Nov. 4, 2004 – The Teens on the Green International Golf Tournament World Series finals start Thursday with a Parade of Flags in downtown Christiansted. The golf program, which boasts of a strong educational component, has provided hundreds of teens all over the world with college scholarships.
About 100 teen golfers and their families began arriving on St. Croix on Monday. The world-class teen golfers from Thailand, the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom, Ecuador and the United States competed in qualifying events around the world for a chance to participate in the St. Croix finals for rankings and scholarships. This is the third year the tournament will be played on the greens of the Carambola Beach Resort golf course.
Renny Roker, a Crucian with an extensive background as a show business and sports entertainment producer, said the youngsters, from 12 to 17, are some of the best junior golfers in the world. He added, "Some of them are shooting in the low 60s and 70s."
Roker produced the first America's Paradise Triathlon on St. Croix. He says the three-day junior-golf tournament will be a major economic boost to St. Croix.
New this year is live scoring over the Internet made possible by Junior Golf Scoreboard. According to Mac Thayer of Junior Golf, the service will provide a means for parents and families to follow the action of their players as it happens. The Internet site will not only be able to show scores, but also photographs of the players, individual scorecards and the leader board. "This will be the first international junior golf live scoring event of its kind," said Thayer. Access to live scoring will be through the Web site at www.teensonthegreen.com .
Schedule of events:
Thursday
Practice rounds at Carambola Beach resort.
Parade of Flags, beginning at 4:45 p.m. from the Christiansted bandstand up Company. Street to Queen Cross Street, down King Street ending at the bandstand.
Lighted Boat Parade in Christiansted harbor, following Parade of Flags.
Barbecue at the Harbor Master beach club, Hotel on the Cay.
Friday
First day of competition.
Junior players' pins and gift trading ceremony.
College Seminar led by Marvin Finley, Director of Teens on the Greens International Education Foundation and Dean Frischknecht, author and publisher of "Ping College Golf Guide."
Saturday
Second day of competition.
Golf Clinics for local youth – Carambola Golf course 1.p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sunday
Final day of competition.
Awards ceremony at Carambola Golf course.
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