Tag: AJGA

Cameron Champ: Passion, not money, is the only way to excel in golf

A drive for trophies and money won’t help fuel a long golf career, according to PGA Tour rising star Cameron Champ.

Practice is a necessity. Talent needs to be obvious.

But a drive for trophies and money won’t help fuel a long golf career, according to PGA Tour rising star Cameron Champ, who spoke with longtime coach Sean Foley on an American Junior Golf Association Instagram Live feed this week.

Champ, who grew up in Sacramento, California, said he’s learned through time — and he’s still only 24 — that the most success comes from a passion to simply play the game.

“If you’re playing for the fame and the money and all that other stuff, you’re not going to play well at all,” Champ said. “You’ll have 10 different things going through your mind when you’re sitting over a simple inside-the-cup four-footer and you’ll miss it because you’ve got so much going on in your head.

“If you play for the love of the game, which is what all of us, down inside, is why we’re playing … when you get to certain points, whether you want to move up in the rankings or whether you want to make this tournament, you can’t really think about that. You have to just play. Everything will fall the way it falls. You can’t really try to force anything.”

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Champ, who already has a pair of PGA Tour victories under his belt, has very few problems off the tee, where he’s already established himself as one of the best. So it’s not surprising that much of his work during the pandemic has been focused on his short game.

The former Texas A&M star insists that will likely remain a large part of his routine moving forward, too.

“For me, it’s 80 percent, if not a little more, just short game. Basically, like 150 yards and in,” he said. “Obviously, you still want to focus on the good, but you may want to focus on the bad. For me, my ball-striking and off the tee, has been (good). But when you look at my stats from 150 yards in, that’s where everything I need to work on. For me, down the line, that’s the main area I’m going to focus on,  pretty much my entire career.”

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Coronavirus: When could competitive golf return?

With most professional golf, and competitive golf on all levels, on hiatus, we’re all wondering when we might see the sport return.

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The sports world as we know it has changed completely, with major leagues – golf included – grinding to a halt in an effort to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. A month ago, cancellation notices for major golf tournaments began rolling in, leaving professional golf quiet for the next several weeks.

At some point, professional golf – and competitive golf on every other level, from state associations to junior to college and amateur – will return.

Below is a running list of the current status of the major tours, and various other organizations, with updates on when each might resume play.

PGA Tour

The last completed tournament on the PGA Tour’s wrap-around 2019-20 schedule was the Arnold Palmer Invitational, played in Orlando, Florida on March 5-8. The last actual round, however, was the first round of the Players Championship, which went off March 12 before the remainder of the tournament was canceled the next day. The Tour has now been dark five weeks. Next week’s Masters has been postponed with the next four events – through the (already postponed) PGA Championship – outright canceled.

With events still jostling around on the schedule, our Eamon Lynch presented a picture of how the rest of the season might unfold. As Lynch reports, “While any refreshed schedule would obviously be subject to change — and complete cancellation, given the rapidly expanding coronavirus crisis — the timeframe targeted to resume the PGA Tour season is mid-June.”

Korn Ferry Tour

The developmental tour has been dark since March 1, the final round of the El Bosque Mexico Championship. The next eight weeks of events have come off the calendar with only two being postponed as opposed to canceled: the Visit Knoxville Open and Savannah Golf Championship. The earliest play could resume would be May 21, which would be the first round of the Evans Scholars Invitational.

Champions Tour

The Champions Tour is in a very similar position, having been dark since March 8. Two of the tour’s seven disrupted events – the Regions Tradition slotted for May 7-10 and the Principal Charity Classic scheduled for May 29-31 – have been rescheduled for September. The Champions Tour could return as early as June 5, which would be the American Family Insurance Championship. The next event after that? The U.S. Senior Open Championship.

LPGA

An April 3 announcement from the LPGA moved a season re-start back to at least mid-June. The tour continues to be heavily impacted by the coronavirus, especially considering that it lost three Asia Swing events in February and early March before most tours felt the impact in their domestic events. A revised schedule shows the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as a possible returning point June 19-21 with the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major, slotted for the next week.

Symetra Tour

As it stands now, the developmental tour could return in a similar time-frame to the LPGA. Play is on hold through the end of May, with the Island Resort Championship on June 19-21 being the first possible return date.

