ALL-STARS INVADE MIROMAR LAKES FOR JUNIOR EVENT

Nike Golf Junior at Lee County opens a new chapter for All-Star Series

BRASELTON, Ga.— Joining the fleet of 10 Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series events played nationally, the inaugural Nike Golf Junior at Lee County will be held at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, July 19 - 22, 2004. The field of 84 boys and girls, ages 12-18 years old, is made up of top juniors from 17 states, Canada, Peru and Mexico.
 

     Gregor Slabe of Bradenton, Fla., is building up steam for a very impressive start to his AJGA junior career. Slabe already has one win under his belt, tying with five others for a piece of the 2003 Ashworth Junior at Gainesville title. He also has finished strong at the Nike Golf Junior at South Padre Island, tying for fifth, and Nike Golf Junior at Jacksonville, tying for seventh.
 

     Eagan, Minn., resident Kathryn Detlefsen has enjoyed a great deal of success at Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series events, having played and placed in the top-10 in two events last season. She brought home a fourth-place finish at the Nike Golf Junior at Ames, and an eighth-place showing at the Nike Golf Junior Championship.

     The Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series was created in 1998 to give younger AJGA members more opportunities to play competitive golf. This collection of events, designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, was a resounding success in its first year and it expanded to eight events in 2003. In 2004, there are 10 tournaments, which feature three rounds of stroke play competition and a Day of Education organized by the AJGA staff.

    
     The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

    
     Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became an AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

    
     The Nike Golf Junior at Lee County is locally sponsored by the Lee County Sports Authority, Lee County's sports development agency charged with increasing tourism through sports.  "We are excited to have such a prestigious group as AJGA in our community.  AJGA represents the pinnacle of junior golf, and exposing these young players and their families to Lee County will be a great experience for us all." said Jeff Mielke, Executive Director for the Lee County Sports Authority. 

    
     AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer.

     
     For more information about the Nike Golf Junior at Lee County, contact Joe Mazzeo (jmazzeo@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (770) 868-4200, ext. 789 or Jeff Mielke with the Lee County Sports Authority at (239) 707-3951.