Charlie Woods exempt into AJGA

[Tugu]

17 hours ago, Pinewood Golfer said:

He’s my claim to fame. My son played with him at a USKG Regional when they were 8. He was the first (and only) kid I’ve seen who, after watching him play two rounds, I said, “this is a PGA Tour player”. 
 

the skill level, the parental support/disposition, the “it” factor, the length relative to size at the time (and now). All of it. 
 

he’s the only one I’ve ever said that about and he’s making me look smart. He’s a super kid too with a great family. We’re fortunate to have become buddies with them, though we rarely see them anymore since he’s gone global 😂

 

Edited February 23 by Tugu

[wegobomber31]

1 hour ago, goaliedad30 said:

Counterpoint: Maverick McNealy

Yeah I was thinking of him. Really good job by him!

[JKGolf18]

9 hours ago, Tugu said:

Does seeing Charlie shoot 80+ at Jensen Beach or near that at Sandridge make you question your original assumptions? Jensen Beach is near enough to a pitch and putt as one gets in junior golf. Some fairways were so wide my kid remarked it's like a driving range.

 

Truth is scouting in any endeavor is a pot luck affair.  He may yet develop into a solid player. But theres no denying thats NOT the case so far. 

 

I'm curious about the people who believe his 3 wood ball speed is 165+ and having dad's mannerisms has any correlation to low scores whatsoever. The kid historically and right now struggles to break par in junior golf, period.

I believe Pinewood is referring to Miles, not Charlie...

[Tugu]

1 hour ago, JKGolf18 said:

I believe Pinewood is referring to Miles, not Charlie...

@Pinewood Golfer My bad.

[kekoa]

Good for Charlie I guess.

 

Just now trying to get our feet wet with AJGA and realizing how hard it is to get into a tournament locally here in California.  The first local preview we got denied.  Signed up for the qualifier and denied again.  We have so few stars and unable to chase tournaments nationally.   Learning now that the toughest part is getting into the tournament.  Second part is performing well enough to accumulate more and more stars for the next one.  Oh how I miss those USkids days.  lmao

[LawGenius305]

2 hours ago, kekoa said:

Good for Charlie I guess.

 

Just now trying to get our feet wet with AJGA and realizing how hard it is to get into a tournament locally here in California.  The first local preview we got denied.  Signed up for the qualifier and denied again.  We have so few stars and unable to chase tournaments nationally.   Learning now that the toughest part is getting into the tournament.  Second part is performing well enough to accumulate more and more stars for the next one.  Oh how I miss those USkids days.  lmao

Life isn't about what you know. It is about who you know.

[TroyB123]

2 hours ago, kekoa said:

Good for Charlie I guess.

 

Just now trying to get our feet wet with AJGA and realizing how hard it is to get into a tournament locally here in California.  The first local preview we got denied.  Signed up for the qualifier and denied again.  We have so few stars and unable to chase tournaments nationally.   Learning now that the toughest part is getting into the tournament.  Second part is performing well enough to accumulate more and more stars for the next one.  Oh how I miss those USkids days.  lmao

If he's young enough for the 12-15 previews, they are a lot easier to get into, and then can get into the Junior All Stars which are a lot easier to get into than the Opens, but can set you up for the opens the next year.

[kekoa]

8 hours ago, TroyB123 said:

If he's young enough for the 12-15 previews, they are a lot easier to get into, and then can get into the Junior All Stars which are a lot easier to get into than the Opens, but can set you up for the opens the next year.

Yup.  Realized this preview was for 12-18 or 19.  Obviously the older kids get priority.  I've been looking for a 12-15 preview in California. 

 

thanks

Edited March 7 by kekoa

[golferdad8]

What kind of scores are your son shooting that you want him to do AJGA? 

Imho, unless he can shoot low 70s, it’s prob not worth pursuing it as a high priority. If want tough competition & exposure for him, enter an amateur event. My son did an amateur at age 13 playing 7700 yard course against D1 college players & he learned so much from that experience.

At age 15+ he aged out of AJGA previews but he got into a qualifier & won a spot, and that’s how he got into the open. When he finished top 10, more than earning stars, he realized that he could hang with these top guys.
 

