OREGON JUNIOR AMATEUR PREVIEW

LAKE OSWEGO, ORE (Sunday, June 29, 2009) – Stroke play qualifying at the 79th Oregon Junior Amateur Championship begins tomorrow at Lake Oswego Country Club in Lake Oswego, Ore. with more than 210 youngsters age 8 to 17 from throughout Oregon and SW Washington competing for this prestigious title at this week long event. Established in 1927 by the Oregon Golf Association, the Oregon Junior Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious event amateur sporting competitions in the state. . The Oregon Junior Amateur is held only at the finest golf courses and historically showcases some of the most talented junior golfers in the Northwest.   The week begins with one round of stroke play qualifying to determine seeding within each division: Juniors (16-17), Boys (14-15), Intermediate Boys (12-13), Pee Wee Boys (8-11), Girls (15-17), Intermediate Girls (12-14) and Pee Wee Girls (8-11). The top scorers are placed in a championship flight with the remaining golfers placed in subsequent flights Unlike the Oregon Amateur which as single elimination matches, all Junior Amateur participants are guaranteed two round of match play. Should a play lose their first match, they are moved into a drop flight. The public is welcome to attend and watch the finest junior golfers in the region. Please visit www.oregonjram.org for complete results and information.

ABOUT THE OGA The Oregon Golf Association (OGA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership association. Founded in 1924, the OGA was originally established with the sole purpose of conducting the Oregon Amateur Championship. Since its founding 85 years ago, the OGA has evolved to now provide a multitude of benefits and services to approximately 50,000 individual men, women, senior, and junior members at over 270 member golf clubs and 190 golf courses throughout the Oregon and SW Washington. The OGA also works tirelessly to promote, foster, and grow the game of golf in its region through its support of golf related charities and "good for the game" programs. The organization is governed by a 15-person volunteer Executive Committee and managed by a full-time staff of nine. When a golfer joins an OGA Member Club, a portion of the dues paid to the club is remitted to the OGA to belong to the Association. As a regional representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA), the OGA is responsible for administering the USGA Handicap System as well as rating and measuring all regulation golf courses in accordance with the USGA Course Rating System. It also works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.