Girls Junior America’s Cup golf is Modesto-bound

Seventy-two elite junior golfers are traveling to Modesto for fun, companionship and competition.

The 39th annual Girls Junior America’s Cup Team Matches, featuring invited players from golf associations throughout the West, including Mexico and Canada, comes to Del Rio Country Club for a 54-hole tournament beginning Tuesday.

The Junior Golf Association of Northern California, which sends a team to this event each year, serves as the host. No local golfers were selected for the JGANC team this year, but Modesto’s Jim Toal, the organization’s chairman, will serve as team captain.

“This is a high-level competition, and it’s great to see the girls having fun,” said Toal, the former head professional at Ripon’s Spring Creek CC. “We always enjoy the tradition and the pageantry. The opening and closing ceremonies are special.”

The progam begins with the opening ceremonies, which are patterned after the Olympics. The 18 teams will be introduced at Del Rio on Monday at 5 p.m., followed by a dinner. Sofie Aagaard, the Cal Poly women’s golf coach and a former three-time All-American at Cal, will be guest speaker.

Del Rio is no stranger to top-tier women’s amateur golf. The Modesto club welcomed the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 1976, the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in 1990 and the Women’s Trans National in 1986 and ’94. Amateur icons such as Carol Semple Thompson (1986), Anne Sander (1990) and Ellen Port (’94) have taken home first-place trophies from Del Rio.

“There wasn’t even a question when we were asked to host. We are excited about it coming here,” said Duncan Reno, Del Rio manager. “Our course sets up perfectly for women’s championship golf.”

Only this time, the field consists of girls aged 14 to 17, all invited due to their success in their respective junior golf circuits. All will stay at the homes of Del Rio members.

The JGANC team is Angela Bagasbas of San Ramon, Quynn Duong of San Jose, Sienna Lyford of Roseville and Marie Dean of Davis.

In the past, local entries such as Mabel Wong, Brooke Riley, Shawnee Martinez, Debbie Burris, Angie Burkett, Diane Dickman, Keri Arnold and Dana Arnold-Ebster have competed for the JGANC in the America’s Cup. Wendy Stuart, JGANC board member and former Del Rio assistant pro, is the event director.

“It’s a showcase for college coaches and a reward for players who’ve done well,” said Arnold-Ebster, who played for two America’s Cup title teams, in 1985 and ’87. “I have good memories of our wins in Montana and Mexico.”

The format calls for three rounds of stroke play, with each team counting its three top scores each day. An individual champion also will be recognized.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Girls Junior America’s Cup golf is Modesto-bound."