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 “Southern California has always been a great birthplace for junior golf,” Thomas said. “It goes back a long, long time and we have clearly had a tremendous number of great golfers who’ve come from here.” While the junior golf lineage for boys stretches from Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Corey Pavin and Scott Simpson to Billy Casper and Gene Littler, Southern California’s junior girls also have a rich tradition that includes Brandi Burton, Amy Alcott and the legendary Mickey Wright. “There have always been great golfers and while I don’t think the best juniors are necessarily better than Woods or Mickelson in their day, there’s no denying the depth of field is stronger than ever,” Thomas said. “They have better access to teaching, the equipment is better and they’re getting far more tournament-tested thanks to things like the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments. They’re becoming far more sophisticated at an earlier age.” UCLA women’s golf coach Carrie Forsythe agrees. “The last couple of years in particular there has been a huge jump in talent, and it seems to just be growing,” she said. “They’re getting good instruction at a younger age, they’re training at an earlier age and watching their diet and working out. The sport is so much more attractive now and the numbers are growing tremendously.” With the 2006 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship set for Rancho Santa Fe Country Club on July 17-22, we thought it was an appropriate time to highlight 15 of the best young golfers with Southern California credentials who are moving up the leaderboards in junior, high school, college and professional golf. “They’re getting good instruction at a younger age, they’re training at an earlier age and watching their diet and working out.” – Carrie Forsythe angela park Regional ties: The Torrance High graduate is one of the most dominant, and decorated, junior golfers in Southern California history. She’s so good she opted to skip college and turn pro at age 17. Star power: See above. Getting it done: She’s won a dizzying number of junior and high school tournaments, but her greatest feat might have been her near upset of Michelle Wie in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2004. Wie needed all 18 holes to slip past Park and advance. What’s being said: Park told this magazine last year that when she picked up the game at age 10, she “never expected to be a great player, but I tried harder and harder and I enjoyed playing and the competition and eventually I got to the point where I was winning.” Prognosis: The jump from high school to college golf is tough enough; the leap to the professional ranks is more daunting. But Park and her family have planned it for a while and she seems to have the talent, determination and demeanor for a successful run on the LPGA Tour, as her 15th-place finish in this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship — as an amateur — attests. jamie lovemark Regional ties: Graduated from Torrey Pines High School in June; will attend USC in the fall. Star power: Ranked seventh in the country according to the GolfWeek/ Titleist Rankings. Getting it done: Won the Western Amateur in 2005, joining a select group of golfers with last names like Woods, Mickelson, Leonard, Nicklaus and Ouimet. He won the event at age 17, making him the youngest to win the venerable tournament. What’s being said: “Jamie is a guy who has been a pleasure to work with,” said his high school coach, Bryan Brockett. “He’s not only a great golfer, but a great guy to be around. I think Jamie has a bright future. He’s a guy who understands what he needs to do to reach his goals and will put in the work to do it. He is a very mature high schooler and while it is always hard to predict what a high school athlete will do, I believe Jamie has the right temperament and work ethic to make his way onto the PGA Tour.” Prognosis: USC has had its eyes on Lovemark since he was a high school junior, and his game should excel at the next level. irene cho Regional ties: A product of Fullerton’s Sunny Hills High School, she graduated from USC this year. Star power: As a senior, Cho was named the top collegiate golfer of 2006. She holds USC career records in scoring average (72.06), lowest round (64) and lowest 54-hole score (203). Getting it done: Did we mention she was the top collegiate golfer this year? What’s being said: “The thing about Irene is that she has really improved her game,” said UCLA coach Carrie Forsythe, who saw Cho play throughout her USC career. “She was solid when she left high school but she has just kept getting better and better. She has made changes to her game and just keeps improving.” Prognosis: Cho appears to be a relatively late bloomer who will probably play on a developmental tour for a year or two before making a big splash on the LPGA Tour. “She was solid when she left high school but she has just kept getting better and better.” – UCLA coach Carrie Forsythe jane park Regional ties: The Korean native and Rancho Cucamonga resident is a sophomore at UCLA. Star power: Through mid-June, she was ranked sixth in the country among women’s collegiate golfers. Getting it done: Park won the Women’s Amateur in 2004 after finishing second in 2003, and finished 30th at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 