The Wigwam Golf & Country Club – Litchfield Park, Arizona
Since 2008, Regional Championship qualifying players and their families have reserved President’s Day weekend in their calendars for the Desert Shootout. This year marks the 9th annual event at The Wigwam Golf & Country Club. The Desert Shootout is one of the oldest and most popular Regional Championships on the schedule. The tournament will be held on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 on the Patriot Course and Gold Course.
Over 275 of the world’s best golfers (ages 5-14) will embark on a two-day journey in hopes of being crowned the 2016 Desert Shootout Champion for their age group. The top three players from each age group will receive automatic invitations to the 2016 World (or Teen World) Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Of the 279 registered golfers, 23 are traveling to the United States from seven different countries – Canada, Colombia, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands and Panama. The remaining field is traveling from 34 states across the U.S. Two participants from Litchfield Park, Arizona will look to capitalize on their home field advantage – Alec Hilgers (Boys 9) and Kaitlyn Helm (Girls 8).
The Patriot Course will serve as the competitor to Boys 9, Boys 10, Boys 11, Girls 10, Girls 11, Girls 12 and Girls 13-14 age groups. All other age groups will match up against The Gold Course.
Only six of the fifteen champions from 2015 will return to Litchfield Park this year to defend their title. In 2015, 9-year-old Jay Leng Jr. fired a 66 in his second round to overcome an eight shot deficit, and force a two-man playoff. The two-time World Champion carried his momentum into the extra holes, and went on to win his first Regional Championship with a final score of five under par. Gracie McGovern, champion of last year’s Girls 9 division, has now reached the age for 18-holers, and will look to defend her title in her home state. The Scottsdale native posted back-to-back 39’s in last year’s Desert Shootout.
Regional Championship fields are mostly comprised of youth golfers who have earned “Priority Status” from shooting exceptional scores on Local Tours and other events.
Unlike other junior golf tournaments, parents are strongly encouraged to take part in the U.S. Kids Golf experience by caddying, and/or spectating with the rest of the family. U.S. Kids Golf is not just about golf. Most players and their families connect with other participants at the event and build relationships and memories that last a lifetime.
“The mission of U.S. Kids Golf is to help kids have fun learning the lifelong game of golf and to encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories.”
Follow the tournament on online:
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For more information visit https://www.uskidsgolf.com/tournaments
Please direct all tournament operations questions to tournaments@uskidsgolf.com
Please direct all media inquiries to mleath@uskidsgolf.com
Contact:
Mack Leath (404) 909-5171
February 10, 2016 mleath@uskidsgolf.com
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