NJ Junior Golf Competition expanding schedule in 2003 The New Jersey Junior Golf Competition, now in its fourth year, is featuring an expanded schedule in 2003. The season began on June 30 at the Pine Brook Golf Course in Manalapan, which is one of 14 stops on this year’s summer circuit. Highlighting the expanded schedule will be a first-ever State Open Championship which will be played over two days (Aug. 7-8) at the Seaview Marriott Golf Resort and Blue Heron Pines. "We’re excited about starting another season," said Chuck DiLeo, who, with his wife Gina, is co-director of the NJJGC. "We believe we have the most successful junior program in the state of New Jersey and we are expanding. We had 12 events last year and this year we’ve added two more tournaments, including a first time State Open Championship." The junior golf circuit, open to both boys and girls, is broken into two divisions, Division I for players 10-14 and Division II for players ages 15-18. Since its inception, the NJJGC has provided a setting for young golfers to work on their skills while playing in a competitive environment against their peers. It has been a stepping stone for high school players and has been looked upon favorably by college coaches. "We’ve come a long way since we started four years ago," Chuck DiLeo said. "We have developed a schedule that includes some of the nicest golf courses in the state geared toward a high level of competition for ages 12-18. "We’re particularly excited that we’ve attracted players not only from New Jersey, but from New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, and as far as California," he added. "Word has spread that we provide quality competition and our tournaments are first rate." This year’s State Open Championship will be played at two courses that have hosted major events. Seaview Marriott hosted the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic last month, and Blue Herron Pines will host the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship July 14-19. Ten- and 11-year-olds will play two, nine-hole rounds, while the 12-to-18-year-olds will play two rounds of 18 holes for the first time. Also, the schedule will feature an adult-junior event on July 24 at the Cranbury Golf Course. This tourna­ment allows a ju­nior golfer to play with one of his/her par­ents. Nine holes are scored with alternate shots while the other nine are a com­bined format. The season concludes with the year-end championship at Knob Hill Country Club, Manalapan. To compete in this tourna­ment, players must have played in four regular-season events. NJJGC is the first outside organization besides high school and public golf organi­za­tions to be invited to play at the Mon­mouth County facility. The next stop on the NJJGC circuit is Royce Brook Golf Course, Hillsborough, tomor­row. The golfers will tee off at 9:30 a.m. with both Division I and Division II competing. The rest of the 2003 schedule is: tomorrow, Battleground Country Club, Manala­pan; Tuesday, Heron Glen Country Club, Flemington; July 24, Cranbury Golf Course, Cranbury; July 29, Sun Eagles Golf Course, Shrewsbury; July 31, Beaver Brook Coun­try Club, Annandale; Aug. 4, Eagles Ridge Golf Course, Lakewood; Aug. 7-8, Seaview Marriott/Blue Heron Pines (State Open Championship); Aug. 11, Woodlake Coun­try Club, Lakewood; Aug. 18, Concordia Golf Course, Cranbury; Aug. 21, Peddie School Golf Course, Hightstown; and Aug. 28, Knob Hill Country Club, Manalapan (year-end championship). To register for mem­bership and indi­vidual tournaments, visit the NJJGC Web site at njjgc.com, call (732) 683-9042 or write to Chuck DiLeo, NJJGC, P.O. Box 617, Englishtown, 07726.