Field set for Ringgold Junior Classic

Published 5:29 pm Wednesday, May 28, 2008

BRASELTON — The American Junior Golf Association has set the field for the Ringgold Telephone Company Junior Classic, a 54-hole event to be played at Windstone Golf Club in Ringgold on June 2-5. The field of 99 boy and girl junior golfers features players from 16 states and six Rolex Junior All-Americans.

In the boys division, Zeyu He of Bradenton, Fla., headlines the field, boasting a 2007 record that includes four top-three finishes in national junior golf events and a win at the Southern Junior Championship. He also received 2007 honorable mention Rolex Junior All-America accolades. Corbin Mills of Easley, S.C., looks to continue his strong start to the 2008 season. Mills finished in a tie for second at the Horseshoe Bend Junior Classic in April.

In the girls division, Austin Ernst of Seneca, S.C., returns as the defending champion. A 2007 Rolex Junior All-American, Ernst notched four top-five finishes last year, including a victory at the Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic. Looking to take Ernst’s title is Kyndall Ardoin of Gibsland, La. Ardoin is coming off a strong 2007 season that featured three top-10 finishes in national junior golf events, including a win at the Bubba Conlee National Junior. Ardoin earned honorable mention Rolex Junior All-America honors for her solid play.

A group of players from nearby will look to keep the champions’ trophies in the area. In-state or area players participating in the event include Carolyn Barbee (Woodland High) of Cartersville, Shay Womack Jr. (The Lovett School) of Marietta, Will Jones (Darlington School) and Jack Yancey (Darlington School) of Rome, Jordan Britt (Girls Preparatory School), Keith Mitchell (Baylor School), and Ryan Thornton (Baylor High School) of Chattanooga, Jacob Everts (McCallie) of Ooltewah, Caroline Prebul (Baylor) of Signal Mountain, Mary Alice Murphy (Girls Preparatory School) of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Tyler Hollister (Chattanooga Christian) of Hixson, Tenn.

Tournament tee times will run from 7:30 a.m. to 12:18 p.m. off WindStone Golf Club’s No. 1 tee on June 3-5. An awards ceremony will immediately follow play on June 5.

For players who did not make the tournament field, an AJGA Qualifier will take place at WindStone Golf Club June 1 at 9 a.m. Remaining spots in the championship’s field will be filled through this 18-hole qualifying tournament.

The Ringgold Telephone Company Junior Classic is one of 83 events the AJGA will conduct in 2008. This year, AJGA tournaments will take place in more than 25 states.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

The largest association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA’s national sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second premier partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.