European Tour

The European Tour schedule is on hiatus at least through the end of May. The Trophee Hassan II, which would be played June 4-7 in Rabat, Morocco, is the next standing event on the calendar. Like the PGA Tour, the last completed tournament on the European circuit was the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on March 5-8.

The scoreboard at the 2019 NCAA Women’s Championship. (Photo by Julie Williams)

NCAA

When it comes to sanctioned NCAA college events, the 2019-20 season was officially kaput on March 12 when the NCAA announced it was canceling all spring sports. Many conferences had already made such declarations.

While we’re on hold until September and the start of the 2020-21 college golf season, some collegians may see some action at the Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland, scheduled for July 3-5. When the teams were revealed for the annual event, the GCAA also announced that “in these unprecedented times we do not know if the matches will be held as scheduled, postponed, or canceled.”

AJGA

As the largest junior golf organization in the country, the American Junior Golf Association is a leader in the up-and-coming sector of golf. The AJGA runs events year-round, but is on hiatus until at least Memorial Day weekend. The organization announced March 16 that it would suspend all events until that date, and then would run seven events per week “to maximize playing opportunities” through the end of the year.

USGA

A decision will likely be made soon regarding the U.S. Open, which is still scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York (the U.S. Women’s Open has already been moved from June to December). The U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open would be the next events after that, scheduled for late June and early July, respectively.

The big question here surrounds the USGA’s amateur events. The organization has canceled the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, and moved the Curtis Cup, scheduled for June, to 2021. Registration has been delayed for four major amateur events: U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior. Those four events account for most of the USGA’s July and August lineup.

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State golf associations fall in line with pro tours in suspending events

State golf associations have heeded cautions about large gatherings, with many suspending competitions in the wake of the coronavirus.

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As golf’s major bodies – the PGA Tour, PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club – have made decisions about the sport’s immediate future in the wake of a coronavirus outbreak, there has been a trickle-down effect. Jim Demick, executive director of the Florida State Golf Association, is one of those people paying close attention.

Demick, who has been at the helm of the FSGA for 24 years, and his organization moved quickly. All FSGA competitions were suspended on March 14, shortly after the next three weeks’ events on the PGA Tour were canceled. The Masters was postponed shortly after the FSGA announced its decision.

“That comforted us some that the major organizations in golf were concerned enough about not even holding a golf tournament without spectators present,” Demick said.

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan’s statement sealed it. In taking the next three LPGA events off the calendar – which included the season’s first major, the ANA Inspiration – Whan noted that he couldn’t live with the possibility of being wrong and putting people in danger by going ahead with events.

“These are golf tournaments where, in our case, a bunch of amateur golfers go play in a tournament,” Demick said. “It’s just not that important, and I’ve dedicated my life to running these events and building this organization. But in the final analysis, these golf tournaments are just not that important.”

FSGA’s suspension includes all tournaments, trainings and education functions. Players already registered for canceled events will receive a full refund, which signals an understanding on the part of host sites.

Demick said the FSGA’s move was based on the health of its staff, as well as the individuals who might be affected at those sites.

“I don’t think our demographics are dramatically different than most large amateur golf associations, but we do know that in the early part of the season, we run a lot of senior championships for men and women and many of our volunteer rules officials are also seniors, and of course there are seniors at the clubs that we visit with competitors.”

“With them being at a higher risk factor or higher risk level, that was one additional consideration.”

MORE: USGA calls off Four-Balls; changes coming for U.S. Open, Women’s Open qualifying

Farther north, Michigan faced a broader and more complicated issue. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released an executive order on Monday placing “temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation.” The order extended from restaurants to bars to theaters to libraries. It mentioned golf courses explicitly.

Chris Witten, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan, and the Michigan Golf Alliance spent much of Monday working to figure out what, exactly, that order meant. The Michigan Golf Alliance is made up of several of golf’s governing bodies in the state, including the GAM and the Michigan PGA.

“We’ve been on a continuous email and call loop the last 12 hours trying to get clarity on what that executive order really means,” Witten said on Tuesday, noting that the Alliance was seeking confirmation from the governor’s office on how to proceed in compliance.

