Wendling Named HP Scholastic Junior All-American
Published on October 7 2013 2:36 pm
Last Updated on October 7 2013 2:36 pm
Written by Millie Lange
BRASELTON, Ga. – Jackson Wendling of Effingham, has been named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American and the essay contest winner, the American Junior Golf Association and HP announced Monday. Since 1988, the team has recognized 12 young men and 12 young women who demonstrate the ability to excel both on the golf course and in the classroom.
A junior at Effingham High School, Wendling is the 2013 winner of the HP Scholastic Junior All-American essay contest with a piece titled “A Great Ride.” Wendling, who boasts a 3.87 GPA, is active in his community junior sports initiatives. Wendling serves as the Effingham High School class of 2015 treasurer. His best showing of the year came at the Bass Pro Shops / Payne Stewart Junior Championship where he collected his second top-10 finish of the season and tied for fourth.
To be eligible to apply for the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, boys must have placed in the top 10 of an AJGA Open or Invitational, while girls needed a top-five finish. The selections were then based on grade point average, class rank, SAT/ACT/PLAN/PSAT scores, community service and writing ability. Candidates were required to submit an essay no longer than 500 words on an original topic relating to golf.
“HP has sponsored the AJGA for 18 years and is once again proud to recognize outstanding academic, athletic, and community service achievements with the naming of the 2012 HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team,” said John Dayan, Vice President, Hewlett-Packard. “The AJGA, working closely with parents and players, strives to prepare these young adults for life in college and beyond, by instilling honor, integrity, perseverance, and sportsmanship.”
The HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team will be honored at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet, Nov. 24, at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. By being named to this team, each player is also eligible to participate in the Polo Golf Junior Classic, one of the most prestigious events in junior golf, which will take place on PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion and Fazio Courses, Nov. 23-29.
Former HP Scholastic Junior All-Americans have gone on to successful amateur, collegiate and professional golf careers, including Casey Martin (1989), Wendy Ward (1990), Kellee Booth (1992), Matt Kuchar (1994), Scott Langley (2005) and Patrick Rodgers (2009, 2010).
For more information, contact Stephanie Dittmer (sdittmer@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1797, or visit ajga.org.
