Seth Sweet of Madison has been invited to play for Team New England against Team USA in the John D. Mineck Junior Cup tournament Sept. 3-4 at the Boston Golf Club in Hingham, Mass.

The tournament showcases 40 of the nation’s top junior golfers, competing in 20 four-player, best-ball matches. The tournament runs concurrently with the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton.

Additional Photos

Seth Sweet of Madison is the only Maine player selected for Team New England in the Mineck Junior Cup. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

An awards presentation will follow play and the winning team will be recognized at the Deutsche Bank Championship’s celebration barbecue on Sept. 4.

“I got invited to play three weeks ago because I guess I’m one of the top players in New England,” said Sweet. “It’s going to be a great experience. I know a lot of the other players on the New England team.”

Sweet tied for fifth overall in last week’s individual portion of the New England Junior Championship in Brattleboro, Vt. The tournament was shortened to 18 holes because of rain. Sweet shot a 74. Maine finished fifth in the six-team event.

Sweet also played in the U.S. Junior Amateur but missed making it to match play. He was involved in a 12-player playoff for the last 10 spots of match play. Sweet double-bogeyed the first hole.

“I learned a lot about how many good junior golfers there are,” said Sweet about his experience.

Playing in the national tournament and in the New England Juniors has prepared Sweet for the Mineck Cup.

“I’m playing very well. I’ve got my game together,” he said.

Sweet is the only Maine golfer on Team New England. Last year, Team New England edged Team USA, 40.5 to 39.5, for its second straight win.

Sweet, 17, is a senior at Madison, which will have a golf team after not having one last fall because of lack of interest. Only three golfers came out for the team a year ago. Madison has seven golfers out for preseason.

“I think we’ll do all right,” said Sweet. “We have two other golfers who can shoot in the 40s for nine holes.”

Sweet is looking at possible Division I scholarship offers from the University of Idaho, University of Louisville, University of Charleston and Charleston Southern. He has already been accepted at Methodist University, a Division III power, in Fayetteville, N.C.

PAUL PIVERONAS, head instructor at The Woodlands Club in Falmouth, calls it the Maine Junior College of Golf. It’s not a two- or four-year school where one would takes courses and get a degree. Rather, it’s a golf school, currently in the planning stage, where aspiring girls’ junior golfers can take their game to the next level.

Piveronas gives lessons to golfers of all abilities, but he has built his reputation working with top amateurs and professionals, men and women. In Maine, Piveronas has worked with Jesse Speirs and Shawn Warren. Piveronas has also worked with PGA Tour pros Boo Weekly and John Senden when he visits PGA Tour events.

Piveronas has an added interest in his project. He has a 3-year old daughter, whom he hopes gets interested in golf.

Piveronas supports the work of Val Halla pro Brian Bickford and his strong junior programs. Meghan’s Camp, run by Bickford’s daughter, Meghan, was a success in its first season. It taught young girls the fundamentals and life skills, similar to what the First Tee of Maine program is doing.

Bickford also supports Piveronas’ Maine Junior College of Golf concept. Bickford acknowledges that his programs are for introducing kids to golf. He said it’s entirely up to them how serious they want to become. For girls who are serious about golf, Piveronas’ program would be a logical venue.

“I would like to get something started by the end of summer,” said Piveronas. “This is basically what I would like to do for the winter. I would like to work with 10 to 15 girls. In this climate, so often a golfer loses what he learned in the summer and has to start over in the spring. It’s a good way for them to end up the season while working on their games over the winter. The idea is to keep their interest through the winter so they won’t get far behind the kids who play year round.”

The challenge is finding a facility to house the golf school.

Piveronas has talked to other local pros about being on staff. Having taught top amateur players over the years, Piveronas knows the opportunities that exist in the form of college golf scholarships. He said they’re even greater for young women.

Piveronas can be contacted at The Woodlands Club.

TEE TO GREEN: The second annual Webhannet Charity Classic will be held Sept. 16 at Webhannet Golf Club. Last year’s tournament netted more than $50,000, which was divided among three York County charities specializing in care and support of needy children. All proceeds from this year’s event will be shared equally by Seeds of Hope, the York County Shelter Program and the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport/Arundel Food Pantry, Fuel Assistance and Snack Program. The scramble tournament begins with an 11 a.m. registration, followed by a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $100 per player or $400 per foursome. This includes a lunch, a post tournament cocktail reception and hearty hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction and raffle where Red Sox box seats for the 2012 season, two L.L. Bean sea kayaks and a Down East Lobster Bake for 10 will be offered. Registration forms and sponsorships are available at www.webhannetgolfclub.com.

The Maine Basketball Hall of Fame held their first fundraising tournament two weeks ago at Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield. Over 100 players took part in the scramble tournament that raised $6,000. The money will go toward the creation of the hall at the new Bangor Auditorium. Hall organizers are looking at holding a second tournament this fall in southern Maine. For more information, go to www.mainebasketballhalloffame.com.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

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