Later in the afternoon, the GAM clarified on its web site that courses would remain open for the sole purpose of golf and that indoor restaurant/bar facilities must close for the designated period through March 30.

In the meantime, the GAM has canceled in-person education seminars and meetings through the end of the month. The first event on its competition schedule is not until April 25.

Like the FSGA and the GAM for guidance, many associations have already responded.

On Monday, the Texas Golf Association announced measures similar to the FSGA, suspending all competitions and golf activities indefinitely but at least through April 12. That includes the South Senior Amateur, that was to be played in Beaumont, and the North Senior Amateur, scheduled for Frisco. The TGA will also issue full refunds.

Golf House Kentucky is canceling all events through April 12, the Carolinas Golf Association canceled events through April 15 and the Arizona Golf Association has gone dark through the end of March, but players wishing to play at tournament venues on the scheduled dates can still play (though it won’t be a formal event).

The Alabama Golf Association has postponed the first competition on its 2020 calendar and said it would closely monitor the situation as other events approach. The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association, located in St. Louis, Missouri, sent a message to its members on Tuesday that competitions – which do not begin until April 27 – would continue as scheduled, for now.

In California, the Northern California Golf Association announced it would suspend all scheduled competitions and events through April 18. The Southern California Golf Association announced it would suspend all gatherings – competitive and non-competitive – indefinitely, with a status update coming in a week.

In Arizona, the AGA has canceled all scheduled competitions in March.

On the junior golf level

The American Junior Golf Association presented one of the most thorough plans on Monday when it called off events through Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) but revealed a plan to beef up its schedule once life returns to normal.

“We’ve taken the past few days to align with mission-critical partners, host facilities and local leaders and ask for their support in rescheduling spring events,” executive director Stephen Hamblin said in a statement on the AJGA’s site. “We plan to open the season Memorial Day weekend and conduct an expanded schedule with seven events per week to maximize playing opportunities for members.”

Here’s hoping for a busy summer and fall.

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Joseph Pagdin takes up residence atop Golfweek Junior Rankings

Joseph Pagdin’s resume includes a top-10 finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions last fall and semifinal run at the U.S. Junior.

Joseph Pagdin came up four shots short Monday at the Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods, a stacked AJGA invitational traditionally played over Presidents Day weekend. By the next day, however, Pagdin had claimed something else: the top spot in Golfweek’s Junior Rankings.

The 18-year-old Englishman now lives in Orlando, Florida, and is headed to the University of Florida next fall. He’ll be part of a major infusion of talent for the Gators in the graduating class of 2020. Pagdin’s resume includes a top-10 finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions last fall and a run to the semifinals at the U.S. Junior, where he lost to eventual champion Preston Summerhays.

Joseph Pagdin signs with Florida (Photo: Justin Johnson)

At Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, Pagdin fired rounds of 64-64-68 for a 16 under total. It just wasn’t quite enough to overtake Luke Potter, the Encinitas, California, resident whose 20 under total included a course-record 10-under 62 in the second round. Potter’s 54-hole total is an AJGA tournament record.

For that effort, Potter also made a considerable move up the rankings, from No. 21 to No. 5.

Potter has committed to play for Arizona State in 2022.

Karl Vilips, an Australian headed Stanford in the fall, lost the top spot but not by much. After his own T-11 finish at the Simplify Boys Championship, Vilips only dropped to No. 2 in the Golfweek Junior Rankings.

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Benedetta Moresco’s AJGA debut ends with Annika Invitational USA trophy

Benedetta Moresco won the Annika Invitational USA in her first competitive start in the United States.

Benedetta Moresco’s tournament history is diverse. Type her name into the World Amateur Golf Rankings and the hit produces a list of tournament starts in which a U.S. flag appears only once, to indicate Moresco’s turn on the European Junior Solheim Cup team for last fall’s matches in Scotland.

This week’s Annika Invitational USA was both Moresco’s first competitive start in the U.S. and her first win. It’s significant considering that she relied on a tip from tournament host Annika Sorenstam during a weekend clinic to make up for inexperience on Bermudagrass.

Moresco went 4 under at World Golf Village’s Slammer & Squire course in St. Augustine, Florida, edging runner-up Sadie Englemann (a 2020 classmate) by two shots. She played the front nine of the final round in even par – three birdies, three bogeys – but felt she really had a leg up on Englemann by the time she cleared the par-5 16th with a birdie to reach 1 under on the back.

