Deltona, FL, February 7, 2017- For the seventh straight year, the Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development (501c3) in partnership with The Littlest Golfer Inc. has crowned the winners in four age categories as having the best “Pee Wee” golf swings in the world. In this event however, the kids competing were in age groups that are not very typical in the world of junior golf events. The age group divisions were 7-8 years, 5-6 years, 3-4 years and even an under 3 age group. Parents were encouraged to send in videos of their Little Linksters™ and have them judged by an elite panel of judges.
The judges this year included:
• Andrew “Beef” Johnston-A fan favorite on the European Tour who will be bringing his game to the PGA Tour in 2017.
• Brooke Henderson- Current World #8 Female Golfer, Current CME Race Standing #3, She won her first major at age 18 in 2016 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, becoming the event’s youngest winner.
• Jack Nicklaus- Considered by most as the greatest player to ever play the game, World Golf Hall of Fame member and winner of 18 Major Championships, leading all that have ever played the game in that category.
• Tony Jacklin- One of the games greats, World Golf Hall of Fame member, 29 Professional wins including 2 Majors.
• Lauren Thompson-A proud native of Central Florida, Lauren is a prominent Golf Channel personality. She is co-host of “Morning Drive”, the channel’s daily morning show. She formerly was a host of “Top Ten” and “Golf Now” (formerly “Destination Golf”), as well the “College Sports Minute.”
• Nicole Weller-Multiple award-winning PGA and LPGA professional. Most recently, Nicole was named the 2013 PGA and LPGA National Youth Player Development award winner. Nicole is the Director of Instruction at the Landings Club in Savannah, GA. Nicole is the author of Stick to Sports “Let’s Play Golf,” as well as the company’s new Golf Flash Card Game.
• Tom Reid-Beloved PGA of Europe Instructor at the famed Wentworth Club, acts as the clubs Junior Program Manager.
• Michelle Holmes-Owner of the Michelle Holmes School of Golf in Chesapeake, VA, Michelle is one of the brightest stars in the Junior Golf arena. A new judge for the 7th Annual Best Pee Wee Swing Contest, this LPGA Professional and US Kids Top 50 Kids Teacher will surely be a “regular” going forward!
The contest is the brainchild of Little Linksters™ founder, multiple award winning PGA Professional, Brendon Elliott.
“I could not have asked for more in our seventh year, we were extremely happy with the outcome. It was extremity difficult for our judges as there were many, many kids that entered that had amazing golf swings. It is always so cool to see the entries as they come in, especially from place from around the globe. The point of this contest however is not solely about finding the best swings but rather letting a younger demographic have FUN with golf and to prove to those that don’t believe in starting golf at such young ages that this is something we as an industry should focus on.”
~Brendon R. Elliott, PGA, Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development founder
The winners in each age group are as follows:
In the Under 3 Division:
1st Place- Eli Matthew Caboteja (Virginia Beach, Virginia) age 2
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/XbyK5XwRH0U
2nd Place- Keegan Carbray (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) age 2
ENTRY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGCKko0hLC0
In the Under 3-4 Division:
1st Place- Mason LaTorre (Nassau, NY) age 4
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/uN8x0kjpK70
2nd Place- Abigail Eden Thambiran (South Africa) age 4
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/Mo-DKQ_Jtjk
3rd Place- Patrick Henry (Encinitas CA) age 4
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/8IvyHcbose4
In the Under 5-6 Division:
1st Place- Ty Bogey (Oviedo, FL) age 6
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/C5I8WmvcASQ
2nd Place- Jaden Soong (Granada Hills, CA) age 6
ENTRY: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nvpebwcqsfve629/File%20Jan%2016%2C%2010%2010%2041%20PM.mp4?dl=0
3rd Place- Tenley Decker (Murrieta, Ca) age 6
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/rJ0p-6d-mC8
In the Under 7-8 Division:
1st Place- Richard Sun (BC CANADA) age 8
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/zjmE4IjOHmU
2nd Place- Jeffrey Kim (San Diego, CA) age 7
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/MC4a-_e6MkQ
3rd Place- John Tijerina (Grand Prairie, TX) age 7
ENTRY: https://youtu.be/4-KYNCv3nBw
The contest was co-sponsored by the Littlest Golfer Inc. and the lucky winners were announced at the Littlest Golfer booth at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando on Friday, January 27th. The announcement was broadcast on Facebook Live. You can see the recording of the live announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/Little.Linksters/videos/10155114565557189/?l=151182227489699413
For a clean look at the winners presentation video, please go here: https://www.facebook.com/Little.Linksters/videos/10155115816027189/?l=8029292925888840633
To see a compilation of all the entries in the 4th annual competition, proceed to the following link: https://www.facebook.com/Little.Linksters/videos/10155087502512189/?l=3641321721533561608
The winners in each age group will receive a prize package including the following items:
• The Littlest Golfer Gift Pack
• U.S. Kids Golf Full Set of Clubs and other Accessories
• Set of Golphin Advanced Series Clubs
• Cleveland/Srixon Golf Gift Pack
• Birdie Ball 4? x 14? Putting Green
• Exemption & Entry Fee into 2017 FCG World Championship (Formally San Diego Junior Masters)
• Entry Fee into 2017 Pepsi Little People’s Championship
• The Golfer’s Footprint Swing Trainer
• Golf Training Aids Pack
• Almost Golf Play Anywhere Pack
• Star Putter Training Aid
• My Mini Golf Gift Pack
• Swinggait Swing Trainer
• Stick To Sports “Let’s Play Golf” Book & NEW “Golf Match” Game
• Little Linksters Membership
• Little Linksters “All Access” One Year Membership on Edufii
“It was allot of fun to judge these swings from the kids” said Andrew “Beef” Johnson, a judge for the first time in the annual competition.
