Papago to Host Thunderbird Invitational in Phoenix
PAPAGO GOLF COURSE TO PLAY HOST TO THE
14TH ANNUAL THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL
Some of the State’s Finest Junior Golfers will Tee it Up in Prestigious Event on March 7-8
PHOENIX, Arizona (February 23, 2009) – A rebirth has taken place amongst Arizona golf courses. The storied layout of Papago golf course, a city-owned facility that has played host to some of the Valley’s most prestigious events has emerged better than ever after a nearly six-million dollar renovation.
Papago, designed by renowned golf course architect Billy Bell and built in 1962 will be the host site for the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational which features some of the state’s finest junior golfers. This year’s event will be played on March 7-8.
This year’s field will include defending Thunderbird Invitational champion Cameron Palmer who also finished 4th at the Callaway Junior World Championship Qualifier at Palm Valley Golf Club; Mike Basco, winner of the Mesa City Junior Championship and a 2nd place finisher at the Phoenix City Junior Championship; Evan Markley who won the SWSPGA State Junior Championship and also finished 2nd in the Callaway Junior World Championship Qualifier.
A talented field of girls will include Mieke Canan, the JGAA Girls Championship Player of the Year in 2008. She won the Tucson Conquistadors Spring Classic, Tucson City Junior Championship, Kingman City Junior Championship and the Arizona Junior Match Play Championship; Sun Park, winner of the Southern Arizona Junior Championship at Saddlebrooke Ranch Golf Club. Park also captured the Junior Girls State Championship and was a 2nd place finisher at the Mesa City Junior Championship; Aleah Kim, winner of the Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Willie Low Invitational and Mesa City Junior Championship and Lily Bartell who started the year by winning the Southern Arizona Junior Championship. She also won the SWSPGA National Jr. Championship Qualifier.
Working in tandem with the Thunderbirds and the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational will feature 60 of the state’s finest junior golfers whose participants range in age from 13-18 and are placed within their respective age groups. Tee times get underway at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Spectators are welcome.
Billy Bell learned his craft from his father, William Park Bell. They collaborated on many highly rated California courses. Perhaps best known among the nearly one hundred courses to Billy’s credit is Torrey Pines in San Diego. He also designed Tucson Country Club and Wickenburg Country Club. When it opened, Papago Golf Course quickly became extremely popular with Phoenix residents. It hosted the US Amateur Public Links Championship in 1971 and also has been home to Phoenix Open Qualifying. In its prime, the course hosted more than 100,000 rounds annually. But the years and the traffic had taken a toll on the course and Phoenix city and parks officials decided action should be taken. The course was closed for play on April 4, 2008 and in keeping with the name of its host city, has been reborn, rising again on December 6 to glorious reviews.
“The Thunderbirds work within the world of golf is unrivaled and while so much attention is focused on their sponsorship of the FBR Open, the most well-attended golf tournament in the world, it is their continual efforts with Arizona’s junior golfer that deserves accolades as well,” said Tom Cunningham, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona. “The Thunderbirds are very much connected with this tournament not only financially, but they volunteer their time to assist with registration, starting, spotting on the course and scoring. This event hones the competitive skills of some of our finest junior golfers, who often times, use this event as a springboard for the rest of their JGAA schedule.”
For a complete list of the playing field for the 14th annual Thunderbird Invitational, visit the Junior Golf Association of Arizona web site at www.jgaa.org or call their office at (602) 944-6168.
This entry was posted on 23. February 2009 at 18:16 and is filed under Arizona Junior Golf. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
