The Doug Sanders International Junior Championship

 

 

The Sanders International is now accredited and a "Counting Event" for 2008
in the R&A World Golf Ranking Championships Limited, The R&A St. Andrews, Fife Scotland.

 

After a successful professional career where he now stands as the 32^nd most decorated player in the history of the US PGA Tour, Doug Sanders had always wanted to give something back to the game. His dream came true in the form of the Doug Sanders International Junior Golf Championship. For over 20 years, Doug has sponsored this competition which brings together young players from six continents for an annual competition. In 2008 the Championship moves to the United States having mostly been played in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Acknowledged as the most prestigious and longest running privately funded International Junior Championship in the world, the Doug Sanders Junior International began in 1978. 

Stephen Keppler of England won the first Doug Sanders International Junior Championship in 1978. The event has since been won by Steve Elkington (Aust), Andrew Magee (US), Daniel Chopra (Sweden), Adam Scott (Aust) and has seen winners from 10 different countries.

Swedish players have recorded notable success in the Doug Sanders Junior.  1989 winner Gabriel Hjertstedt became the first Swedish player to win 2 US Tour events while Fredrik Jacobson, who won in 1992, has recorded three international victories and currently plays the US Tour. He has twice represented Sweden in two World Cups. 1991 winner Daniel Chopra has had 2 Nationwide victories along with 9 international wins. Chopra also plays the US Tour. Magnus Persson a winner in 1981 played the European Tour for two decades and focuses more on course design today. Frederik Lindgren followed his success in 1983 with a number of years playing the Challenge and European Tours.

A number of notable players were not able to secure victory in this event but recorded later success in different world tours. Billy Mayfair of the US was runner-up behind Frederick Lindgren (Sweden) in 1983 and then made the American Walker Cup team in 1987 before turning pro while Scot Andrew Coltart was runner up to Christian Cevaer of France in 1987. Bradley Hughes who has won the Australian Masters was third behind Kenny Walker of Scotland in 1984.

The Doug Sanders Junior final was played in Aberdeen, Scotland from 1981 to 1996. In 2008 it will be played in the US.

To see how highly the Doug Sanders Junior is rated by those who have played the Championship you only have to look at the potted biographies of those tour players who have won. Without exception you will see their CV’s point to their Sanders success.

Today Sanders lives in Houston, Texas retired from the Senior Tour. Corporate and charity outings keep him very busy. His experience, warmth, focus and positive personality are a big part of what makes him a greatly admired golfer, teacher, and public speaker who is in great demand.

Over the years Sanders has been instrumental in assisting competitors in his International event to win college scholarships to Universities in the United States. 1980 winner Steve Elkington so impressed University of Houston golf coach Dave Williams that he offered Elkington a scholarship to play for the Cougars. At Houston he earned All-American honors twice, collected two individual Southwest Conference titles and helped Houston to two NCAA Divisional championships.

2007, November 12th - The Doug Sanders Classic
In 2007 the Doug Sanders Classic was held in Houston, Texas on November 12, 2007 at the Woodlands Palmer Course . The event was a great success. We raised much needed funds for the return of the International Junior Golf Championships next year. The 2008 venue will be announced in January, 2008.

Players from the world’s 6 continents, consisting of teams of four, two boys and two girls under 18 as at the 1st January, will participate. The teams will be selected by their national Golf Body and will be accompanied by a coach.

 

 

 

 

 

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