Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Junior golf championships tee off today at 3 local courses
A tournament that has been a showcase for top young golfers in the state for years gets under way today when the three-day Washington Junior Golf Association State Championships tee off at three Snohomish County courses.
Boys and girls ages 8 to 17 competing in four age-group divisions comprise the 252-player field at Everett Golf and Country Club, Everett's Legion Memorial Golf Course and Lynnwood Golf Course.
Boys and girls ages 8-11 and 12-13 play today and Thursday at Lynnwood. The 14-15 boys and the 16-17 girls play today at Everett G&CC and Thursday at Legion Memorial. The 16-17 boys and the 14-15 girls open today at Legion Memorial and move to Everett G&CC on Thursday.
Friday's final rounds for those players who make the cut in all divisions are at Everett G&CC.
The tournament festivities began Monday with a long-drive contest at Everett G&CC. The overall winner was a 14-15 boy who drove a tee shot 319 yards down the No. 1 fairway.
"These kids hit the ball so far," said Jerry Fehr, the WJGA's executive director. "But this tournament is being played on some relatively short, tight courses, so it's going to put a premium on course management.
"The kids are going to need to think their way around the golf course and not just let it fly," he said.
The tournament has included some familiar names over the years. The winner in 1977, the tournament's first year, was Fred Couples of Seattle, who has gone on to a long and highly successful career in pro golf. Couples is back in the Puget Sound area this week for the U.S. Senior Open being contested at Redmond's Sahalee Country Club.
In 1979 the winner was Rick Fehr of Seattle, Jerry Fehr's son and another golfer who has enjoyed a long pro career. The 2000 winner was Ryan Moore of Puyallup, now a rising star on the PGA Tour.
This year, Jerry Fehr said, "there aren't any kids who you'd say are outright favorites. But somebody may arise ... this week."
Boys and girls ages 8 to 17 competing in four age-group divisions comprise the 252-player field at Everett Golf and Country Club, Everett's Legion Memorial Golf Course and Lynnwood Golf Course.
Boys and girls ages 8-11 and 12-13 play today and Thursday at Lynnwood. The 14-15 boys and the 16-17 girls play today at Everett G&CC and Thursday at Legion Memorial. The 16-17 boys and the 14-15 girls open today at Legion Memorial and move to Everett G&CC on Thursday.
Friday's final rounds for those players who make the cut in all divisions are at Everett G&CC.
The tournament festivities began Monday with a long-drive contest at Everett G&CC. The overall winner was a 14-15 boy who drove a tee shot 319 yards down the No. 1 fairway.
"These kids hit the ball so far," said Jerry Fehr, the WJGA's executive director. "But this tournament is being played on some relatively short, tight courses, so it's going to put a premium on course management.
"The kids are going to need to think their way around the golf course and not just let it fly," he said.
The tournament has included some familiar names over the years. The winner in 1977, the tournament's first year, was Fred Couples of Seattle, who has gone on to a long and highly successful career in pro golf. Couples is back in the Puget Sound area this week for the U.S. Senior Open being contested at Redmond's Sahalee Country Club.
In 1979 the winner was Rick Fehr of Seattle, Jerry Fehr's son and another golfer who has enjoyed a long pro career. The 2000 winner was Ryan Moore of Puyallup, now a rising star on the PGA Tour.
This year, Jerry Fehr said, "there aren't any kids who you'd say are outright favorites. But somebody may arise ... this week."
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