Here are some highlights from the three AJGA Open events being hosted across the country this weekend. The Chateau Elan Junior All-Star presented by Fellowship of Christian Athletes is also taking place, with juniors ages 12-15 looking to make a great impression.
- Patrick Winther, a native of Denmark, looks to continue his streak of impressive finishes. A year ago, Winther was ranked No. 171 in the Polo Golf Rankings. Now, he currently sits at No. 2 after victories at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November and the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods in February.
- 2008 Rolex Junior Player of the Year Victoria Tanco will look for another strong year in 2009, her second year competing in the United States. Tanco, a native of Argentina but currently living in Bradenton, Fla., took home victories in 2008 at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, The PING Invitational, the Scott Robertson Memorial and at the Orange Bowl International Golf Championship.
- Twenty-seven players have signed a National Letter of Intent, including six junior golfers who plan to attend Florida schools: Andrew Colvin and Valentina Fontaine (Central Florida), Michael Hebert and George Letson (Florida State), Maria Piccio (University of Florida), and Jaime Ritter (University of Miami).
Heather Farr Classic presented by Longbow Golf Club
- With 20 Rolex Junior All-Americans in the field at the Heather Farr Classic presented by Longbow Golf Club, the competition will be fierce in Mesa, Ariz., this weekend.
- Defending champions Kyung Kim of Chandler, Ariz., and Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., will both return hoping for back-to-back victories.
- Also of note is Andrew Yun of Chandler, Ariz., a four-time Rolex Junior All-American with four AJGA victories under his belt. In the Girls Division, keep an eye out for Kimberly Kim of Pahoa, Hawaii. Kim is a five-time Rolex Junior All-American with three career AJGA victories to her name.
Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions
-Three future Texas A&M Aggies will be playing at the Traditions Club at Texas A&M this week: Ryan Blair (Center Valley, Pa.), Ryan Kelley (The Woodlands, Texas) and Sarah Beth Davis (Victoria, Texas).
- Both of the 2008 champions return to Texas A&M hoping to successfully defend their titles. Jordan Spieth is coming off a runner-up finish at the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods in February, while Alexis Thompson finished T21 and was the low amateur at the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco Championship last week.
- The Boys Division has been won by a Texas native in 10 of the last 11 years, including 2008’s champion, Jordan Spieth of Dallas. This year's Boys Division field includes 41 players from Texas.