News
IJGT Team USA Wins 2010 North America Cup
BLUFFTON, SC— The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) returned once again to international competition with a team composed of fourteen of the United States most talented junior golfers to participate in the 2010 North America Cup. This marks the eighth year that IJGT Team USA has competed against the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA). Commonly referred to as one of North America’s most prestigious events, players had the unique opportunity to participate in a Ryder Cup format match play event.
Held at the immaculate May River Golf Club, Monday’s opening round of competition set the stage for the skilled American roster, all looking to take an early lead. Players were paired in teams of two for the foreball format, allowing each player to play their own ball throughout the round and record the best score for each hole. After a long fought battle, IJGT Team USA was able to claim a slight lead of 4 to 3 over CJGA Team Canada.
IJGT Team USA entered the second round of competition looking to improve on their lead in foursome matches requiring two player teams to alternate shots. Warm weather and a hungry Canadian team would prove to be a daunting test for the American Team in what may be the most difficult form of match play. After all of the dust had settled Team Canada was able to narrow the slim margin between themselves and the American team. Team Canada was able to take advantage of the foursome format and walk away victorious in 4 matches to bring the overall score between the teams to a tie at 7 points. After two days of intense play, the stage had been set for a dramatic final round with both teams looking to walk away this seasons North America Cup Champion.
The final round would prove to be the most important as players would be competing in singles matches. With a total of 14 total points available on the day, each team found themselves in a race to claim 7 ½ points on the day to become the outright victors. Not to be denied, each player in the Girls and Boys 14 & Under Divisions on the American Team came out strong and picked up 4 points in the first 6 matches. As the morning quickly became the sweltering hot afternoon, the Boys 15-19 Division would determine the fate of Team USA’s title hopes. Much like the divisions before them, the oldest boys division claimed 5 points to propel their team to a North America Cup victory. IJGT Teams USA’s overall total of 16 points to the CJGA Team Canada’s 12 points enhances their overall record in the event to 6-2 in favor of the Americans.
This year’s champions featured a well rounded group of competitors that all played very well to take home the title. The event saw many stunning individual performances that helped catapult the team to victory. Both Courtney Boe and Yang Yue Hill in the Girls Division were able to go undefeated in each day of competition to contribute a total of 4 points. The Boys 14 & Under Division saw each player put forth their best efforts in providing a total of 4 ½ points between them. Finally, the largest division with eight total players was the Boys 15-19 Division in which each player was able to record at least one point throughout the event for a total effort of 7 ½ points. An overall team effort from each division made it possible for IJGT Team USA to claim their third North America Cup title in a row.
IJGT Team USA Roster
Boys 15-19 Division
Zachary Boe – Bluffton, SC
Ben Dietrich – Conover, NC
Matt Fry – Bel Air, MD
Kyle Nakazaki – Manhattan Beach, CA
Ryann Ree – Redondo Beach, CA
Greg Schmaus – Upper Saddle River, NJ (Hank Haney IJGA)
Dalton Stanger – Orem, UT
Frank Szucs – Brookside, NJ
Boys 14 and Under Division
Noah Edmondson – Davidson, NC
Willis Huynh – Syosset, NY
J.J. Qualkenbush – La Quinta, CA (Hank Haney IJGA)
Derrick Villarreal – Hartland, WI (Hank Haney IJGA)
Girl’s 19 and Under Division
Courtney Boe – Bluffton, SC
Yang Yue Hill – Palm Desert, CA
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About IJGT
The International Junior Golf Tour is the only junior golf tour to host events every weekend throughout the academic year, with over 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts 3 international events. Players from all 50 states and from several countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links.
Title sponsor for IJGT Team USA is BMW of North America. Other sponsors include Quagmire Golf, Bridgestone Golf, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.
To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (800) 792-9143.
Media Contacts
Glenn Gray
International Junior Golf Tour
(843) 686-1526
Lynn Luczkowski
L2 Communications
(860) 313-1426