AJGA Blog

News and Notes: Rolex Tournament of Champions

By Sydney Brunelle, AJGA Communications

The Rolex Tournament of Champions is a 72-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Capital City Club — Crabapple Course in Alpharetta Ga. The tournament field features 72 boys and 60 girls from 30 states, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand and Venezuela. The Boys Division is playing the par-70 course at 7,247 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,309 yards.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Hole No. 3 saw not one, but two holes in one in the past two days. Alexandra Rossi of Austin, Texas, aced the hole during the first round and Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y., did the same during the second round. The boys better watch out!

GEORGIA ON MY MIND: The state of Georgia is well represented among the Boys and Girls Divisions. Nine players from the state of Georgia are competing this week and seven out of the those nine have committed to play college golf.

Zack Jaworski of Alpharetta (2012) - Signed, Vanderbilt
Michael Pisciotta of Alpharetta (2014) - Verbal, Georgia Tech
Greyson Sigg of Augusta (2013) - Verbal, Georgia
Lee McCoy of Clarkesville (2012) - Signed, Georgia
Parker Derby of Columbus (2013) - Verbal, Georgia
Andy Shim of Duluth (2013)
Ashlan Ramsey of Milledgeville (2013) - Verbal, Clemson
Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale (2012) - Signed, Stanford
Rinko Mitsunaga of Roswell (2015)

FORE PAWS: Samantha Marks of Maitland, Fla., isn't the only one wearing Ralph Lauren. Her dog Bruno is sporting it as well, along with some very stylish sunglasses. Bruno has accompianied Marks' mother for two of the three rounds, so let's hope he comes to cheer Samantha on in the final round.

Notes from Rolex TOC

A few quick thoughts while we are in the middle of the final round at the Rolex Tournament of Champions:

- The last two alternates to make the field were Robynn Ree and Catherina Li. When Emma Talley got the call to play in the U.S. Women's Open on the practice round day, she withdrew from Rolex TOC and Li got the call to replace her at Sunriver Resort. Both Ree and Li survived the cut.

- About the cut....this is the first time at Rolex TOC that a 54-hole cut was employed. The traditional 36-hole cut was abandoned to give players a chance to play more golf and college coaches the opportunity to see more players in the third round.

- On the topic of college coaches, the final round fell on July 1, which is an exciting day for coaches and recruits as the coaches are able to talk to rising seniors. The 60 coaches in attendance had a prime opportunity to speak directly with players at the Crosswater Course.

- Which brings me to the Crosswater Course. Wow! The course itself is absolutely beautiful and the views of the surrounding mountains, including snow-covered Mt. Batchelor are breathtaking. It won't be easy to leave here, but with any luck, I'll return someday.

- Players that might like to return someday: Gabriella Then and Jaye Marie Green. In the second and third rounds, they took turns tying the women's competitive course record of 5-under-par 67.

 

College Beckons Seniors at Rolex Tournament of Champions

As the 34^th Rolex Tournament of Champions comes to an end today, many players are looking ahead to their next event, putting another junior event under their belt. But for some, the final round is another milestone toward ending a junior career and making the transition to college golf.

In the AJGA’s flagship championship, there are 30 players who have signed a National Letter of Intent to play for colleges across the country in the fall, making the transition from junior golf to college golf at Stanford, LSU, Brown University and many other schools. For those such as recent graduate JD Tomlinson of Gainesville, Fla., playing in the Rolex Tournament of Champions brings bittersweet feelings.

“It’s kind of sad, I like hanging out with everybody at the invitationals,” Tomlinson said. “Once you’re in college, you’re with your team, so this is my last summer to hang out with all of my friends.”

Tomlinson, who will be playing for the University of Florida in the fall, is competing in his first Rolex Tournament of Champions and will end his AJGA career with the East Team at Wyndham Cup. He said playing in AJGA events has given him a better understanding of the game and how to compete against the best golfers around the world.

Playing on a college team will bring a new challenge that Kendall Prince of Lake Oswego, Ore., is excited to encounter in the fall at The Ohio State University.

“You’re playing with the best at these events, so playing in AJGA events showed me where I’m at with the competition,” Prince said. “I think I’m ready for the transition because when you play with the best you learn from the best.”

Brendan Connolly of Castle Rock, Colo., will be attending Gonzaga University and added the Rolex Tournament of Champions to his list of invitationals in his final junior season.

“These invitationals are the cream of the crop, so you see how you stack up against the best kids in the country,” Connolly said. “It’s sad and exciting to move to the next level, I’m just hanging in there this week and trying to play the best I can.”

