The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) has named Sundog Eyewear the Official Eyewear of the AJGA.
The partnership will greatly enhance the AJGA’s SunSafeTee awareness campaign when teamed with Sundog Eyewear’s industry leading Mela-Lens™ technology, the ultimate in protection and visual clarity.
“We are very proud to be teamed with the finest junior golf organization in the game,” said Gary Makar, Sundog Eyewear Marketing Manager. “It is a wonderful opportunity to educate young golfers about the need to protect their eyes on and off the course.”
Not surprisingly, the three most prominent Sundog Eyewear Genuine Performers – four-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan, 2010 U.S. Women’s Open Champion and nine-time LPGA Tour winner Paula Creamer, and Masters Champion and eight-time PGA Tour winner Mike Weir – are AJGA alumni.
As part of this vital new initiative, in addition to proactive involvement in AJGA’s SunSafeTee program, Sundog Eyewear will donate sunglasses to the AJGA Cup, the PING Junior Solheim Cup, numerous international competitions, and Hunter Mahan’s annual junior golf tournament.
“The AJGA played a major role in my development as a golfer, and as a person,” said Hunter Mahan, who was named an AJGA National Chaiman in 2010. “It’s great to see the AJGA and Sundog Eyewear team up to play major roles in my Under Armour® / Hunter Mahan Championship for the benefit of junior golf.”
Mahan’s AJGA credentials include 1999 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, three-time Rolex Junior All-American, and champion of the 1999 U.S. Junior Amateur.
Sundog Eyewear Genuine Performer Paula Creamer knows all about the role the AJGA can play in a young person’s life and the importance of practicing SunSafeTee.
“Ever since I started helping design my Sundog Eyewear Collection, I have been more aware of the importance of eye protection for golfers,” said Paula Creamer, a four-time first-team Rolex Junior All-American, winner of 11 AJGA tournaments, and 2003 Rolex Junior Player of the Year. “I think it’s terrific that two great organizations – the AJGA and Sundog Eyewear – are working together to make junior golfers more aware of the damage the sun can cause, and protecting them with the very best sunglass lenses. I wish Sundog’s Mela-Lens™ technology existed earlier in my career.”
Masters Champion Mike Weir is also a strong proponent of educating all golfers about SunSafeTee. “I know from my career on the PGA Tour, that I need the protection and benefit from the visual clarity provided by my Sundog Eyewear,” said Weir. “It so important that the AJGA and Sundog Eyewear are getting that message to juniors.”
The AJGA and Sundog Eyewear, the Official Eyewear of the AJGA, are looking forward to spreading the SunSafeTee message.
“We are proud to welcome Sundog Eyewear to the AJGA team,” said Jason Etzen, chief business officer. “Their products will help our junior golfers to play their best out on the course as well as protect our staff from the sun and its damaging effects.”
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.
About Sundog Eyewear
With more than 25 years of industry experience, Sundog Eyewear is a world leader in sport sunglasses with an ongoing commitment to Genuine Performance. Sundog Eyewear is available in thousands of fine golf shops and retailers worldwide, is proud to be the Recommended Eyewear of the PGA of Great Britain and the Premium Offer for the 2011 Golf Digest/Golf World Buyer’s Guide. www.sundogeyewear.com
Contact:
Roseanna Smith
American Junior Golf Association
rsmith@ajga.org
678-425-1741
Hal Quinn
Quinn Group Communications
halquinn@shaw.ca
604-990-0945
