
"It feels good to win," Alafoginis said. "I kind of wanted to play today but
I'm not going to complain, I'll take them how I can get them."
* AJGA I.R.I Golf Group Arizona National
Thirteen-year-old Esther Choe's closing 72 was good enough to win the
I.R.I Golf Group Arizona National title July 10 but it was Amie
Cochran who stole the spotlight.
Cochran shot a course-record 62 on her way to a 215 total at Arizona
National in Tucson, Ariz. Her 9-under round also matched the AJGA's 18-hole
record, set by Leigh Anne Hardin in 1997.
Despite Cochran's fireworks, Choe's steady final round included three
birdies and four bogeys for a 211 total and four-shot victory over Cochran
and Nicole Smith (68).
Cochran's bogey-free round included an eagle on the 518-yard, par-5 fifth
hole and seven birdies. She also hit all 18 greens in regulation and missed
only one fairway.
"My goal today was to make birdies," Cochran said. "I was just putting
lights out . . . it was crazy. Everything really came together today."
In the boys division, Daniel Lim claimed his first AJGA title with a
202 total. Lim shot a final-round 65 to edge second-round leader Kyle
Dowden (70) and Danny Buell (68) by two strokes.
* Press Thorton Future Masters
Glenn Northcut became Dothan's (Ala.) newest hometown hero.
Northcut won the Press Thorton Future Masters July 13 at Dothan (Ala.)
Country Club. His 209 total was two shots ahead of Mark Harrell, who
was 3 under entering the final round but struggled to a closing 74.
Northcut, who carded rounds of 70-69-70, became the first Dothan resident
since 1959 to win the tournament. The last player to do so was Morris
Slingluff.
* PGA Junior Series at Colorado Springs
John Giannuzzi and Katy Barrett both needed extra holes to
claim their respective division titles while Emily Powers became the
PGA Junior Series all-time victory leader July 9 at Eisenhower Golf Club in
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Giannuzzi, who shot rounds of 78-71, out dueled Cameron White to
take the boys 13-15 title while Barrett (78-79) defeated Katie
Kempter in a playoff to win the girls 16-17 division.
Powers shot a final-round 80 for a 161 total and two-stroke victory over
Rachel Larson. The victory is Powers' fifth, the most by any play
male or female.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/
FROM THE CART PATH: ELITE
At last week's AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions the nation's top junior
golfers played video games and pool inside the Sarazen House at Chateau Elan
Resort just outside Atlanta.
Parents were not allowed in the special ''Players Only'' lodge, located just
steps from the Legends course and clubhouse. But I managed to sneak into the
temporary inner sanctum of elite junior golf to observe something quite
heartwarming: teen-agers acting like teen-agers (well behaved of course) and
having fun.
PLAYERS NEED TO HAVE FUN
- For more, visit www.g
olfweek.com/articles/2003/juniorgolf/boys/34430.asp
NEWS AND NOTES
* For the first time in the organization's history, the American Junior Golf
Association disqualified a player for using nonconforming equipment July 9
at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Mu Hu -- a 13-year-old from China who attends the David Leadbetter
Academy in Bradenton, Fla. -- was disqualified after his opening-round 74 at
Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, Ga., for using a driver that was on the
U.S. Golf Association's nonconforming list.
''A third party shared some information with our staff and we took a look at
the driver after the round,'' said Peter Ripa, the AJGA's chief
operations officer. ''It was an honest mistake and a complete surprise to
the player.''
* The Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio, has been
selected site of the 2004 PGA Junior Ryder Cup Matches.
The matches, scheduled to be played Sept. 10-11, are a mixed competition
with boys and girls from the United States versus their counterparts from
Europe.
Europe has a 3-1 advantage in the matches, including resounding victories in
'99 in Cape Cod and '02 at The K Club in Ireland.
- For more, visit www.g
olfweek.com/articles/2003/juniorgolf/boys/34328.asp
PLAYER TO WATCH
''I'm playing a lot better than I've scored,'' Richey said of his
often-rocky summer season.
Last week at the Press Thornton Future Masters Richey shot an opening 80 and
missed the initial cut by five strokes. He also tied for 38th at a PGA
Junior Series event in June and was 30th at the AJGA Ashworth Preseason
Junior in March.
Despite his troubles on the course, this soon-to-be high school senior still
enjoys playing.
''I'm positive and I like to have a good time while playing. I hate being
super serious when I'm playing. You just have to go out there and enjoy
it,'' said Richey, who has carded two holes-in-one.
His goal is to play golf for a NCAA Division I school but he knows his game
will have to improve to catch a coaches eye.
''I got to start playing better,'' Richey said.
Name: Art Richey
Age: 16
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 757th (as of July 16)
Residence: Russellville, Ala.
The Skinny: This self-described ''southern boy'' with a penchant for
holes-in-one isn't playing like he would like right now -- but he is close.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
American Junior GA
Westfield Junior PGA
Callaway Junior
Independent
July 14-17 -- PING Junior at The Peninsula Club; The Peninsula Club;
Charlotte, N.C.
