RJ set for Junior Championships

CNMI golf prodigy R.J. Macaranas will be paired with the defending champion when the 2008 Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship tees off this Tuesday, July 15, at Torrey Pines, San Diego.

In an email to the Saipan Tribune, Macaranas’ dad Richard said his son will be teeing off in the second to the last group of the 7-8 division at 11:20am.

“He is paired with last year’s champion and good friend Issei Tanabe, who he competes with on a regular basis on the SCPGA (Southern California PGA) Jr. Tour, Syouta Wakisaka, another friend and competitor, and interestingly he is also paired with Terance Camacho of Guam.”

In the run-up to the competition, Richard said R.J. has been playing great golf.

“R.J. is playing awesome. He played last night at Heartwell golf course during the LBJG regular play and scored a 58, 4-over-par.”

He added that there are 180 junior golfers set to compete for his age division and that unlike last year, R.J. would be playing without any caddy this time. “This year he is on his own with no caddy assistance.”

Richard also didn’t hide his disappointment that nobody donated a CNMI flag this year for his son’s participation in the parade of flags on opening day.

“No one stepped up for the NMI flag, so I’m a little disappointed.”

Last year, Macaranas missed the final two rounds of the 2007 Callaway Junior Golf Tournament after scoring a 16-over par 74 in the first round and a 12-over par 70 in the second round. He missed the cut by 15 strokes.

Macaranas’ father and mother, Becky, both hail from Saipan.

The Callaway Junior World Championship is one of the biggest youth competitions in golf and previous boys champions include Notah Begay III, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, Nick Price, Craig Stadler, David Toms, and Tiger Woods.

The year 1984 was extra special, with David Toms winning the 15-17 event, Els the 13-14s, and Woods the 9-10s, despite being just eight years old.

Past girls champions, meanwhile, include Amy Alcott, Brandie Burton, Lorena Ochoa, and Jennifer Rosales.

The Junior World Golf Championships are held in San Diego, California each year, currently in July.

They include tournaments for six age groups ranging from under-6 to 15-17 and for both boys and girls.

Each age group plays at a separate course, ranging from a par-three course for the youngest to Torrey Pines for the 15-17s, which is also the venue for the Buick Invitational on the PGA Tour and the site of the 2008 U.S. Open.

The event was founded in 1968. The inaugural tournament numbered 475 entrants from 20 U.S. states and six other countries. By 2003, there were 1,040 participants from 43 U.S states and 45 other countries. Qualifying events are held in the U.S. and elsewhere.