PING Phoenix Junior relocates to ASU Karsten

AJGA to hold 22nd annual event at home of Sun Devils, June 4-7

In 2012, the PING Phoenix Junior finds a new home at OB Sports-owned ASU Karsten, home course of Arizona State University. The 22nd anniversary of the 54-hole stroke play event will feature 78 juniors, ages 12-18, from 16 states and Mexico.

Last year’s Boys Division champion Taylor Zoller of North Charleston, S.C., captured a win at his first-ever AJGA tournament after posting a 9-under-par 207. Zoller’s victory earned him entry into five additional AJGA events, including the Rolex Tournament of Champions. He now plays golf for Kent State University.

Jenny Hahn of Henderson, NV., kicked off her 2011 season with a victory in the Girls Division after defeating local Scottsdale native Lindsey Weaver in a one-hole sudden death playoff. Hahn went on to post four additional AJGA top-10 finishes and currently ranks No. 18 in the Polo Golf Rankings. Weaver, who won the 2012 Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club, will return to the 2012 PING Phoenix Junior at ASU Karsten field for her last appearance before starting college at Notre Dame in the fall.               

Schedule of Events
 A practice round will be held Monday, June 4, with a shotgun beginning at 7 a.m. Tournament play begins Tuesday, June 5, with first- and second-round tee times from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees. The final round will be played Thursday, June 7, from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, with an awards ceremony to follow. All are welcome to attend and admission is free.

Prior to the event, an 18-hole TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifier will be held Sunday, June 3, at ASU Karsten with a 7 a.m. shotgun start. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifiers give juniors an opportunity to “play their way in” to coinciding AJGA Open tournaments or build status for entry into a future event. The TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifier Series offers opportunities for AJGA juniors at approximately 50 AJGA Open events.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For information on the PING Phoenix Junior, contact Kristi Bradley (kbradley@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at 678.425.1786 or visit ajga.org.