The second Philippine edition of the US College Golf Camp Asia was successfully staged recently, hosting close to 60 junior golfers from beginner to advance skills in a two-day affair held at the Orchard Golf and Country Club.
The two-day camp gave the participants a college-training experience in a small group setting directly under the guidance of US NCAA Division 1 coaches Richard Church (golf director at Southern Utah University), Lisa Strom (head coach Texas State) and Katie Miles (former head coach at Georgetown University).
The campers and parents were also given an extensive overview of the NCAA recruitment, current rules changes and the transition from junior golf to college level.
The camp also included a three-day tournament, one round at the Southlinks Golf Club and two rounds at the Orchard. The kids were divided into different Boys and Girls divisions according to age groups: 15 to 18 years old, 13-14, 11-12, 9-10 and 8-and-under.
Tae Won Ha winning in the premier Boys 15-18 years old division, which earned him a slot in the 40th North and South Junior Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
More important, all of them were awarded World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, a Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) ranking and a Global Junior Golf Ranking (GJGS). It was likewise the only event in the country in Bluegolf,
Atty. Bobbet Bruce, who brought in the inaugural USCC Philippines last year, said that he introduced the camp in the country as part of his advocacy to grow the game and fill in the gaps in the jungolf system.
“We want to broaden the horizon of our local junior golf to include the possibility of going to the US on golf scholarships. I always believe that we have the talent and it is just a matter of matching these with more than 1,000 colleges and universities in the US,” he said.