Advancing to the next level brings a new pool of golfers to compete with, but Connolly said it will be fun to see how his game stacks up against the best players in college. “All of us kids know each other at the AJGA Invitationals, so hopefully I get to see some of them out there next year,” Connolly said.

With 18 holes left at the Sunriver Resort – Crosswater Course, our recent graduates will add one more AJGA Invitational to the book en route to closing their junior golf careers.

-- by Abby Liebenthal, AJGA Communications

Home Away From Home

Unlike most teenagers, a typical week for an AJGA player begins and ends on an airplane. So far this summer, AJGA player Jordan Lippetz has traveled to Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, and now the Rolex Tournament of Champions in Oregon to compete in golf tournaments. Lippetz played in eleven tournaments during the 2010 tournament season. As she prepares for her sixth tournament so far this season, she considers a golf course to be her second home.

 “I’ve only been home once since high school got out in May,” Lippetz said. “It’s an around-the-clock sport, but that’s all part of the game.”

Lippetz compared golf to volleyball, another sport she plays, and said it’s a whole other mindset. Rather than simply driving over to a gym to play a match, tournament competitors have to arrive at a course in the early morning hours four or five days in a row and walk a typical five-to-six miles each day.

Lippetz said she’s always in tournament mode, both on and off the course. “Other sports allow you to check into your hotel and have some down time before your tournament,” Lippetz said. “But with golf, as soon as I arrive I find the practice putting green.”

She’s a long way from her hometown of Bradenton, Fla., but Lippetz won’t let a change in terrain and temperature slow her down this week at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

From Martinique to Thailand, the top AJGA players are in Sunriver, Ore., this week to play for the coveted Rolex Tournament of Champions title. No matter which way the players come and go from this invitational, it’s all up from here.

-- by Shelby Madsen, AJGA Communications

Shorter Than it Appears

As practice rounds begin at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, the 7,542-yard layout for the Boys Division at Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Course may appear a daunting task for even the world’s best junior golfers. In fact, the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club played just 32 yards longer than the Rolex distance, at 7,574 yards.

However, with Sunriver, Ore., resting 4,150 feet above sea level, altitude will play a major factor for the 144 competitors at this week’s event, essentially reducing the courses yardage by hundreds of yards. Crosswater Club Manager Josh Willis discusses how players from lower elevations will be affected.

“The big impact is off the tee,” Willis said. “They’re going to hit the ball 30 yards farther than they’re accustomed to back home.”

Willis explained that when the Crosswater Course opened in 1995, it was the longest course in the country from the tips. Maxing out at 7,680 yards, Willis states that the tips actually play shorter than 7,200 yards, although the players will quickly learn to adjust.

“From all the USGA, Champions Tour and NCAA events that we’ve hosted, we have never had one player be concerned about the elevation affecting their golf ball,” Willis said. “They’re going to learn [how to adapt] really quickly. A good golfer is going to know.”

With a plethora of water, majestic views of snow-capped Mt. Bachelor (see photo above) and a lengthy layout, this year’s installment of the Rolex Tournament of Champions will certainly present its challenges to competitors. One thing the players will have on their side, though, is the extra length they will be gaining off the tee. Thank you elevation.

-- by James Adams, AJGA Communications

 

Rolex TOC Girls Division Cut

The Girls Division has reached the halfway point and the cut has been made to the top 24 players.  With an eagle on the final hole, Kristen Park pulled even with Emily Tubert for a share of the lead at 146. The duo will be paired with Rachel Morris (148) in the third-round leader group. Right in front of them is a group tied at 149 that includes Rolex Junior Player of the Year Victoria Tanco, who wowed everyone with her 6-under-par 66 in the second round.

     T1 Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. (2010)   74-72—146

     T1 Kristen Park, Buena Park, Calif. (2011)   73-73—146

      3 Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif. (2010)   74-74—148

     T4 Victoria Tanco, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2012)   83-66—149

