Shoal Creek to host 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur

Far Hills, N.J. - Jack Nicklaus-designed Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Ala., has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site of the 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The dates of the championship are July 21-26.

Opened in 1976 and designed by the Golden Bear, Shoal Creek will host its second USGA Championship. Previously, the club was the site of the 1986 U.S. Amateur, won by Buddy Alexander.

Shoal Creek has also been the site of the 1984 and 1990 PGA Championships, won by Lee Trevino and Wayne Grady, respectively. In addition, Shoal Creek has been the site of USGA qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur as well as the Southern Golf Association Championship.

The club has also hosted the 1978 Southeastern Conference Championship, the 1992-1996 Jerry Pate Intercollegiate Tournament, the 1992 Women's Alabama Golf Association Junior Championship, the 2001 Birmingham Golf Association Junior Championship and its own Shoal Creek Senior Invitational since 1998.

"We are excited about hosting this wonderful event in Birmingham, where golf has been so strongly supported at all levels," said Max DeJonge of Shoal Creek.

Prior to 2008, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be played July 17-22, 2006 at Rancho Santa Fe (Calif.) Golf Club, and July 23-28, 2007 at Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Mo.

The U.S. Junior Amateur, open to amateur golfers 17 years of age and younger with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 6.4, is one of 13 national championships conducted by the Association, 10 of which are solely for amateurs.