For the following summer we did some out of CA opens (easier entry) and got several top 5 finishes…and they opened up many doors, including Invitationals & other amateurs. 
 

Good luck to your son & just help him love “getting better” &  he will do great - with or without AJGA. Reminder that PGA Pro Justin Suh & incoming USC golfer from CA didn’t do much with AJGA. Win an amateur tournament beating D1 college kids & I promise you coaches will pay attention. 

[RobS]

On 3/6/2024 at 6:19 PM, golferdad8 said:

What kind of scores are your son shooting that you want him to do AJGA? 

Imho, unless he can shoot low 70s, it’s prob not worth pursuing it as a high priority. If want tough competition & exposure for him, enter an amateur event. My son did an amateur at age 13 playing 7700 yard course against D1 college players & he learned so much from that experience.

At age 15+ he aged out of AJGA previews but he got into a qualifier & won a spot, and that’s how he got into the open. When he finished top 10, more than earning stars, he realized that he could hang with these top guys.
 

For the following summer we did some out of CA opens (easier entry) and got several top 5 finishes…and they opened up many doors, including Invitationals & other amateurs. 
 

Good luck to your son & just help him love “getting better” &  he will do great - with or without AJGA. Reminder that PGA Pro Justin Suh & incoming USC golfer from CA didn’t do much with AJGA. Win an amateur tournament beating D1 college kids & I promise you coaches will pay attention. 

State Am's and Opens are great experiences for juniors.  Great competition with lots of current and former D1 players.

[golferdad8]

1 hour ago, RobS said:

State Am's and Opens are great experiences for juniors.  Great competition with lots of current and former D1 players.

One Norcal kid only had 5 tournaments in the past 12 months & didn’t have any AJGAs but he won the  Norcal jr golf championship (when all the good Norcal players were busy playing AJGA).
 

Guess what, he got an offer to play golf at Princeton 😂

[leezer99]

9:50 (EST) tee time on Friday. 

 

Will Lowery Junior Championship (ajga.org)

Edited March 21 by leezer99
Wrong date.

[JKgolfer]

I guess at least Charlie didn't get a sponsor's exemption to Sage Valley this week.

[Golfquant]

can't wait

Edited March 21 by Golfquant

[mrshinsa]

Let the kid play.

 

Let's all agree that he's not a superstar 🙄

 

Also having him in the field probably gives the rest of the players a lot of exposure they would not have gotten otherwise.  

 

We live on the opposite side of the coast, but just the fact that CW is around the same age as our kids, our friends and family have been hawking us to get details about junior golf, and how they can get started.  

[Soloman1]

On 3/6/2024 at 2:09 PM, LawGenius305 said:

Life isn't about what you know. It is about who you know.

 

sometimes declarative phrases just sound like they’re true.

 

nicklaus didn’t know a lot of people. father was a pharmacist.

tiger didn’t know a lot of people. father was retired military.

most guys on tour didn’t know a lot of people who got them there.

their game got them noticed.

 

as far as ajga, we sure ruin a lot of good ideas. even the 1st tee is now just a money trough for some to feast from.

 

 

[golferdad8]

3 hours ago, JKgolfer said:

I guess at least Charlie didn't get a sponsor's exemption to Sage Valley this week.

Not impressed by the Sage Valley field.

[leezer99]

On 3/6/2024 at 2:08 PM, kekoa said:

Yup.  Realized this preview was for 12-18 or 19.  Obviously the older kids get priority.  I've been looking for a 12-15 preview in California. 

 

thanks

FWIW - I’m pulling my son from the Lompoc event. He has already missed enough school. 

[kcap]

1 hour ago, golferdad8 said:

Not impressed by the Sage Valley field.

What’s not to be impressed with the field. Which Junior golfer is missing?

[golfortennis]

6 hours ago, mrshinsa said:

Let the kid play.

 

Let's all agree that he's not a superstar 🙄

 

Also having him in the field probably gives the rest of the players a lot of exposure they would not have gotten otherwise.  

 

We live on the opposite side of the coast, but just the fact that CW is around the same age as our kids, our friends and family have been hawking us to get details about junior golf, and how they can get started.  

