ECC Junior Open to nationally rank players

The Enterprise Country Club Junior Open has long been a popular stop on the summer circuit for hundreds of southeastern junior golfers. Now its added an extra luster for participants that puts it in line with other major tour stops.

For the first time the tournament will be used to rank players nationally on the Junior Golf Scoreboard, said ECC golf pro Jon Samuelson.

The Enterprise Country Club Junior Open has long been a popular stop on the summer circuit for hundreds of southeastern junior golfers. Now its added an extra luster for participants that puts it in line with other major tour stops.

For the first time the tournament will be used to rank players nationally on the Junior Golf Scoreboard, said ECC golf pro Jon Samuelson.

Scores from this week's ninth annual event will be sent in by tournament officials and posted on the internet by the United States Junior Golf Association.

"The biggest thing in my mind is that the scores will be seen by college coaches," said Samuelson, who will be posting the tournament's scores for the first time this week. "Southeastern juniors will have an opportunity to play in an arena where they can be looked at for college scholarships. It's a big help for the kids and we're delighted to be a part of it."

This year's tournament begins Thursday and concludes Friday, and as of late Tuesday 87 players had signed up to tee off in the four age groups. Late applications could push the tournament total over 100 for a fourth consecutive year. Last year's field was the highest ever at 117.

"We may be down a little this year because the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Prattville is conducting a summer tour at the same time," said Junior Open tournament director Mark Jipson. "But I'm happy with the number of players we have so far. If we can stay above 75 it will be worth doing. It's a good tournament and a lot of fun for us and everyone in the community. We try to make the tournament better each year."

Last year's tournament was one of the most exciting in history as Thomasville's Matt Drinkard and Justin McRae battled in a four-hole playoff for the coveted Mickey Redd Cup, signifying the tournament's overall champion. Drinkard's par putt on four earned him the title. However, because of a recent surgery he won't be able to defend his title.

That leaves the door open for several competitors in the 17- and 18-year-old division including McRae.

The last local to win the cup was Enterprise's Trey Henderson in 1996. Enterprise golfers won the first three Junior Opens.

Locals in the 17- and 18-year-old division this year who could make a run at the title include Enterprise's Mason Crumpler and Stephen Rush as well as Geneva's Tommy Casey and Opp's Bart Barnes, who plays high school golf at Elba.

The tournament's only two-time winner and first-ever champion from the 15- and 16-year-old division was Kevin Warrick in 1997. Warrick, who hales from Valrico, Fla., has special ties to the Junior Open as his father, Larry, who grew up in Ozark, was good friends with Rex Redd, Mickey's father. In fact, Larry purchased a set of golf clubs from Rex and passed them down to Kevin.

Warrick, a two-time Division II All-American at the University of West Florida, recently made the cut as an amateur in the U.S. Open. He finished with a four-day total of 307 (73-76-84-74).

This year there are several local players who could make a run at the cup in the 15- and 16-year-old division led by Matt Sawyer, Byron Strickland and Wayne Parker. Elba's Colby Capps is also a local favorite.

Twenty four golfers will tee it up in the 13- and 14-year-old division including Enterprise linksters Wes Parker, Chase Ezzell, Trey Andress, Joey Russell, Justin Leverett and Brad Peden. Rhett Harrelson and Michael Redd are the only two locals in the 12-and-under division.