When it comes to golf

Rain, thunder and lightning welcomed the 2001 PGA Junior Series to Kearney Hill Links. The weather didn't dampen the spirits or the determination of the Kentucky golfers or 75 golfers from across the country on the first stop of the tour, beginning in Lexington on June 4 and ending at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Oregon on August 9.

Last year was the first time the PGA Junior Series came to Kentucky in its six-year life. "The attendance wasn't what they had hoped for then," said Mike Fields, Director of Golf with the Lexington-Fayette County Parks and Recreation. With the encouragement of PGA District Director Bill Moore and Fields, the Series decided to come back to Kentucky. "This year they had to turn away 100 applicants," he said. "A lot of college coaches are here taking a look at the best in the country for their golf teams."

Morgan Pressel, 13, of Boca Raton, Florida came to Lexington after becoming the youngest player to qualify for the U. S. Women's Open and the second youngest ever to play the tournament. Beverly Klass was 10 in 1967 when she played in the Open, but that was before the U. S. Golf Association began holding qualifying. She had two 7-over-par 77's for each of the first two rounds of the Open.

Pressel's competitive interest in golf began after she went to see an LPGA Office Depot tournament at about age 10. Her skills were first noticed when she went to a golf shop. They asked, "Where do you take lessons?" At the time she had had no lessons. Her grandfather, Herb Krickstein, introduced her to the game of golf, is now her coach, and has been right there with her at the tournaments for the last three years.

Her grandmother, Evelyn, is not too far away either. She said, "Although just 13, Morgan chose to play in the 16-17 age bracket in the PGA Junior Series." "It was quite an experience for her to meet the founders of the LPGA at the U. S. Women's Open. She met Patty Berg at Mid-Pines. Then, at Pine Needles' driving range, she saw Peggy Kirk Bell hitting balls after they were placed on the tee by Kathy Whitworth. Then, Kathy had her turn and Peggy Kirk Bell gave her instructions."

The grandparents, who are from Michigan, are no strangers with youngsters excelling earlier than usual. Son Aaron, Morgan's uncle, was a professional tennis player and captured the Grand Prix tennis title in 1983 at age 16. "It was really special for Morgan to have her uncle as her caddy at the U. S. Open qualifying," her grandmother said.

At the PGA Junior Series in Lexington, Morgan Pressel met the expectations of her peers and sports gurus, capturing the win for the 16-17 year old girls at 221, 5 over par for three rounds.

Mandy Goins of Frankfort represented Kentucky well in the Junior Series ending with 6 over par - 222. She started the final round leading by one stroke, and two ahead of Pressler. Goins played in Ashland in the American Junior Golf Association tournament to qualify for the PGA Jr. "Overall I'm happy with the way, I played. I started off two holes under today, had a bogey, but played well." "If you keep it in play it's (Kearney) not too bad. The difficulty is the rough around the greens."

Mandy has been at the top of the leaderboard frequently during her golf career. Goins has been playing for six years, starting at 10 years old. Her dad introduced her to the game, and Gene Hilen at Juniper Hills has been her teacher. She plays on the Western Hills golf team. Her tips to younger kids taking up golf is "practice hard and don't give up on what you want to do."

Laura Caniff, another Kentuckian, won the 13-15 Girls Division with 226 in her first ever PGA Junior Series. We met Laura in April 1996, when we covered the LPGA Girls Golf Club at Tates Creek Golf Course in Lexington. Kim Kincer, LPGA Teaching Professional who organized the LPGA Junior Girls Golf Club in the Lexington area, and Mike Fields began early that morning welcoming girls to the clinic. I was quite surprised to learn that one of the girls had come as far away as Russell, Kentucky to attend.

Now, I'm delighted to know that not only did she attend these clinics, but that Caniff's desire to play golf has grown to tournament golf. When you think that taking a child to a clinic may be just a passing fancy, you may discover that it was just the key to make the bud blossom. Caniff has gone on to win several national titles since the PGA Junior Series in Lexington.

Kim Kincer who organized the Lexington area Junior Girls Golf Club in Lexington in 1993, was the first female head golf professional in Kentucky at Tates Creek Golf Course. Then, Kincer served as associate PGA/PGM™ director at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., after four years as assistant director and head women’s golf coach, and became the first female PGA/PGM™ director in the nation at Eastern Kentucky University in 2006. Kincer was named 2001 Women's Golf National Coach of the Year.

Golfers begin their career with just a swing of the club. It may be in the backyard, the local driving range or course, or a part of an organized clinic. The PGA Junior Series is one of the opportunities for youngsters.

The PGA Junior Series brings out the best in boy and girl players throughout the country, said PGA of America President Jack Connelly. "This year's schedule provides an outstanding array of facilities where junior players can enjoy first-class competition conducted in the same manner as our major championships."

The PGA Junior Series is a coast-to-coast schedule of affordable and competitive golf for juniors age 13 to 17. Points are awarded to the top winners, where some events earn berths in future Championships. For more information, go to www.pga.com.

It takes a lot of hard work, commitment and dedication from people in the golf associations to bring this type of tournament to our state and then deliver a successful event. These are some of the folks you can contact to thank at Kearney Hill Links in Lexington: Mike Fields -Director of Golf, Larry Smith - PGA Pro, Brent Show - Assistant, Al Crauser - Scorer, Joe Lyons - Head Superintendent, Cecil, and Jimmy Head - Cup Cutter.

Parents and players - thanks for coming to Kentucky.