World Junior Golf Championship Teeing Off at Myrtle Beach

The field for the third annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship is set, and Johnson’s goal of hosting the nation’s premier junior tournament has taken another step forward.

The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship will be played Feb. 22-25 at TPC Myrtle Beach, and with the support of the World’s No. 1 player, the strength of the 93-player field has significantly improved again.

The 54-hole event has attracted 13 of America’s top 100 junior boys, and seven top 100 junior girls. Nine of the top 10 boys in South Carolina and seven of North Carolina’s top 10 will be playing.

Seven of America’s top 100 girls will tee it up in the event as will four of South Carolina’s top five girls. Skylar Thompson, a Buford, Ga., resident who has signed to play at South Carolina will return to defend her crown.

“Our goal is make the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship the game’s best junior event, and the strength of this year’s field moves us closer to that goal,” said Scott Tomasello, Golf Tourism Solutions’ tournament director. “Dustin’s support of the tournament has been vital, and TPC Myrtle Beach will allow players to test themselves on a premier layout. Everything is in place for another outstanding event, and we look forward to seeing who emerges victorious.”

Players from 21 states and 5 countries will be participating in the tournament.

The highest ranked American player on the boys side is Akshay Bhatia, a sophomore from Wake Forest, N.C., who is ranked eighth in the country (AJGA). Jacob Bridgeman, a Clemson signee from Inman, S.C., is No. 16 (AJGA) and Peter Fountain of Raleigh, ranked #34 (Golfweek).

Ashley Menne, a sophomore from Surprise, Az., is the 14th ranked girl in the nation, and eighth grader Alexa Pano, a resident of Lake Worth, Fla., is ranked 20th.

The field features 30 players who have signed letters of intent to play collegiate golf, including four to Clemson University and five to SEC schools.

With the support of Johnson, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, the tournament will provide players a PGA Tour-like experience, and the opportunity to test themselves against some of the best juniors from across the globe.

A significant part of the event’s appeal is TPC Myrtle Beach, one of the Grand Strand’s most decorated layouts. TPC Myrtle Beach has hosted the Senior PGA Tour Championship and been ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest, making it an ideal venue to test golf’s rising young stars.

The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship is being sponsored by Founders Group International, the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and Golf Tourism Solutions.

Johnson’s involvement with the tournament reflects his long-time commitment to junior golf, particularly in South Carolina, where he grew into one of the world’s best players. Through the Dustin Johnson Foundation, which is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, Johnson has donated more than $250,000 to junior golf, sponsoring numerous events throughout the state and helping cover entry costs for kids who need financial assistance.

The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship is being sponsored by Founders Group International, the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com.

For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgolfchampionship.com.