The IMG Junior Golf Tour was developed to fill a key niche in junior golf, the IMG Junior Golf Tour provides an elite setting for junior golfers to compete and gain exposure to college golf, professional golf, national junior rankings and athletic excellence.
Held in Florida every December, and open to boys and girls ages 11-18, the the IMG Academy Junior World Florida Challengeis a qualification and invitation only event featuring an international field of over 200 players.News
The Founders Club plays host to IMG Junior Golf Tours first event of 2012
More than 60 players turned out for the IMG Junior Golf Tourâ??s first event of 2012 at The Founders Club in Sarasota, Fla.
More than 60 players turned out for the IMG Junior Golf Tour’s first event of 2012 at The Founders Club in Sarasota, Fla. The immaculate Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed 18-hole golf course combined with sunny weather provided ideal conditions for play.
IMG Academy golf program student Meechai Padungsiriseth took home the Boys 15-18 title with a 67-72=139 (-5). Said Padungsiriseth of his performance, “My iron play was consistent all day Saturday – I only missed two greens – the only variable was how many putts I was going to make. I ended up with six birdies.” He continued, “Sunday was much different. I started out +4 through four holes and lost the lead – it was all about keeping it together. The intensity was always up, but I ended up pulling through with a 72.”
Runner-up honors went to a previous IMG Junior Golf Tour Tournament Champion Juan Veloza with a 71-71=142 (-2). IMG student Gabriel Ormachea and Josh Pisarri of Naples, Fla. tied for third. Pisarri also finished third at IMG’s only 54-hole event of the season over Thanksgiving weekend at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.
Local notables included Bradenton’s Seiya Liu (6th), Connor Lynch of Sarasota (T-7), and Brendan Worthy of Bradenton (T-7).
In the Girls 15-18 division, IMG student Yvonne Zheng won her second Tour event in a row with a 78-76=154. Sandy Wongwaiwate, a member of the Thailand Junior National Team finished second, while 17-year-old IMG student Natalia Perez of Bolivia finished 3rd.
The Founders Club event marked the first qualifying event in the race for a spot in the upcoming LPGA Symetra Tour event to be held at Sara Bay Country Club. Zheng now tops the race for the exemption with 100 points for her victory (based on regular tour points in 6 events Jan – March).
Zheng and Padungsiriseth also each earned 4 Performance Based Entry Stars from the AJGA for their wins. The top five finishers in the Boys 15-18 division each also earned a Performance Based Entry star.
Also of note in this week’s event, IMG student Brett Beazant won the Boys 11-14 title. Sarasota’s Jeremy Perna finished second, and IMG’s Abelardo Ruiz finished third.
The Tour will next play at the Victoria Hills Golf Club in DeLand, Fla., Jan 21-22, 2012.
Registration remains open for both Tour membership and individual events. Tournaments are open to boys and girls ages 11-18 (11-14 & 15-18 age divisions for both boys and girls). A new lower pricing option ($184, excluding meals, practice round) is now available for members.
