Newsmakers: July 22, 2008

Professional Roundup…

t was an exciting weekend for former AJGA player Colt Knost. The reigning U.S. Amateur champion won the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Championship Sunday and secured his 2009 PGA Tour card. Knost finished the tournament 26-under-par and four shots ahead of second-place finisher Webb Simpson, who is also an AJGA alum.

Collegiate Roundup…

The Fugi Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Tokyo Golf Club ended with a win for Team USA. The USA won 18 of 24 points in the final round, defeating Japan 37-23. The USA team was comprised of former AJGA players Cydney Clanton of Auburn, Sam Cyrof Point Loma Nazarene, Sydnee Michaels of UCLA, Kevin O’Connell of North Carolina, Andrew Putnam of Pepperdine, Lizette Salas of Southern California, Ryan Spears of Wichita State, Zack Sucher of UAB, Brent Witcher of Valdosta State, Chris Wolfe of Armstrong Atlantic State and Jessica Yadloczky of Florida, along with Nick Bova of Methodist. Michaels and O’Connell were named women’s and men’s MVPs, respectively, after posting the lowest three-day stroke play total.

Junior Roundup…

Four AJGA members made up the U.S. team this weekend at the Evian Masters Junior Cup 2008. Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., Kyung Kim of Chandler, Ariz., AJ McInerney of Henderson, Nev., and Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y., were selected by the AJGA based on their Polo Golf Rankings to represent the United States in the tournament. The talented team played well and brought home second.

Kim, Park and Kaahanui each finished in the top-10 of their divisions. Kim shot even-par for the tournament, finishing with a tournament total of 144, which earned her first place in the Girls Division. Park followed closely behind. The rising eighth grader finished with a five-over-par tournament total of 149, taking home third place. Kaahanui finished with a tournament total of a one-over-par 145, securing himself seventh in the Boys Division.

The Evian Masters Junior Cup brings together 60 of the world’s best junior golfers from 15 countries to compete in an international competition. The event is only in its second year, but it has already made an impressive name for itself in the world of junior golf.

Jordan Spieth of Dallas, also had a great golf weekend at the Junior Open 2008 held at Hesketh Golf Club just down the road from where the British Open was held. The rising sophomore came in second, finishing one-stroke behind Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Jutanugam is the only female to ever win the tournament. The Junior Open, closely linked to The Open Championship, invited the best boy and girl junior golfers under the age of 16 to play in the tournament, which is staged every two years. Kristen Park of Buena Park, Calif., was also invited to play in the event. The rising freshman had an impressive showing as well, finishing 12th.