     T4 Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (2013)   73-76—149

     T4 Sammi Stevens, Hereford, Texas (2010)   73-76—149

      7 Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. (2011)   77-73—150

     T8 Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. (2012)   77-75—152

     T8 Luz Alejandra Cangrejo, Bogota, , Colombia (2010)   76-76—152

     T8 Marijosse Navarro, San Antonio, Texas (2014)   77-75—152

    T11 Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla. (2014)   73-80—153

    T11 Anna Kim, Chandler, Ariz. (2012)   81-72—153

    T11 Ariya Jutanugarn, Bangkok, Thailand (2014)   80-73—153

    T14 Amira Alexander, Alpharetta, Ga. (2012)   79-75—154

    T14 Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz. (2011)   73-81—154

    T14 Mariana Sims, Austin, Texas (2012)   84-70—154

    T17 Moriya Jutanugarn, Bangkok, Thailand (2013)   75-80—155

    T17 Sierra Sims, Austin, Texas (2013)   74-81—155

    T19 Irina Paulin Gabasa, Cebu, Philippines (2011)   78-78—156

    T19 Emily Collins, Colleyville, Texas (2010)   77-79—156

    T19 Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (2010)   78-78—156

    T22 Ally McDonald, Fulton, Miss. (2011)   84-73—157

    T22 Michelle Piyapattra, Corona, Calif. (2010)   76-81—157

    T22 Samantha Wagner, Clermont, Fla. (2015)   72-85—157

    MISSED CUT

        T25 Jessica Vasilic, Anaheim Hills, Calif. (2013)   82-76—158

    T25 Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. (2010)   79-79—158

    T25 Chessey Thomas, Spokane, Wash. (2010)   78-80—158

    T25 Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (2013)   80-78—158

    T25 Jordan Lippetz, Bradenton, Fla. (2013)   81-77—158

    T25 Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. (2011)   78-80—158

     31 Ri Hyang Park, Hilton Head Island, S.C. (2011)   84-75—159

    T32 Anne Cheng, Torrance, Calif. (2013)   80-80—160

    T32 Gabriela Lopez, Mexico City, Mexico (2012)   80-80—160

    T34 Hana Lee, Hacienda Heights, Calif. (2011)   82-79—161

    T34 Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. (2011)   81-80—161

    T36 Beverly Vatananugulkit, Cerritos, Calif. (2011)   81-81—162

    T36 Portland Rosen, Sugar Land, Texas (2010)   77-85—162

    T36 Elizabeth Breed, Waynesboro, Pa. (2010)   78-84—162

    T39 Hally Leadbetter, Bradenton, Fla. (2011)   84-79—163

    T39 Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. (2010)   80-83—163

    T39 Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas (2010)   81-82—163

    T42 Monica Umpant, Cerritos, Calif. (2011)   82-82—164

    T42 Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif. (2012)   82-82—164

    T42 Collins Bradshaw, Columbia, S.C. (2012)   84-80—164

    T45 April McCoy, Carrollton, Texas (2011)   85-80—165

    T45 Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. (2013)   78-87—165

    T47 Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (2013)   79-87—166

    T47 Mayko Chwen Wang, Taipei, Taiwan (2011)   88-78—166

    T49 Lauren Coughlin, Chesapeake, Va. (2011)   86-82—168

    T49 A.J. Newell, Tampa, Fla. (2011)   92-76—168

     51 Sun Gyoung Park, Vail, Ariz. (2010)   88-82—170

    T52 Suzie Lee, East Northport, N.Y. (2010)   90-81—171

    T52 Maria Maymon, Huixquilucan, Mexico (2012)   84-87—171

     54 Morgan Ransom, Columbus, Ohio (2012)   90-82—172

     55 Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. (2010)   86-87—173

     56 Frida Castillo, Cordoba, Mexico (2011)   83-92—175

     57 Alicia Malagon, Tampico, Mexico (2011)   90-88—178

     58 Monica Petchakan, Encino, Calif. (2011)   95-89—184

     59 Jacqueline Calamaro, Newtown Square, Pa. (2010)   99-97—196

     60 Olivia Lavy, Fayetteville, Ark. (2012)   105-98—203

Last Girl In, Sammi Stevens Shines

Sammi Stevens was sound asleep early Sunday morning when the phone rang. This was no ordinary call; it was from AJGA Senior Tournament Director Jeremy Freyman, offering her a chance to play at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

A wrist injury had just sidelined Kyung Kim from the AJGA’s flagship event and Sammi was next on the list.

“I got called Sunday morning and managed to get here by Sunday night,” said Sammi, who traveled 500 miles via plane and automobile to reach Blessings Golf Club in time for Monday’s practice round.

Fortunately, Sammi’s plate was clear as she made the trek to compete in her first AJGA Invitational.

“It was the one week this summer that I didn’t have a tournament, so it worked out perfectly,” she said. “It is an honor just to be here and I’m just hoping I can make the cut and go from there.”

Her hopes of making the cut might become a bit loftier after a 1-over-par 73 left her a shot off the first-round lead. Especially given her improvement during the round.

