Junior Round-up
Calle Nielson of Nashville, Tenn., tried her hand at the professional level last week at the LPGA Tour's Franklin American Mortgage Championship in Franklin, Tenn. The 17-year-old did not make the cut, but shot rounds of 77-76 – 153 in her first LPGA appearance. Nielson started 2006 off on the right foot with a second place finish at the AJGA Craig Ranch Junior.
College Round-up
The finalist for the Ben Hogan Award were announced last week. The Hogan is presented annually to the top men's NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or junior college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months.
This year, all three finalist are former AJGA members. Georgia junior Chris Kirk, Florida senior Matt Every and Oklahoma junior Anthony Kim will all be on the ballot for this year's award. The winner will be announced Saturday, May 13 at the Hogan banquet at Colonial Country Club.
New Mexico State took home team medalist honors last week at the Western Athletic Conference Championship. Matt Edwards took home individual honors after beating Hawaii's Jarett Hamamoto in a playoff.
Sisters Lauren and Lynnsey Showers of Butler University helped lead the team to top team honors. The duo tied with 17-over-par 233s, but younger sister Lauren pulled through and earned individual honors in the playoff.
Other AJGA Alumni in Men's College Golf...
Xavier's men earned the Atlantic 10 Conference Title last week. They were led by Jason Kokrak and John Streibich who tied for individual honors with 10-under-par 206s...David Arnold of Hartford University led the team to top honors at the American East Conference Championship. He finished the event atop the leaderboard with a 6-over-par 150...Wright State's Brandon Knutson defeated Will Turner of Butler in a playoff at the Horizon League Championship to earn medalist honors. Cleveland State took home team honors with Mike Rutgers leading the charge with a third place finish...Kent State earned the Mid-American Conference title last week with Tommy Wiegand sharing medalist honors with teammate Marc Bourgeois.
Professional Round-up
AJGA alum Cristie Kerr earned her first victory of the 2006 season last weekend at the First American Mortgage Championship. Her 19-under-par 269 bested the field by two strokes.
Jim Furyk earned his 11th PGA TOUR victory last weekend in a playoff at the Wachovia Championship.