July 14-17 -- Abilene Reporter-News Junior, Abilene, Texas
July 14-17 -- Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Kingwood, Kingwood
Country Club (Island Course), Kingwood, Texas
July 14-17 -- Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Cimarron, Cimarron Golf
Club, Palm Desert, Calif.
July 16-19 -- Westfield Junior PGA Championship, Westfield Group Country
Club, Westfield Center, Ohio
July 15-18 -- Callaway Junior World Golf Championship, Torrey Pines Golf
Course, LaJolla, Calif.
July 14-18 -- Western Junior, Sugar Grove, Ill.
July 14-18 -- Women's Western Junior Girls, Sugar Mill Country Club, New
Smyrna Beach, Fla.
July 15-17 -- North & South Junior, Pinehurst, N.C.
July 21-26 -- 56th U.S. Junior Amateur, Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase,
Md.
July 21-26 -- 55th U.S. Girls' Junior, Brooklawn Country Club, Fairfield,
Conn.
STATE OF AFFAIRS
Alabama
Delaware
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
NUMBER CRUNCHING
BOYS
GIRLS
RECRUITING CENTRAL
Supporters of the initiative say it would give more flexibility for
prospects to meet the tougher core-course requirements. Some cabinet members
were concern that such flexibility for prospects could bring confusion to
the academic qualifying rules and be a hardship for coaches and institutions
making last-minute scholarship determinations.
The proposal will be review by the NCAA Division Management Council and will
not affect the 2003 and 2004 classes which are subject to the new 14
core-course requirement. By 2008, the requirement will be 16 core courses.
- For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College
Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.
THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
POLL QUESTION
Have a question about the Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index? E-mail rankings@golfweek.com.
A state-by-state glance at junior golf
July 21-23 -- Girls Junior Championship, Enterprise CC
July 16-17 -- Girls Junior Championship, Delcaste GC, Wilmington
July 22-25 -- Girls Junior Championship, Talamore at Oak Terrace CC, Ambler
July 16-17 -- Junior Amateur Championship, Oglebay, Wheeling
(as of July
16)
BOYS
1.
Brian Harman
69.52
2.
Brendon Todd
69.66
3.
Benjamin Alvarado
69.94
4.
Martin Ureta
70.60
5.
Sean Moore
70.75
6.
Robert Gates Jr.
71.03
7.
James Lee
71.13
8.
Chris Kirk
71.23
9.
Jonathan Moore
71.25
10.
Brett Lange
71.26
11.
Bronson Burgoon
71.31
12.
Chanin Puntawong
71.38
13.
Ben Leong
71.42
14.
David Yoon
71.45
15.
Jarred Texter
71.58
16.
Webb Simpson
71.73
17.
Giwon Suh
71.75
18.
Elliott Wainwright
71.78
19.
Rob
Grube
71.80
20.
Erik Flores
71.85
- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com/
juniorgolf/ratings/boys.asp
GIRLS
1.
Paula Creamer
69.53
2.
In-Bee Park
70.25
3.
Julieta Granada
71.16
4.
Carmen Alonso
71.78
5.
Brittany Lincicome
71.79
6.
Ashley Knoll
71.83
7.
Angela Park
71.97
8.
Jane Park
72.00
9.
Amanda Blumenherst
72.14
10.
Hannah Jun
72.54
11.
Nicole Hage
72.59
12.
Sukjin Wuesthoff
72.80
13.
Brittany Lang
73.02
14.
Morgan Pressel
73.13
15.
Amie Cochran
73.55
16.
Kelly Robb
73.58
17.
Jennifer Pandolfi
73.72
18.
Ashley Rollins
73.81
19.
Lauren Espinosa
73.84
20.
Elizabeth Dotson
74.05
- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com
/juniorgolf/ratings/girls.asp
Here is a list of last week's winners and their movement in the
Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index:
AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions -- Brendon Todd (Remained No.
2)
AJGA I.R.I Golf Group Arizona National -- Daniel Lim (262nd to
182nd)
AJGA Abacoa Junior Classic -- Noah Goldman (298th to 277th)
AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior -- Frank Alafoginis (351st to 315th)
Callaway Golf/PGA Junior Series at Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Casey
Caldwell (228th to 194th)
Press Thorton Future Masters --Glenn Northcut (Not Ranked)
AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions -- In-Bee Park (Remained No.
2)
AJGA I.R.I. Golf Group Arizona National -- Esther Choe (Not
Ranked)
AJGA Abacoa Junior Classic -- Hagen Weintraub (57th to 49th)
AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior -- Amanda Blumenherst (11th to 9th)
Callaway Golf/PGA Junior Series at Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Katy
Barrett (184th to 181st)
The NCAA Division Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet is considering a
proposal to allow prospective student-athletes to earn up to one approved
core-course unit in the summer immediately after high-school graduation,
provided the course appears on the high-school transcript from which the
course was taken.
Check the July 19 issue of Golfweek for complete coverage of Europe's
victory at the Palmer Cup and a profile of Nationwide Tour player Victor
Schwamkrug.
Through 18 events, only one player (Bruce Lietzke) has multiple
victories on the Champions Tour. Who gets your vote for the over-50
circuit's Player of the 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.