“I had a rough front nine, shot 40, but caught fire on the back and shot 2-under,” she said. “I had birdies on 12 and 13 and I got a lot of momentum going into the last holes.”

After a string of pars on the closing holes, Sammi put the finishing touches on a fine first day. Her 73 was eight shots better than the girls’ field average, putting her not only in range of making the cut, but within striking distance of the lead.

- Rob Coleman, AJGA Communications

Age Not a Factor

Samantha Wagner is the youngest player in the field at 13 years and eight months old. But never mind that. Tuesday she played with tremendous maturity as she claimed a one-stroke lead at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

Wagner carded her second birdie of the day at the 10th hole to move into the lead at 2-under-par and seemed to be taking command. On the very next hole, however, she made a double-bogey and while she maintained a share of the lead, it appeared that trouble might be ahead with the more difficult back nine looming.

Trouble never found her. Wagner parred her way in, and admitted that she missed some pretty good birdie opportunities. But at Blessings Golf Club, the birdies don't matter as much as avoiding big numbers. To that end, Wagner was wildly successful.

Practice? Who Needs Practice?

Apparently Sam Straka doesn't need it. Having arrived late the night before the first round, the Valdosta, Ga., native, Sam had never seen Blessings Golf Club before the first round of the Rolex Tournament of Champions. On a course this difficult, that seems like a recipe for trouble.

Not so.

Sam made the turn at 2-under-par, following a string of eight pars and an eagle. What's more, he did that after starting his round on the 10th tee. The back nine at Blessings is regarded as the more difficult side, and early in the first round, the scores seem to be playing out that way. For everyone but Sam, that is.

A Major Challenge Awaits

When you think of difficult golf courses, some big names come to mind: Pine Valley, Bethpage, Pinehurst; the list goes on and on. However, tucked away deep in the woodlands of northern Arkansas is a relatively new course known simply as Blessings Golf Club.  Don’t let the name fool you, though. While the course may look like heaven, it has quickly gained the reputation as one of the most difficult golf courses in the United States and is guaranteed to push the junior golfers competing in this year’s Rolex Tournament of Champions to their limit, both mentally and physically.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Blessings Golf Club made its grand entrance into the golf world in 2004. Equipped with tight, lengthy fairways, winding hills, difficult greens, and intimidating tee boxes, Blessings Golf Club was deemed one of the 10 Best New Private Golf Courses in the U.S. by Golf & Leisure Golf Magazine in 2004. Tom Jones, the General Manager and Director of Golf at Blessings Golf Club, is excited to see how the junior golfers handle the pressure of such a difficult course.

“Blessings is one of the most challenging golf courses these juniors will encounter,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of visual intimidation off the tees and it requires a lot of accuracy and precision. When you stand on that tee sometimes it seems like it carries forever.”

Emma Talley of Princeton, Ky., currently ranked 25th in the Polo Golf Rankings, is no stranger to the challenge Blessings will provide this week, having won the AJGA Arkansas Junior at Blessings on this very course just a year ago. However, Talley knows that a repeat performance is no guarantee. A grueling round of golf, on the other hand, is.

“The course itself is extremely difficult from a physical and mental aspect,” Talley explained. “We can all drive, chip, and putt, that is what we practice every day, but we are not all faced with the mental pressure that this course brings. You’re going to have to keep the ball in play. If you can keep your drives on the fairways, there is a good chance you can succeed. Once you get off the fairways and into the roughs or hazards, you can get into trouble, and there are a lot of roughs and hazards.”

While an aggressive strategy may be the key to success at other courses, Talley understands that taking risks may result in disaster here at Blessings.

“You can’t take too many risks on this course. You just need to be patient and play smart. Once you start taking too many risks, you’ll find yourself in trouble. If you stay smart and try not to do too much, especially when you are in trouble, you can definitely shoot low on this course.”

Jones shares Talley’s sentiments, believing that players looking to work the golf course will have to quickly rethink their game plan.

“Patience is the key on this golf course,” Jones said. “You’re not going to force things to happen here. You have to see what the golf course gives you and I think that will be the biggest challenge for some of the young players.”

Even to those with little knowledge about the sport of golf, one look at Blessings Golf Club and you know you are in the presence of a course that will challenge even the most experienced of golfers. In reality, there is no easy hole on this course. Each and every hole offers something unique and challenging, never duplicating itself in layout or design. And while low scores are obtainable on this course, it will take a lot of patience, intelligence, and endurance. The true test will be to see who, if anyone, can string together four round’s worth of low scores.

- Written by Anthony Rouse, AJGA Communications