Turkey Day Tradition:
Polo Junior Golf Classic
A tournament’s 33-year history often
speaks for itself, and the Polo Golf Junior
Classic is no exception. Players such as Stewart Cink, Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Paula
Creamer, Vicky Hurst and Morgan Pressel are
past Polo Golf Junior Classic champions, and
156 of the world’s top junior golfers will look
to join their company this week.
A Thanksgiving tradition since 1978, the
2010 Polo Golf Junior Classic will feature 59
Rolex Junior All-Americans, 21 HP Scholastic Junior All-Americans, and players from
26 states and 11 countries at PGA National
Resort & Spa, today through Friday.
Oliver Schniederjans, of Powder Springs,
Ga., will return to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.,
looking to defend his title. In 2009, Schniederjans notched his first AJGA victory after
defeating Cory Whitsett, 1-up, in the championship match. This year’s Boys Division will
feature five of the top- 10 players in the Polo
Golf Rankings, including Rolex Junior Player
of the Year Anthony Paolucci.
In the Girls Division, third-ranked Victoria
Tanco, of Bradenton, Fla., will return after losing to Alexis Thompson in last year’s championship match. She will be joined by six other
top- 10 players, including Rolex Junior Player
of the Year Kristen Park.
Two rounds of stroke play qualifying will
take place today and Tuesday, while the
32-player match-play bracket will begin
Wednesday and conclude Friday. Visit
ajga.org for live scoring.
WINN JUNIOR CUP CHALLENGE
Junior golfers have a lot to play for during
the season. For four of the nation’s top players, their efforts at AJGA events in 2010 resulted in an invitation to play in the inaugural
Winn Junior Cup Challenge – a year-end team
competition captained by LPGA player Natalie
Gulbis and swing coach Butch Harmon at Rio
Secco Golf Club in Las Vegas.
Anthony Paolucci and David Lee competed on
the victorious Team Harmon, while Kristen Park
and Yueer Cindy Feng played on Team Gulbis.
The team competition began with a putting
challenge, nine holes of best-ball stroke play
and a straight drive challenge on Nov. 13. The
event turned to 18 holes of golf – nine holes of
best-ball stroke play and nine holes of individual match play – and a skills challenge the
next day.
After several ties and lead changes
throughout the two-day event, Team Harmon
came out on top. Going into the final two holes
of match play, Team Gulbis needed to win both
matches to take home the Cup, but when Lee
scrambled to save bogey on the second-to-last
hole, it secured the victory for the boys.
“To look back on this and say that Cindy,
Kristen, David and I were the first ones to play
in this event is pretty cool,” Paolucci said.
“And to be around Butch Harmon and all
his swing tips and lessons is such a great
experience.” l
50 unique items,
the AJGA’s Online
Auction can help.
These are just a few
of the items for sale.
In all, more than 40
golf packages are on
the auction block.
Proceeds support
the AJGA ACE Grant,
the financial assistance
program of the AJGA.
Visit at:
ajga.cmarket.com
For the Adventurer:
BMW Performance
Driving School
A day of heart-pounding
excitement at the track.
For the Golfer:
Foursome at Glenwild
A foursome at
Park City’s gorgeous
and exclusive club.
Foursome at
Forest Highlands
The awe-inspiring
Canyon Course
is a top 50 course in
the United States.
For the Person
in Need of R&R:
Rounds of Golf
at Long Cove Club
& Harbour Town,
2 Nights at the
Westin on Hilton Head
A golf vacation for four
at Hilton Head Island’s
top two courses.
