Team USA to Compete in 2013 TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup

NORMAN, Okla. – Golfers Ben Balter, Cameron Champ, Scott Scheffler and Adam Wood and head coach Jake Harrington will represent the United States beginning Tuesday at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Team USA - which is sponsored by Nike Golf - has won the tournament five times since its inception in 1992 but has failed to claim the team title since 2005. The United States finished fourth last year.

Jake Harrington, a South Mountain Community College Alumnus, recently completed his sixth year as head coach at SMCC having elevated his alma mater into a perennial powerhouse in junior college golf, winning national titles in 2010, 2012 and 2013. During his six years as head coach, Harrington has earned national praise from around the country. He was named the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2012, the NJCAA Region I Coach of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013, the ACCAC Conference Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011, and 2012, the NJCAA Division II National Championship Coach of the Tournament in 2010, 2012 and 2013, and the GCAA Western Region Coach of the Year for 5 consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012). In addition, Harrington is in his second season as the NJCAA Division II Golf Coaches Association President, a position that he has moved up into after being nominated to be the Secretary during the 2008-2009 season, then the Vice-President during the 2009-2011 seasons.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to be selected to coach Team USA in the upcoming Junior World Cup at Chukyo Golf Club in Japan,” said Harrington. “Being able to represent the United States and wear my country’s flag on my chest or sleeve is one of the greatest honors that an athlete or coach can have. Some of the biggest names in golf have represented Team USA over the years in the Junior World Cup and I am very excited to say that this year should be no different. We have a very powerful team comprised of some of the biggest names in junior golf with Adam Wood, Cameron Champ, Scott Scheffler, and Ben Balter representing Team USA. In my short time getting to know these young men, the most refreshing thing is the fact that they all understand what an honor it is to be selected to represent Team USA and I know they will represent Team USA with tremendous pride!”

Balter is a two-time FCWT All-American and three-time Naples News All-Area High School Golfer. The lone returner from last year’s US Junior Golf World Cup team, he placed 12th in the 2012 event. Balter placed fourth in the Ouiment Amateur and 24th at the Scott Robertson.

Champ was a member of the winning U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team in 2012. He was a First-Team Roelex Junior All-American. Champ finished in the top 10 at this year’s Memorial Amateur, Azalea Invitational, HP Boys Championship and AJGA Puerto Rico Open. Also had top 10 showings at the AJGA PING Invitatioanl and Junior PGA Championship in 2012.

Scheffler was a member of winning U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team in 2012. He is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American and Two-time Wyndham Cup West Team Member. Scheffler has advanced to match play three times at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He placed second at the HP Boys Invitational this spring. In 2012, Sheffler was medalist at the Polo Golf Junior Classic before finishing runner-up. He also placed in the top 10 at the Jones Junior Cup, The PING Invitational, Rolex Tournament of Champions and Thunderbird Invitational.

Wood is a First-Team Rolex Junior All-American. He won both the Western Junior Championship and Polo Junior Golf Classic. The also placed in the top 10 at the Memorial Junior presented by Border Energy, Junior PGA Championship and Junior Orange Bowl.

The Junior Golf World Cup, which follows a four-players-count-three scores format, will consist of four rounds played June 18-21. The TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2013 Supported by JAL is the world’s only junior golf championship in which 12 national teams, winners of regional qualifiers held across 6 continents and participated by more than 60 national teams, compete for the world champion trophy.

Follow Team USA during the event here - http://collegiategolf.com/Junior-Golf-World-Cup/home.html.