15. She also was recently named to the 2006 Curtis Cup team. What’s being said: “When she is on, there aren’t many players who are better,” said Carrie Forsythe, her coach at UCLA. “She is an extremely good ball striker who can hit every kind of shot and has great imagination.” Prognosis: Park, who did not play high school golf, seems focused on playing competitive golf and making it to the LPGA Tour. The only question is if she will stay at UCLA through her senior year. kevin stadler Regional ties: The USC graduate is the son of Craig Stadler who plays on the Nationwide Tour after a year on the PGA Tour in 2005. Star power: In the past three years, Stadler has earned more than $300,000 on the PGA Tour, nearly the same amount he’s made on the Nationwide Tour in that time. Star power: He won two of his first three Nationwide Tour events in his rookie season of 2004. What’s being said: “I know I have to play 11 events in Europe to keep my card there, so I’m going to do that, and I’m going to play a couple more times on the PGA Tour,” Stadler told the Denver Post last month. “Then I’ll go back to the Nationwide. If I do well in those, I may stay, if I don’t, I’ll go back to Europe. At this stage of my life, there’s nothing holding me back.” Prognosis: Stadler earned exempt status on the 2005 PGA Tour but didn’t finish in the top 125 so he had to settle for exempt status on the Nationwide Tour. He’s split time between the tours this year but hasn’t earned enough money to qualify for the PGA Tour next season. Un-less he catches fire, he may have to attend Q-School. He did win the Johnnie Walker Classic on the European Tour this year, so he knows how to win at the highest of levels. rory hie Regional ties: Graduated from Cerritos High School in June; will attend USC in the fall. . Star power: As of mid-June, he was ranked fourth nationally among junior boys. Getting it done: Shot a 6-under 65 to win this year’s CIF-SCGA Southern Regional individual championship. He also had seven top-10 finishes in eight American Junior Golf Association tournaments in 2005. What’s being said: “He has a really balanced game, can hit it far, has a great attitude, is very relaxed and doesn’t get ahead of himself,” said Dana Dahlquist, who coaches Hie at Heartwell Golf Course in Long Beach. “He’s competed well in PGA Tour qualifiers and has medaled in everything he plays in. He’s absolutely gunning for the PGA Tour.” Prognosis: The Indonesian native comes from a non-golf family and his first swing with a golf club was taken at an orange. He’s come a long way in a short time and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to improve. amie cochran Regional ties: The West Torrance High School graduate will turn professional after two years at UCLA. Star power: Cochran was ranked 15th in the country at the end of her sophomore year. Getting it done: She shot a 62 in high school that matched the lowest score in AJGA history by a female golfer. She also qualified for last month’s U.S. Women’s Open. What’s being said: “Of all the girls [on our list], she has the most fire,” said UCLA coach Carrie Forsythe. “She has an intense, competitive spirit and is also a very talented golfer.” Prognosis: Cochran was a second team Pac-10 selection and finished sixth in the conference tournament and NCAA finals this year, so her decision to turn pro is surprising. Then again, she’s been playing competitive golf at a high level for a long time and, as her coach said, there are few golfers that can match her on-course fire. It will be interesting to see how she fares on the Futures Tour or LPGA Tour as a rookie. john merrick Regional ties: The Long Beach native, who turned pro in 2004 plays on the Nationwide Tour. Star power: Midway through his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour, he’s posted two top-10 finishes. Getting it done: While playing at UCLA, he dominated the Pac-10 individual championship in 2003, beating the field by 10 strokes. What’s being said: “He’s got that Ernie Els thing going,” said his teacher Jamie Mulligan. “He’s got an amazing swing, great rhythm, he’s very polished and doesn’t get too excited.” Prognosis: Merrick ranks second in total driving on the Nationwide Tour and narrowly missed qualifying for the PGA Tour last winter. If he and coach Mulligan can whip his putting game into shape, Merrick should be playing regularly on the big stage soon. rickie fowler Regional ties: A senior at Murrieta Valley High School who’s pondering whether to commit to UCLA or go to college in Oklahoma. (Helpful hint: Ever been to the Midwest in the winter? It gets a lot colder than Westwood.) Star power: He won the California Junior Amateur and the Western Junior Championship in 2005, and was ranked fifth nationally as of mid-June. Getting it done: Shot a 64 at Santa Maria Country Club to win the CIF-SCGA High School Boys’ State Championship in June. What’s being said: “Rickie’s greatest strength is his work ethic. I have never seen a high school athlete work harder,” said his high school coach Greg Ireland. “He also has the ability to focus on the course. He doesn’t let a poor shot ruin his day.” Prognosis: Fowler has been swinging a club since he was 3 years old and has won everywhere he’s competed. He has the talent and apparent focus to be a major player in the NCAA and beyond. henry liaw Regional ties: A resident of Rowland