PGA & LPGA Professional Nicole Weller added “What an incredible honor to not only be included in this year’s line of judges Brendon assembled for the 2017 Best Pee Wee Swing Contest but also to observe such amazing entries from youngsters having fun with golf from around the world. Introduce the concept of golf at a very early age!”
More about the Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development:
The Little Linksters golf program in Central Florida is designed specifically for children ages 3 to 8 years old. The program is taught in a fun and interactive way, using both traditional and non-traditional instructional methods to ensure children’s first introduction to golf is FUN! The Little Linksters mascots Floppy, Birdie & Bogey are featured in the programs instructional coloring book and training aids.
The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, a 501c3 nonprofit in conjunction with AAU, is continuing to develop a national program that will enable teaching professionals from across the country to grow their business and the game of golf with a proven program that combines a child-friendly approach, a complete program curriculum, and uses items from some of the industry’s best training aid and junior golf equipment companies.
The Association’s newest project, called G.O.A.L.S. (Golf Outreach Advances Life Skills) is specifically aimed at introducing children ages 3-18+ with special needs to the game of golf. In doing so, children will learn valuable life skills that will help them throughout their life.
To help the nonprofit, Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development contact them at nonprofit@littlelinksters.com
To donate go to: https://www.facebook.com/donate/10155139911012189/
For more information about the “Best Pee-Wee Golf Swing in the World” Video Contest or the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, please visit www.littlelinksters.com or contact Brendon Elliott at Brendon@LittleLinksters.com or by phone at (321) 278-1612.
The Little Linksters™ Association for Junior Golf Development was named the 2013 ING Player Development Award winner.
More about PGA Professional Brendon R. Elliott:
Elliott is a 2010, 2011 & 2012 US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher, a 2013 US Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher, a 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 Top 50 Growth of the Game Instructor as named by the Golf Range Association of America, the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 ECC Junior Golf Leader, the 2013 & 2014 ECC Horton Smith award winner, and the 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 NFPGA Junior Golf Leader award winner. He was a finalist for the PGA’s National Junior Leader award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and is once again this year in 2016. In January 2014, Little Linksters was named the 2013 ING (International Network of Golf) Player Development Award winner.
Elliott has appeared in or been a contributor for numerous golf media articles with publications such as Golf Business magazine and PGA Magazine. His contributions have included topics ranging from Social Media to Junior Golf. Elliott was a guest on the Golf Channels Morning Drive in April of 2013 along with Dottie Pepper and Alan Wronowski. The threesome spoke on many different junior golf initiatives that are available to children of all ages. You can see a clip of Elliott’s appearance here: http://www.golfchannel.com/media/pga-america-dottie-pepper-allen-wronowski-and-brendon-elliott/ Brendon also appeared on Morning Drive in October of 2016 as part of Junior Golf Week. You can see a clip of that appearance here: https://www.facebook.com/Little.Linksters/videos/10155021185147189/?l=3889789984345562602
Elliott is a sought-out speaker on Junior Golf with a focus on children ages 8 and under. He spoke at the 2012 Proponent Group Annual Conference in October of 2012 which was held at Cog Hill Golf Club near Chicago. The event was held in conjunction with the 2012 Ryder Cup. Elliott spoke at the 2013 Southeastern Junior Golf Summit at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta on November 4,2013. He was also a presenter at the 2014 PGA Youth & Family Golf Summit held during the week of the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL and Little Linksters G.O.A.L.S. program was featured at the 2016 PGA Youth & Family Golf Summit, also in Orlando.
Elliott is the Honorary President of the East Central Chapter of the NFPGA Section. He was also a NFPGA Section Board member from 2009-2015. He is Chairman of the ECC Junior Golf Committee as well as the Co-Chair of the NFPGA Junior Golf Committee. Brendon was also a member of the PGA of America’s 2012-2014 National Youth Player Development Committee and the 2010-2012 & 2012-2014 Public Relations & Communications Committee.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Brendon R. Elliott, PGA at 321-278-1612 or email at nonprofit@littlelinksters.com
Contact:
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA
321-278-1612
nonprofit@littlelinksters.com
www.LittleLinksters.com
