PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky., has been selected to host the Junior Ryder Cup, Sept. 15-16, 2008, and present an expanded Ryder Cup format change to foursomes, mixed four-ball and singles competition. The matches mark the fourth formal connection between The PGA of America and Ryder Cup Ltd., which biennially stage the Ryder Cup.
"The PGA of America is proud to be hosting the Junior Ryder Cup at The Club at Olde Stone," said President Brian Whitcomb. "We believe the venue and layout will provide for great competition between the best junior talent that the United States and Europe have to offer."
Steve Newman, the PGA head professional at The Club at Olde Stone, is excited about staging the event, which is slated just prior to the 37th Ryder Cup, Sept. 16-21, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
"To get an international event like the Junior Ryder Cup coming to The Club at Olde Stone speaks wonders about our golf course," said Newman. "With the build-up to the Ryder Cup later in the week, we hope this event serves as a starting point for people to attend and watch what will be great golf played in Kentucky."
The United States Junior Ryder Cup Team features six boys and six girls who are American citizens and are members of the high school graduating class of 2009, or younger.
The invitation criteria include the following: The U.S. Champion of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the winner of the U.S. Girls Junior Championship, both contested on July 21-26, 2008. Additionally, the top two boys' and girls' finishers from The PGA of America's flagship junior event, the Junior PGA Championship, Aug. 13-16, 2008, at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio, will be eligible to compete.
The U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team also features the leading two boys and girls in the Junior Ryder Cup final point standings, with those automatic berths are determined following the Junior PGA Championship (the final major of the summer). U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Captain Ken Lindsay will make the final selections to complete the 12-member team following the Junior PGA Championship.
The U.S. Junior Ryder Cup points system was revised in the fall of 2005 so that in Junior Ryder Cup years, a premier event victory will be worth 675 points. Points are also awarded at top-tier event Championships, along with PGA Section Championships and USGA Section Championships. Only the Top-15 finishers in premier Championships, the Top-10 finishers in the top-event Championships, and the overall winner from PGA of America and USGA Section Championships are eligible to earn points.
Participants in the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup will receive the opportunity to play a nine-hole "friendship" match the day prior (Wednesday) to the start of the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club. The matches will feature a four-ball pairing of a European and USA player competing against another European/USA player duo for the six matches, which will continue to build international friendships.
For further information about the Junior Ryder Cup, visit www.pgajuniorseries.com or www.PGA.com/juniors or call The PGA of America national headquarters, (561) 624-8400.
The Club at Olde Stone
The Club at Olde Stone was opened for play in 2005 and built to host future large-scale events. Part of the club's founding elements was to give back to the youth of America. Arthur Hills was the architect of this major championship layout. The Club at Olde Stone has already made its mark in the national junior golf competition world with its designation as the 2006 AJGA event of the year, host of the U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier, the Kentucky Senior Open and the future site of the Kentucky State Open. One of the many amenities that the Club offers is the sub-air system on the greens, much the same as Augusta. For more information please visit www.olde-stone.com.
The PGA of America
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
