By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – West De Pere High School senior Jamozzy Skenandore headed west late last week to participate in the 2019 PURE Insurance Golf Championship in Pebble Beach, California.
The PURE Insurance Championship is the only event of its kind in which 78 junior golfers are teamed with 78 PGA Tour Champions players and 156 amateurs during an official PGA Tour Champions tournament.
The event is Sept. 24-29 and will air on the Golf Channel.
The juniors, ages 14 to 18, were selected by a national panel of judges based on their understanding and application of the values and life skills learned through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability.
Skenandore and his family took a less-than-traditional route to the tournament.
“My family and I will travel in our RV,” said the 17-year old Skenandore, who is from De Pere. “We travel a lot this way to out-of-state tournaments – I like it. It’s more relaxing, and we get to see different parts of the country. It’s a 2,300-mile trip and will take us three days to get to Pebble Beach.”
Skenandore said his 13-year-old sister, Skye, and his parents, Shoney and Rhonda, will also be going to California with him.
The family plans to stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a round of golf before moving on to their final destination.
This year’s field of professionals includes World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen – who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last month in Pebble Beach – as well as defending champion Ken Tanigawa.
Amateurs Condoleezza Rice and Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) have also competed in the past.
Of the 78 juniors playing this year, 41 percent are girls and 50 percent are minorities.
Twenty-seven states from 52 First Tee chapters are represented in this year’s junior field.
“I’m really looking forward to the tournament,” said Skenandore, whose first name is derived from a combination from the rock band Pearl Jam and Ozzy Osbourne. “It’s a chance for college coaches to see what I can do as well. This is a big step for me because I’m hoping to get to the PGA Tour someday. I don’t know which pro I’ll be paired with, but I asked to have [Wisconsin native] Steve Stricker in my foursome. I’m hoping this happens.”
Skenandore learned to play golf at 3 years old.
His first memory was accompanying his dad to play in a golf scramble for his bachelor party.
He was in a group with his dad, grandpa and his Uncle John.
At one point, they were on the green and looking at a very long putt.
Skenandore wasn’t supposed to hit the ball, but he did.
The ball kept going and going and went in.
Skenandore, who hopes to qualify for the WIAA state tournament next spring, finished second in the fall of 2018 at a Hurricane Golf Tour tournament at TPC Deere Run in Illinois.