Harmon kicks off junior tournament

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, July 27, 1999 | 10:32 a.m.

Organizers for this week's Girls Junior Americas Cup couldn't have picked a more appropriate keynote speaker for Monday night's banquet than Las Vegas' own Butch Harmon.

After all, as coach of world No. 1-ranked Tiger Woods, Harmon already has helped take a talented up-and-comer where every 18-and-under player in the tournament's field of 68 hopes to be someday.

"I grew up playing junior golf," Harmon said. "It's something I love to be a part of. It's a wonderful opportunity for these young ladies to play the greatest game in the world."

Harmon has coached Woods since the California native was a college student at Stanford in 1993. His address Monday night kicked off the three-day event, which began this morning at Stallion Mountain Golf Course.

The tournament, which has been held annually since 1978, will feature team competition between foursomes from 11 states, along with Canada and Mexico.

And, according to Harmon, this week's competitors need look no further than his most successful student for a shining example of how to conduct themselves, both on and off the course.

"I've been with Tiger since he was 16, and he's matured a lot as a person and a player," said Harmon, who travels to about 12 tournaments with Woods each year. "He's taken his weaknesses and made them into strengths."

Right now, those strengths have Woods at the top of his game. Already this year, he has won three PGA events and finished in the top three at three others.

"He's obviously playing the best right now that he's ever played in his life," Harmon said. "It's a maturity thing more than anything."

Harmon added that juniors can also learn a key lesson from last week's British Open, in which France's Jean Van de Velde squandered a three-shot lead on the final hole of regulation before losing in a playoff.

"You can have a tremendous amount of natural talent but if you don't make the right decisions, it can't help you," Harmon said. "A perfect example was Jean Van de Velde in the British Open. You have to control your emotions as well as your ability."

Today's opening round and Wednesday's second round feature a 6:30 shotgun start. Thursday's final round will also begin at 6:30 a.m., with the closing ceremonies slated for 2:30 p.m.

Four golfers will tee off for each team every day, with the top three daily scores from each group counting toward the overall score. Southern California, one of three squads from California, is the defending event champion.

Nevada will be represented by two teams, including a Southern Nevada foursome featuring local graduates Jordan Auten, Autumn Monteiro and Monika Lee, along with Green Valley High senior-to-be Kimberly Kindig. Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association Executive Director Jane Schlosser will serve as the team's captain.

Besides the team title, a medal will be awarded to the individual low scorer. Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, the two-time individual defending champion, is back for her final year of eligibility.