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2006 HP Scholastic Junior All-Americans Named by AJGA

Twenty-four junior golfers honored by the AJGA, HP for achievements on the golf course, in the classroom

Twenty-four of the nation's brightest minds and junior golfers were named to the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team by the American Junior Golf Association and HP Wednesday. The 2006 team, sponsored for the 12th consecutive year by HP, consists of 12 young men and 12 young women who demonstrate the ability to excel both on the golf course and in the classroom.

To be eligible for the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, boys must have placed in the top 10 of an AJGA event, while girls needed a top-five finish. The selections were then based on grade-point average, class rank, SAT/ACT scores, leadership skills, community service and writing ability. Candidates were required to submit an essay or poem no longer than 400 words that creatively focused on the game of golf.

This year's overall essay winner was Chad Day of Raleigh, N.C. Ravenscroft School, where Day is enrolled as a senior, will receive a computer compliments of HP.

These outstanding individuals will be honored at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet Nov. 19 at The Cloister in Sea Island, Ga. By being named to this team, each player is also eligible to participate in the Polo Golf Junior Classic – one of the most prestigious events in junior golf – taking place Nov. 18-24 at Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, Ga.

"HP is delighted once again to recognize academic excellence with the naming of the 2006 HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team," said John Dayan, vice president of marketing, Personal Systems Group Americas, Hewlett Packard. "The AJGA works hard to prepare young adults for life after high school by instilling honor, perseverance and good sportsmanship. HP is proud to be associated with the AJGA and this great group of young adults."

Sunday at the Masters
By Chad Day

As the bright orange ball dims and sinks lower in the sky, most people are preparing or eating their dinner. However, this is not true for a young boy wanting to play golf and just itching for the opportunity to get out on the course. As the sun casts shadows across the green grass, kids have their chance to get on the course undisturbed by the men packing the course throughout the day. It is in these waning hours of light that dreams are formed.

The course may be empty and this young boy, swallowed by the seemingly gargantuan size of his bag, may be alone, but there is certainly no lack of imagination and excitement within his body. Coming to the last tee, the thoughts of what he has seen on television come to the forefront of his mind. These thoughts are of Sunday at The Masters; thoughts of the last tee and sharing the lead with Tiger Woods. This is his chance to make histroy. Walking up the fairway, he imagines grandstands surrounding the green and the roar of the crowd as his approach shot lands on the green. He approaches the green and sees himself removing his hat, acknowledging the thunderous applause from the crowd that has risen to its feet. Reaching his ball, he reads it from all angles, lines it up, and steps up over top of it. He gently strokes the putt and watches as it rolls towards the hole, imagining the crowd rising to its feet with the one or two "Get in the hole!" thrown in. As it rolls in, he raises his hands in triumph as if to practice a celebration of the future.

This, in reality, is not Sunday at The Masters, but to the little boy it is his Masters. These are his dreams, and hopefully someday his reality. For many young boys across the country, this scene is where it all begins. This is where the dreams are formed and these thoughts and memories are what will drive them to perfection, give them the will to work and be the best they can be with what they have. I am one of these boys.