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Junior Golf“Just Call Me Christian”….Charlotte Junior Golfer – Christian CichanChristian Cichan has a littlegame he plays when he’son the first tee of a golftournament; just as the starter is readyto announce his name, he tries to guesshow it will be pronounced. Most peoplehaven’t seen it before so the variationsare wide – ‘Chi-chan? Sitch-an? Onceyou’ve seen him play, however, youwon’t likely forget the pronunciation:it’s CHEE-han.top ten finishes in his first fourevents – most recently finishing 2ndat the AJGA Junior All Star event atthe Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton,Georgia (missing a tie for firstby a single shot!).In addition to the AJGA, he finished6th at the prestigious 2009 FutureMasters Junior GolfTournament held in Dothan, Alabamaand 12th at the Optimist Internationalevent held at the PGANational Resort in Palm Beach Gardens,FL. Both events draw topplayers from virtually every stateand at least a dozen countries andare both considered ‘majors’ in theworld of junior golf.His wins have come in prestigiousregional events such as the2009 Pine Needles Invitational inPinehurst where Peggy Kirk Bell (aNorth Carolina Golf Hall of Famer)awarded him the trophy. Most recentlyhe won the 2010 Pinehurst Winter-NationalSeries at Pinehurst #6where an 18 foot putt sealed the deal ina 6-hole playoff against another topNorth Carolina junior player. NorthCarolina, by the way, is a real hot-bedfor talented junior golf – ranking 4th inthe country behind California, Floridaand Texas. Having great competitionright at home has certainly pushedChristian to practice harder and hone hisgame.In addition to his individual golfschedule, Christian plays on the VarsityGolf Team at Providence Day School asa freshman, regularly capturing medalisthonors at matches and tournaments.All of this great play has landedChristian in the top 50 junior golfers inthe nation for graduation class 2013 (and2nd in the State of North Carolina) asranked by the National Junior GolfScoreboard.After getting his start in the game atage 5, Christian played baseball, soccerChristian is a true home grown talentfrom Charlotte who is beginning toin USA for Class of 2013Christian Cichan rated in Top-50 golfersmake a name for himself on the nationaljunior golf circuit. At 6-foot, 170and basketball before deciding to focuspounds, Christian is first of all an athlete.totally on golf at age 11. Under the tute-Lifting weights with the footballlage of local swing guru Dana Rader hisplayers at 7:00 AM every morning hasgame flourished to where he is today.given him the power to pound his drivesChristian is busy readying himself300+ yards. Not bad for a 15 year old.for a big 2010 summer schedule of golf.College coaches have already begun toAt least three AJGA events, the Futuretake interest in this honor roll student atMasters and the North Carolina JuniorProvidence Day School with a +1 handicaptournament are on the docket. Hope-at his home course, TPC Piperfully, he will continue to turn heads andGlen.impress college coaches. As for theWinning championships, workinglonger term future, he would love to gohard and having fun on the golf courseto Wake Forest University and eventuallyall play a role in this teen’s life. Duringplay in the real Masters Tournamentthe school year he practices at least 15in Augusta, Georgia. Who knows,hours a week and more than 25 hours amaybe one day we’ll all be talking aboutweek during the summer – all to preparethe kid who went from the Future Mastershis game for the next major event.to being awarded the real GreenChristian regularly plays on the AmericanJacket!Junior Golf Association (AJGA)For now, though, keep an eye on thetour which, for those not familiar, isjunior golf scene and when you seewhere many of the top U.S. playersChristian step up to the first tee, you’ll(Tiger, Phil, Hunter, Charles III, etc.) gotknow he’s made it to the big time whentheir competitive fires lit. Playingthe starter pronounces his name correctlyagainst an elite field of the country’s top– “CHEE-han!”14 and 15 year olds, he has captured 2____________________________________________________________________________ CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL - SUMMER 2010 – 39