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Travel Hectic For AJGA Golfers
Last updated Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:38 PM CDT in Golf
By Ryan Malashock
The Morning News
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JOHNSON - Julie Yang isn't just the 37th-ranked golfer on the American Junior Golf Association Tour in this week's AJGA Arkansas Junior at the Blessings Golf Club.
The 13-year-old golf prodigy from Phoenix, Ariz., is a bit of a nomad - her and her parents actually. Before pulling into Northwest Arkansas on Sunday, the Yangs had driven to Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Indiana and Pennsylvania for tournaments this spring and summer. They haven't been home since May 21.
Yang, the highest ranked girl in the field, isn't complaining, either.
"It's more fun, I think," said Yang, who took the first-round lead with an even-par 72 on Tuesday. "It does get long. But I don't get bored. We stop by interesting places. During our first trip, we went to New Mexico, and I really liked Santa Fe. We're doing a lot of sightseeing. Everywhere we go, there's so much new stuff to see."
Yang, also the youngest competitor in the girls tournament, has seen plenty throughout the past few months, just like many of her AJGA competitors. The tour has expanded in recent years, providing more tournaments in more locations around the country. But travel is still an ever-present factor for the nation's top junior golfers.
Some of them, such as brothers C.J. and Chun-Ji Kim, of Chandler, Ariz., fly to many of their events. But many load up the car and road-trip it, logging thousands of miles on on the interstate.
Trey Cassity, of Katy, Texas, has spent considerable time this summer in a Honda Pilot with his father, Glenn. Constant events on the AJGA tour, as well as the Texas Junior Golf Tour, have put the Cassitys away from home often.
In fact, Glenn Cassity said they spent just five days in June at home in Katy.
"We went to Edmond, Oklahoma," he said. "Then to Fort Worth. Then back to Edmond. Then to Dothan, Alabama. Then to San Antonio. This is our last AJGA event, and then we'll go play some more on the TJGT."
The travel is hectic, but worth it for father and son.
"Seriously, we're having a blast," Glenn Cassity said. "These next two summers should be a lot of fun."
A majority of Emma Lavy's life has been like this. Lavy, a standout at Fayetteville High who has signed to play at Arkansas, started playing away from home at age 9 on the International Junior Golf Tour. And now, she plays a full AJGA tour schedule.
She is "totally used to it" by now, but she also is embracing the opportunity to play close to home this week. Her family lives in a house on the course at the Blessings. Unlike most of the field, she hasn't been forced to deal with long car rides and hotel rooms.
"It's been nice to sleep in my bed and wake up in my room," said Lavy, who shot 4-over 76 on Tuesday. "I keep forgetting there's a tournament going on, though. My friends have been calling me to do stuff, and I've had to say, 'I can't, I have to get to sleep.'"
AJGA Arkansas Junior
WHEN: Today-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.
WHERE: the Blessings Club, Johnson
WHAT: Open tournament on the American Junior Golf Association tour
WHO: Ninety-nine golfers - boys and girls ages 12 to 18 - from 17 states
Leaderboard
Boys (6,832 yards, par 72)
1. Andrew Flesher, Little Rock 36-36-72
2. Drew Czuchry, Auburn, Ga. 38-35-73
T3. Jesse Droemer, Sealy, Texas 37-38-75
3. Sean Romero, Texarkana 38-37-75
3. Colton Staggs, Tulsa, Okla. 39-36-75
3. Kyle Wilshire, Georgetown, Ky. 36-39-75
T7. Austin Barreras, Peachtree City, Ga. 38-38-76
7. Luke Carpenter, Little Rock 37-39-76
7. Kyle Lewis, Shawnee, Okla. 40-36-76
7. Cameron Ross, El Reno, Okla. 37-39-76
7. Blaine Woodruff, Acworth, Ga. 34-42-76
Other Arkansans
T12. Matthew McKown, Van Buren 39-38-77
T12. Jes Sanders, Rogers 38-39-77
T17. Joe Doramus, Little Rock 38-40-78
Girls (5,812 yards, par 72)
1. Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz. 36-36-72
2. Sarah Beth Davis, Victoria, Texas 37-36-73
3. Haley Sanders, Rogers 39-36-75
T4. Emma Lavy, Fayetteville 38-38-76
4. Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas 41-35-76
T6. Emily Collins, Colleyville, Texas 39-40-79
6. Chelsea Pezzola, Bradenton, Fla. 41-38-79
T8. Katelyn Sepmoree, Tyler, Texas 38-42-80
8. Victoria Vela, Mansfield, Texas 38-42-80
T10. Molly Edwards, St. Charles, Mo. 40-42-82
10. Megan Wilshire, Georgetown, Ky. 42-40-82
Other Arkansans
12. Olivia Lavy, Fayetteville 41-42-83
13. Katie Petrino, Fayetteville 43-42-85
- For full results, go to AJGA.org.
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