Now in its 11th year, the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational has seen hundreds of young golfers pass through its scoring tents. With 10 years worth of champions for the event, it seems a good time to take a look back at their accomplishments post-Junior All-Star events.
Since its inception, each past champion who has graduated high school has gone on to continue their golf career at Division I colleges, and a couple are testing the waters on professional tours.
Yuki Sakurai (2003) and Sarah Brown (2006) are playing on the Ladies European Tour and Futures Tour, respectively. For those 14 who signed National Letters of Intent, their college choices scattered them across the country, from California to Georgia.
The Southeastern Conference brought in more Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational past champions than any other, nabbing six of the premier junior golfers in the country. Three of those six chose to attend the University of Alabama: Bud Cauley (2005), Cory Whitsett (2006) and Hannah Collier (2007). Chris Brady (2000) opted for Vanderbilt, Mu Hu (2004) wore the orange and blue of the Florida Gators and Michael Cromie (2007) is a Bulldog at the University of Georgia.
Next in line is the Pac-10 with four past champions. Daniel Im (2000) opted for the UCLA Bruins, Lauren Espinosa (2001) played for the University of Arizona, Jennifer Osborn (2002) went to Arizona State and Sihwan Kim (2003) chose to attend Stanford.
The Mountain West Conference claims on past champion in Seung Su Han (2001) who went to UNLV. Lance Lopez (2002) chose to be a Longhorn at the University of Texas in the Big 12. West Coast Conference’s Pepperdine signed Taylore Karle (2004). The ACC also boasts a past champion with Natalie Sheary (2005) at Wake Forest.
With four more champions in the graduating classes of 2011 through 2014, the possibilities are endless for the champions of the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational.
Comments