40th Annual Girl’s Junior America’s Cup to Be Played at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson
The Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association will host the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Girls Junior Americas Cup (GJAC) July 30 - August 3 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada.
The opening ceremony will be held Monday, July 31, at Cascata. Butch Harmon will be the keynote speaker.
The GJAC is an annual 54-hole team competition that is held on a rotating basis throughout the western United States, Canada and Mexico, and features an international field of the finest junior girl golfers from each region. This year marks the third time the event has been held in Southern Nevada. An individual champion will also be declared. Play is scheduled to begin each day at 8 am with official competition running from August 1-3.
Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson
“We are honored to host the Girls Junior Americas Cup a and shine the spotlight on Southern Nevada and the wonderful players who will be playing here and representing their home associations,†saidd PGA of America professional Tim Sam, who also serves as president of the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association. “Southern Nevada has a deep golf history including hosting LPGA Tour major championships and the inaugural PGA Tour Tournament of Champions so this is the perfect location to celebrate and commemorate the 40th anniversary of the competition. Plus, playing the event at Reflection Bay, a Jack Nicklaus course located in Lake Las Vegas, will bring additional prestige to the festivities.”
40th Annual Girl’s Junior America’s Cup to Be Played at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Henderson
Four-player teams from 17 areas will play in the tournament. The participants represent some of the top players in the state, province or country. The competing teams are: Arizona, British Columbia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico, Montana, New Mexico, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, San Diego, Southern California, Southern Nevada, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The participants exemplify not only outstanding skill and experience, but also true sportsmanship, discipline, courtesy and strength of character. Being chosen to play in the Girls’ Junior Americas Cup is one of the highest honors in girls’ junior golf.
A two-tournament qualifier was held to determine the team from Southern Nevada. The four players are: Hunter Pate (2018), a Nevada All-State player from Bishop Gorman HS; Lani Potter (2018), the 2016 Class 3A Nevada state high school champion at Boulder City HS; and Kyndall Newman (Arbor View HS) and McKenzi Hall (Centennial HS), two up and coming class of 2021 golfers.
Among the other notables in the field are: Brianna Navarossa (2020), Southern California, the defending GJAC individual champion; Angelina Kim (2020), also a member of Southern California, the defending team champions; Rose Zhang, Southern California, the nation’s top female player in the class of 2021; Ellie Slama (2017), the two-time Oregon 6A state high school champion; and Claire Choi (2018), Hawaii, the top female junior in Hawaii.
Previous Girls Junior Americas Cup champions include World Golf Hall of Fame member Lorena Ochoa, who won the individual title in 1999, the last time the GJAC was held in Las Vegas. Other LPGA Tour players who are past GJAC champions include Kim Saiki, Brandi Burton, Lee Lopez and Pat Hurst, among others.
The purpose of the Girls Junior Americas Cup is to bring girls together from various states and countries fostering new friendships and mutual respect.
The Girls Junior Americas Cup was established in 1978 under the leadership of Joan Teats from the state of Washington. The first tournament was held at Tumwater Valley Golf Course in Olympia, Washington, with eleven teams and now features 18 teams from Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico, Montana, New Mexico, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, San Diego, Southern California, Southern Nevada, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Visit GJAC.org for additional information.