Heights who begins his sophomore year at the University of Arizona this fall. Star power: Liaw is a three-time AJGA All-American, a two-time SCPGA Player of the Year, won four Junior World championships and won the 2001 U.S. Junior Amateur at the age of 15. Getting it done: Winning the U.S. Junior Amateur is impressive, but he also shot a 58 at a junior tournament in 1998 — at the age of 13. Prognosis: If Liaw stays at Arizona the next two years, he will surely compete for top collegiate golf honors. After that, it’s only a matter of time before he makes an impression on the Nationwide Tour or PGA Tour. erica blasberg Regional ties: The Orange native who graduated from Corona High School plays on the LPGA Tour. Star power: After a stellar junior career and a scintillating two years at the University of Arizona, she turned professional in 2004 and quickly advanced to the LPGA Tour. Getting it done: Blasberg was the NCAA freshman of the year, Pac-10 player of the year and NCAA All-American. What’s being said: “It’s been a tough season thus far, and I am very upset that I haven’t played better,” Blasberg wrote on her online journal. “Due to my performance at the beginning of the year I have squandered away opportunities such as playing in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, but I feel I have finally started to find my groove.” Prognosis: Blasberg’s game needs to catch up with her marketing profile. She’s one of the most touted — and photographed — faces on the LPGA Tour, but she’s yet to post a top-10 finish. She’s been playing golf since kindergarten, though, so she knows how to get it done. “I have squandered opportunities, but I feel I have finally started to find my groove.” – ERICA BLASBERG sihwan kim Regional ties: A senior at La Mirada High School. Star power: Won L.A. City Junior Golf Championships in 2004 and 2005, joining Kevin Na as the only repeat winners. Getting it done: Won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2004, the second youngest winner in the event’s history. Who’s the youngest? A guy named Eldrick. What’s being said: “He’s a very down-to-earth, level-headed, smart player who is very strong and has Nicklaus-like focus,” said Kim’s teacher, Bobby Lasken. “He’s unfazed under pressure.” Prognosis: Kim moved to the United States at the age of 13 and overcame culture shock and language barriers in no time. He’s now a 4.0 student, and that same determination shows up on the golf course. He should be heading to a top-notch college program next fall. kevin na Regional ties: The Rancho Cucamonga resident, who turned pro at the age of 17, plays on the PGA Tour. Star power: Na left high school early (he’s since earned his GED) and turned pro in 2001, at which time he was the nation’s highest-ranked junior golfer. He was the Asian Tour rookie of the year in 2002 and has earned more than $2 million in less than two years on the PGA Tour. Getting it done: Take your pick. At the age of 12, Na was the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship; he won the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2002; and he posted two second-place finishes on the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing in 2005. Prognosis: After two great PGA Tour campaigns in 2004 and 2005, Na hasn’t duplicated the success so far this year. Through mid-June, he’s made only four of nine cuts and his highest finish was 23rd at the Honda Classic. But he’s still only 22 and has held his own with the best golfers in the world. He should make the top 125 on this year’s money list to earn exempt status for next year. peter tomasulo Regional ties: The Long Beach Poly graduate was the top player on the University of California team that won the Pac-10 team championship in 2004. He plays on the Nationwide Tour. Star power: Tomasulo made the cut in eight of nine Nationwide Tour events in his rookie year in 2005. He also made the cut in two PGA Tour events last year. Getting it done: He finished 24th at the Bell Canadian Open on the PGA Tour, won the Alberta Classic on the Nationwide Tour and won the Montreal Open on the Canadian Tour. Nice going, eh? What’s being said: “He has that prototypical ball flight of a new tour player,” said his teacher, Jamie Mulligan. “He hits it hard, high and very long. The harder the course, the better he plays.” Prognosis: He made the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School and finished fourth in the season-ending Nationwide Championship. It’s only a matter of time before he’s swinging with the heavyweights. anthony kim Regional ties: The La Quinta resident will be a senior year this fall at the University of Oklahoma. Star power: Kim is a four-time AJGA All-American who posted 35 top-10 finishes in 40 tournaments. He also finished his junior year as the nation’s seventh ranked collegiate golfer. Getting it done: He won the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2005. Prognosis: Kim’s senior year will be interesting, considering that after earning All-American honors as a freshman and sophomore, the nation’s top-ranked golfer’s game seemed to dip. He posted his highest scoring average as a collegiate golfer last year and dropped to second-team All-American. But his record is too impressive to think that’s the start of a trend. He’ll compete on the PGA Tour within three years. |
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