AJGA's top players push each other to the limit

	Esther Choe was living in California, but moved to Arizona to train under coach Jim Flick. Photo courtesy of AJGA Communications

The American Junior Golf Association has named Rolex Junior Players of the Year for 28 seasons, but had never chosen a male and female winner from the same city until this year. Philip Francis and Esther Choe, who live less than a mile apart in Scottsdale, Ariz., were honored at a banquet Sunday in Sea Island, Ga. Both are 17 years old.

Francis, who is home-schooled, won five of the 10 AJGA events he entered the past year. He has won an incredible 146 tournaments -- playing all over the world -- since age 10. Choe, who won her second consecutive Class 4A state title this fall for Cactus Shadows (Cave Creek, Ariz.), won three of the nine AJGA tourneys in which she participated.

The fact that they live so close is no coincidence. They met at a tournament in 2003 while Choe was living in California. "We knew each other by reputation," Choe explained. "I knew his coach, Jim Flick, and was interested in working with him. That kind of brought us together. He is a very well known, hall of fame teacher. I always saw him on TV and in magazines."

The Choe family moved to the Scottsdale area three years ago so Esther could work with Flick, who at the time was the director of instruction at Desert Mountain Golf Club. Choe and Francis became fast friends. "Around January or February, we said let's make it a goal that we both get player of the year," Choe said. "We practiced together practically every day and we pushed each other. It was a high goal for both of us and it's so amazing to have accomplished that."

Francis, who actually set a goal of becoming the nation's No. 1 junior when he was in first grade, called the achievement "great. It's such an honor to just put my name up there with the other players."

Francis calls Choe "a really nice girl. We are really close, good friends. We practice three or four days a week together. We've hung out at a lot at tournaments and definitely cheered each other on. I was more excited for her to get player of the year than for myself."

The 77-year-old Flick, who now is the Ambassador of Golf for Taylor Made adidas in Carlsbad, Calif., calls Choe and Francis "very unusual kids. My job has been to make it fun for them and to continue learning. I stress the basic principles of competition that I learned from Bob Toski and Jack Nicklaus. I've coached Jack since 1990 and now I'm coaching his grandkids."

Flick began working with Francis when he was 6 years old. He said Francis "had a huge passion for the game. He was an average athlete, but I didn't realize his work ethic, his attitude and willingness to learn. He loves the game so much that he loves the learning process and is willing to work hard to get better. He has gradually learned his own golf swing so he can be his own coach and fix his own problems."

The veteran pro calls Choe "a total delight because of her attitude. She has struggled learning how to handle pressure. Her confidence always has been fragile. She is learning how to compete. She is a very instinctive person with a golf club in her hands. She is an extremely good athlete."