Another jr. golfer qualifies for San Diego

The son of former Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Carlos Salas and his wife Roxy will compete in the 2008 Callaway Junior Golf Tournament set this coming July at the Sycuan Golf Resort in San Diego.

Brentt Makana Salas, who will play in the 7-8 age group, follows the footsteps of R.J. Macaranas who took part in the same competition last year.

Salas qualified after averaging 82.75 during the first two qualifying rounds held last month.

He scored an 88 on April 5 and an 84 on April 6 at Windward Hill Golf Course’s 18-hole junior tee boxes.

Salas then scored a 79 on April 19 and an 80 on April 20 during the second qualifying round held at Admiral Nimitz Golf Course’s par 3 course.

Carlos Salas, the current head of the Port Authority of Guam, said in an email that Brentt qualified to San Diego after beating out five others finalist from other junior golf academies in Guam.

“Brentt has continued to improve his golf game since he first started with coach Jess Wabol on Saipan about two years ago and now with the Guam Junior Golf Academy.”

The elder Salas said his son is now being trained by coaches Bill Reyes, Joe Cruz, and Ben Pablo—all of the Guam Junior Golf Academy.

He added that Brentt, along with another local junior golfer, will represent Guam at this prestigious annual junior golf event,

“Both Roxy and I are excited and of course very proud of Brentt. We are making every effort to arrange for this trip as we see the great importance of the event for Brentt. Brentt is so focused on golf and practices every chance he gets. The amazing thing about him is that he really loves the game and certainly got to understand the game from etiquette, rules, and scoring. He also plays baseball in between with the Mangilao Eveready as the first baseman,” said Carlos Salas.

The 2008 Callaway Junior Golf Tournament’s 7-8 division will be held on July 12 and 13

at the Sycuan Resort’s 54-hole championship golf course in El Cajon, California.

The Callaway Junior World Championship is one of the biggest youth competitions in golf and previous boys champions include Notah Begay III, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, Nick Price, Craig Stadler, David Toms, and Tiger Woods.

The year 1984 was extra special, with David Toms winning the 15-17 event, Els the 13-14s, and Woods the 9-10s, despite being just eight years old.

Past girls champions, meanwhile, include Amy Alcott, Brandie Burton, Lorena Ochoa, and Jennifer Rosales.

The Junior World Golf Championships are held in San Diego, California each year, currently in July.

They include tournaments for six age groups ranging from under-6 to 15-17 and for both boys and girls.

Each age group plays at a separate course, ranging from a par-three course for the youngest to Torrey Pines for the 15-17s, which is also the venue for the Buick Invitational on the PGA Tour and the site of the 2008 U.S. Open.

The event was founded in 1968. The inaugural tournament numbered 475 entrants from 20 U.S. states and six other countries. By 2003, there were 1,040 participants from 43 U.S states and 45 other countries. Qualifying events are held in the U.S. and elsewhere.