 

 

BLASPHEMER!!!  A pox on your house!  The fanbois will be after you now.

[leezer99]

10 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

 

BLASPHEMER!!!  A pox on your house!  The fanbois will be after you now.

We are a legion. 

[wegobomber31]

8 hours ago, kcap said:

What’s not to be impressed with the field. Which Junior golfer is missing?

I can only think of one. 

[mrshinsa]

One more thing to add.

 

Golf is seen as an "uncool" sport amongst high school boys.  My son will never go around school bragging about the 20-footer he made the day before.

 

If CW can bring more attention, that's big positive for junior golf community.

https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/tiger-woods-spotted-watching-son-charlie-as-he-makes-ajga-debut

 

Maybe my son can start talking about golf at school...   

 

Or not.

Edited March 22 by mrshinsa

[TroyB123]

The course must have been playing pretty tough in the qualifier yesterday.  I see some pretty big scores from my kid's friends who are pretty good golfers.    Weather will start to get dicey tomorrow too.    

[golferdad8]

4 hours ago, TroyB123 said:

The course must have been playing pretty tough in the qualifier yesterday.  I see some pretty big scores from my kid's friends who are pretty good golfers.    Weather will start to get dicey tomorrow too.    

CW is doing ok among the field given the scores that I'm seeing today, in the mix with numerous D1 commits, and within striking distance of Loree, a top 2025 UCLA commit. Certainly he's able to hang with these boys. 

 

Also, CW is ahead of Lucky Cruz who previously won the Notah Begay Championship (and had beaten CW by at least 10 strokes.

 

https://www.ajga.org/tournaments/2024/will-lowery-junior-championship/leaderboard

 

[Tugu]

12 minutes ago, golferdad8 said:

CW is doing ok among the field given the scores that I'm seeing today, in the mix with numerous D1 commits, and within striking distance of Loree, a top 2025 UCLA commit. Certainly he's able to hang with these boys. 

 

Also, CW is ahead of Lucky Cruz who previously won the Notah Begay Championship (and had beaten CW by at least 10 strokes.

 

https://www.ajga.org/tournaments/2024/will-lowery-junior-championship/leaderboard

 

I am super ignorant about junior players except a few I've actually watched, but am I missing something? Isn't CW 43rd out of 51 at +8?

Edited March 22 by Tugu

[golferdad8]

9 minutes ago, Tugu said:

I am super ignorant about junior players except a few I've actually watched, but am I missing something? Isn't CW 43rd out of 51 at +8?

I posted earlier before CW had his two dbl bogies (oops)...let's see how he finishes & the next 2 days. 

[Tugu]

6 minutes ago, golferdad8 said:

I posted earlier before CW had his two dbl bogies (oops)...let's see how he finishes & the next 2 days. 

Ah OK...wasn't meaning anything. Just wasn't sure if there was something I missed.

 

Looked up that Lucky kid. Is he like a play local only phenom or something? He's ranked 1200+. Shouldn't CW or any half decent junior be beating what looks like a social golfer?

[kekoa]

33 minutes ago, Tugu said:

Ah OK...wasn't meaning anything. Just wasn't sure if there was something I missed.

 

Looked up that Lucky kid. Is he like a play local only phenom or something? He's ranked 1200+. Shouldn't CW or any half decent junior be beating what looks like a social golfer?

Don't know Lucky personally, but I've heard bad things....

 

 

[golferdad8]

32 minutes ago, kekoa said:

Don't know Lucky personally, but I've heard bad things....

 

 

Lucky is very focused on IG & social media with lots of visible sponsors.

Unfortunately, his scores haven't kept up with his social media activities & his many golf sponsors. 

This AJGA was an opportunity to show what he's capable of.  

 

Lucky did win the Notah Begay National Championship where he beat top-ranked D1 commits (incl UNC). He also won the Curry Cup last year (against weak fields), but unfortunately his ranking has continued to decline (for the 2024 class). 

 

Interesting that Lucky had previously committed to U of Houston a while back - and he recently decommitted (? or dropped from UH) & is now looking for a new school as a reclassified 2025.