Leaderboard: Annika Invitational USA

For as much inexperience as she has on thick Bermuda, wind that kicked up on the final day worked to her advantage.

“I quite like playing in the wind,” Moresco said. “I prefer wind instead of rain. I was kind of confident today even though the wind was blowing high.”

She arrived two days early in St. Augustine and devoted her practice rounds to practicing touch shots around the green. By the first round of the tournament, she felt relatively confident and posted 1-under 71, the sixth-best score of the day.

Sorenstam typically hosts a clinic during this event, which happened after the second round. She focused on short game and Moresco listened carefully.

“I learned that you have to swing with the bounce and let the club do the work,” Moresco said. “I was hitting it harder and with a negative angle but then I understand I have to use more bounce and let the grass help and the club swing through.”

St. Augustine is a long way from Moresco’s home in Caldogno, Vicenza, Italy. Her favorite course, however, is in France – Saint-Cloud Golf Club near Paris. You can see the Eiffel Tower from the 17th hole.

Playing around Europe, particularly on her home course in Italy, has reigned in Moresco’s tee ball.

“I grew up on a narrow course,” she said. “Here it’s different because the fairways are a little bit wide open and the driver was really good today and the whole week.”

Annika Sorenstam presents the trophy to Benedetta Moresco. (Photo: Annika Foundation)

For proof of the girls golf empire that Sorenstam has built, look no further than Moresco. After four starts at the Annika Invitational Europe (she finished in the top 5 last year), Moresco decided to play the U.S. event for the first time. She became the first Italian champion. This was also her first AJGA start.

Moresco was headed back to Italy after a long holiday weekend in Florida. The Italian player has competed all over Europe in the past two years, winning twice in Italian “under 18” events. In a few months, she’ll be back to play the Augusta National Women’s Amateur for the first time. At No. 24 in the world, she easily earned an invitation – and one that prompted lots of screaming when it arrived in the mail.

Moresco’s older sister Angelica, a junior at the University of Alabama (ranked No. 72 in the world) will make the five-hour drive from Tuscaloosa that week to watch Benedetta compete. Next fall, Angelica will likely help ease the college transition for little sis, who has signed to play for the Crimson Tide, too.

“It’s exciting because I really want this experience and every time I look on the calendar and see that days are coming,” Benedetta said. “I’m kind of nervous but I’m really, really happy and I really can’t wait.”

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AJGA, Symetra Tour extend partnership through 2020

The AJGA and Symetra Tour are partnering for a fourth year in three events in 2020.

The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the Symetra Tour will continue their partnership in 2020, it was announced Monday.

For three years and an upcoming fourth, the Symetra Tour has joined select AJGA events which are hosted by former and current LPGA players to provide exemptions to Symetra Tour events.

“As we continue to grow the game of women’s golf, our working relationship with the AJGA gives more young women an opportunity to chase their dreams,” Symetra Tour Chief Business Officer Mike Nichols said. “Several of the AJGA qualifiers across the last few seasons have found success in their respective Symetra Tour event. We look forward to having three elite amateurs compete against their preceding generation of fellow future LPGA Tour stars.”

This year three events, the 2020 ANNIKA Invitational USA (Jan. 18-20), the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational (Feb. 15-17) and KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational (June 30-July 2), will serve as qualifiers for a Symetra Tour exemption to various tournaments.

This year’s winner of the ANNIKA Invitational USA will be contested on the Slammer & Squire Course at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. The top finisher will then earn a spot in Florida’s Natural Charity Classic at the Country Club of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, Florida, March 6-8.

The winner of the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational at Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, California, will earn a spot at the Windsor Golf Classic in Windsor, California, April 2-4.

The winner of the final AJGA event during the 2020 partnership, the KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational at the Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Arkansas, will receive an invitation to compete at the Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kansas, Aug. 14-16.

“The AJGA is excited to be able to offer Symetra Tour exemptions to some of our strongest all-female tournament fields,” AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen said. “We are proud to partner with the LPGA and Symetra Tour to help elevate these three invitationals to a new level and provide increased exposure and experience for our top girls.”