JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL GOLF

 – DEC 27-30, 2015

NEWS RELEASE

Welcome to the 52^nd edition of the Junior Orange Bowl International Golf tournament, once again to be played over the famed Donald Ross lay-out at the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida.

For more than half a century this 72-hole stroke play event has hosted the best age 18-and-under golfers from around the world and is recognized as one of the most prestigious junior golf tournaments. 

Our notable past-winner roster includes major champions Tiger Woods, José María Olazábal, Andy North, Craig Stadler, Mark Calcavecchia and Bob Tway.

Equally impressive the list of teenagers who, after testing themselves at the JOBI, went on to sterling PGA Tour careers, such as three-time major champion Nick Price, Hal Sutton, Gary Koch, Willie Wood, Dudley Hart, Billy Mayfair, Ryuji Imada, Matt Kuchar and Camilo Villegas, to name but a few.

And since the introduction of the Girls division in 1977 more than half our winners have become LPGA members, including such notable past-champions as Michelle McGann, Christie Kerr, Grace Park, Christina Kim, Julieta Granada, Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson.

This year’s truly international field promises to fulfil the usual high expectations, with Europe, Asia, Africa and South America competing against the some of the best homeland juniors.

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, 17, returns to defend his title, a feat so far not achieved in the Boys Division. Niemann, from Santiago, has had an impressive 2015, with wins at the Canadian Junior Challenge, the Junior World IMG (Torrey Pines) and the Chilean Junior Open.

He faces a multitude of top-level challengers, including Jakub Hrinda, a 15-year old from Doha, Qatar, whose handicap at +3.4, is an indication of why he was an amateur invitee at this year’s European Tour Qatar Masters.

Others to look out for include Takumi Kanaya, the Japan Amateur Champion, Kristoffer Reitan, the Norwegian National Junior Champion, Italy’s Guido Migliossi who challenged strongly last year, Belgium’s Giovanni Tadiotto and South Africa’s Keegan McLachlan.      

The only English-born boy competitor is Daniel List. The last English winner was professional's son Ben Parker - brother of LET player Florentyna Parker - in 2005.

The Girls' Division contenders are spearheaded by Japan’s Hina Arakaki, a 17-year old from Uruma, Okinawa, whose handicap is a stunning +6.1. In 2015 her record shows she played in five ladies professional events and finished top amateur in all five.

Among others with high hopes are Emilia Migliaccio from Cary, NC, a 16-year old with a +4.3 handicap, whose list of 2015 wins includes the Women’s Western Junior Championship, and Mika Liu, 17, handicap +5.3, member of the victorious USA team’s Junior Solheim Cup.

The 52^nd JOBI starts  on Sunday, December 27

Follow us daily on www.jrorangebowl.com/golf for live scoring and results.

David Mackintosh - JOBI Press Officer