JOHNSON — Emily Tubert of Burbank, Calif., demonstrated clearly what she could do on a national stage Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
Now Tubert, who starts her freshman year at Arkansas in the fall, gets a chance to shine on what is soon to be her home course as she heads a field of 132 boys and girls in the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Tournament of Champions today through Friday at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson.
Tubert defeated Southern California junior Lisa McCloskey 3 and 2 to win the Women’s Amateur Public Links championship Saturday.
“It’s still unreal,” Tubert said of the victory. “The field was so strong with some of the top collegiate players in the country, the top juniors and some international players. To be the last one standing, it’s unbelievable. I don’t think I can totally grasp what it means at this point.”
Tubert, 18, didn’t have much of a chance to reflect before heading to Johnson for her practice round at the Tournament of Champions on Monday morning. She’ll be one of the favorites this week at Blessings, a course she fell in love with during recruiting visits all over the country last year.
“It’s the most beautiful course I’ve ever been to,” said Tubert, who chose Arkansas over offers from Texas, UCLA, California, Duke, Texas A&M and numerous others. “I’m going to get better just by playing this course. I’m really excited to see what kind of scores will come in.
“There’s a chance for some really good scores, with the greens rolling really well, but there’s also a risk for some high numbers. To see what the top juniors in the country are going to do here is really exciting.”
As the longest-running tournament on the AJGA circuit, the Tournament of Champions is now in its 33rd year. Past champions include such PGA and LPGA stalwarts as Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Morgan Pressel, Grace Park and In-Bee Park.
Blessings hosted the AJGA Arkansas Junior the past two years, leading into getting the Tournament of Champions.
Both of last year’s AJGA Arkansas Junior winners, Matthew Mabrey of Little Rock and Emma Talley of Princeton, Ky., will compete in the Rolex this week.
Victoria Tanco of Bradenton, Fla., the 2009 Tournament of Champions champion and two-time defending Rolex Player of the Year, joins Talley and Tubert as favorites on the girls side.
The Razorbacks also have a signee in the boys field at Blessings this week. Will Pearson of Memphis should contend for the Tournament of Champions title after finishing in a third-place tie at the AJGA Arkansas Junior last year. Tubert also tied for third at Blessings a year ago.
AJGA tournament director Jeremy Freyman said Blessings was an ideal f it for the Tournament of Champions because of its ties with the Razorbacks.
“It’s a good opportunity for the university to showcase what they have to offer from a recruiting standpoint,” Freyman said. “We have several events at university golf courses. It was pretty much in the works about three years ago.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 06/29/2010