SAN DIEGO – The IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships featured more than a handful of local youth golfers in San Diego earlier this month. The tournament took place at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club in San Diego, from July 12-15.
Founded in 1968, the Junior World Golf Championships brings young golfers from all parts of the world together in hopes of achieving a greater understanding among people of differing cultures and values through the game of golf. Local participants included Temecula’s Cruz Garcia, Alan Yoda and Audrey Han, while Fay Jia, Breanna Noble and Sloan Granillo represented Murrieta.
It all began in February 1968 when John W Brown, A.S. “Lou” Smith and Norrie West decided the San Diego Junior Golf Association would host the very first Junior World Golf Championship tournament. The three had dreamed of organizing a tournament where juniors from all parts of the world could come together to play golf and share in cultural exchange.
“We believe that by bringing together young people from all parts of the world and all parts of our nation, we are helping to bring about greater understanding among people of differing cultures and values,” founder Norrie West said.
The idea behind the Junior World Golf Championships is simply “YOUTH.” The San Diego County Junior Golf Association is founded on the principle of serving young people, in the hope that by doing so today’s youth will have a better chance of creating the world we all want. The Junior World tournament is an international extension of that principle.
In its inaugural year, 475 juniors participated in the event representing seven countries and 20 states. Today, the tournament has grown to 1,200 participants representing 56 countries and 42 states. The Junior World Golf Championships is the largest international event in the world and is unique for its international representation and cultural diversity.
Murrieta’s Fay Jia won the Girls’ 11/12-year-old Division with a 9-under 207, beating out Clairey Lin of Canada, who shot 5-under. Granillo took 26th place and Audrey Han placed 36th, both who competed in the Girls’ 7/8-year-old Division, and Noble finished tied for 63rd in the Girls’ 13/14-year-old Division. For the boys, Garcia finished tied for 27th in the 7/8-year-old Division and Yoda finished tied for 12th in the 9/10-year-old Division.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
