UPDATED: 2:16 p.m., July 25 - At the U.S. Girls' Junior in Arizona, Cindy Ha of Demarest, N.J. just refuses to lose. After winning her first three matches against stiff competition, including the number one overall seed and stroke play medalist, Ha won again today in the quarterfinals against Brigette Dunne of Camarillo, Calif. The win puts Ha into the semifinal match against the 4th overall seed, Princess Mary Superal of the Philippines. That match is set to tee off shortly and the winner will be heading to the final 36-hole match tomorrow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 18, 2014) - The time has come for both the boys and girls U.S. Junior Amateur Championships and there’s no surprise that the Met Area will be represented by some of our most talented, young amateurs. The boys are headed to Texas to play at the Club at Carlton Woods, while the girls will be in Arizona at Forest Highlands Golf Club from July 21-26.

Texas is but a minor trek for Scarborough, N.Y.'s Cameron Young, who recently returned from competing in the Toyota Junior World Cup of Golf in Japan, where he helped the US team tie for second. Young earned a two-fold exemption into the Junior Amateur by finishing as a quarterfinalist in the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and because he’s ranked on the Top 400 World Amateur Golfer’s list. Accompanied by a very impressive resume, including capturing medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur qualifier at Tuxedo last week, there’s no doubt that Young is destined to make a great dent in the competition.

A sectional qualifier at Arcola in late June gave many of our local players the opportunity to compete in the national championship. From Arcola, four players went home to pack their best clubs, coolest shirts, and maybe even their ten-gallon hats to gear up to head to Texas for the championship. John Felitto of Mountainside, N.J., boasted a 5-under 139, which easily earned him his plane ticket to Texas. Close behind, John Pak of Scotch Plains, N.J. and Michael Frizalone, of Farmingdale, N.Y. fired impressive 3-under 141s, both shooting the same scores in each round with a 70 and 71.

The final qualifying spot was earned through a whirlwind playoff between Christopher Yeom of New Hyde Park, N.Y., William Voetsch, and Michael Graboyes to break the tie between scores of an even 144. Yeom kept the playoff brief by sinking a 28-foot birdie putt on the first hole to secure his spot. Voetsch and Graboyes took the first and second alternate spots.

As for the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur Championship, there are several of our local juniors traveling 7,000 feet above sea level to play at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Arizona.

Currently competing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, Cindy Ha of Demarest, N.J. qualified at Neshanic Valley Golf Course with a 70. Ha was a member of the winning New Jersey team at the 2013 USGA Women's State Team Championship.

Christina Parsells of Bernardsville, N.J., the newly crowned New Jersey Junior Girls' champion, also qualified at Neshanic Valley.

Emily Corrigan of Irvington, N.Y., traveled to Massachusetts for a sectional qualifier, earning medalist honors at Nashawuc Country Club, and Susana Vik of Greenwich, Conn., qualified in West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for these talented, local players when play begins at each U.S. Junior Amateur Championship from July 21-July 26.