Prior to the Pros

PGA National Resort & Spa will host the 2009 Polo Golf Junior Classic, the American Junior Golf Association has announced. In its 32nd year, the Polo Golf Junior Classic will bring 156 of the world's best junior golfers, ages 12-18, to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Nov. 21-27, 2009.

The Polo Golf Junior Classic is one of the most prestigious events on the AJGA schedule and will be played on both the Champion and Haig Courses at PGA National, home of the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA).

Indiana University's Jorge Campillo, one of 10 semi-finalists for the 2009 Ben Hogan Award, college golf's most prestigious honor, will represent Team Europe in the Palmer Cup for the third consecutive year. Team USA will counter with four semi-finalists of its own; Alabama's Bud Cauley, Okalahoma State's Morgan Hoffmann, Georgia Tech's Cameron Tringale and Marquette's Mike Van Sickle.

The collegiate team competition pitting the United State against Europe, similar to Ryder Cup, will take place June 3-5 at Cherry Hills Country Club outside of Denver. Europe won the 2008 event, but the U.S. leads overall 6-5-1.

Golfweek magazine recently kicked off its new Golfweek's Junior Series in Tampa, Fla., with Brandon Liu, 16, and Ericka Schneider, 17, both from Bradenton, Fla., taking the top spots at the event.

The tournament was the first of four qualifiers in the series, which offers a new generation of rising talent from across the country the chance to compete against their peers in Golfweek-ranked events.

Mission Hills Golf Club is hosting the 2009 Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship, April 29-30, on its Nicklaus-designed World Cup Course.

Inspired and supported by Nicklaus' passionate efforts in the area of junior golf development, Mission Hills set out in 2008 to create a tournament in his name to give young, gifted players the opportunity to compete under professional tournament conditions.