A field of 96 of North Carolina’s best young golfers will compete in the American Junior Golf Association’s Golf Pride Classic when the 54-hole event is held at Forest Creek Golf Club July 4-7.

The action gets under way July 4 at 1:30 p.m. with players participating in practice rounds on the Tom Fazio-designed layout.

Andrew Decker, of Greenville, won the 2010 championship with a birdie on the first playoff hole against M.J. Maguire. They had tied at 1-under-par 215.

Decker is now attending N.C. State University on a golf scholarship.

Ri Hyang Park, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., won her second consecutive title in the Girls’ Division, shooting 6-over-par 222. She is ranked No. 36 in the Polo Golf Rankings and is on the University of Miami golf team.

Tournament play begins July 5 with first- and second-round tee times running from 8 a.m. – 1:10 p.m. The final round will take place July 7. An awards ceremony will immediately follow the final round.

Guests are welcome to attend and admission is free of charge.

Some of the top juniors participating in the Golf Pride Junior Classic also will take part in the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament on July 4. The Junior-Am will have an 8 a.m. shotgun start at Forest Creek Golf Club.

An excellent opportunity to entertain clients, reward employees or enjoy a tournament round with friends, the Junior-Am allows amateurs to play alongside the future stars of the game. Tiger Woods, Charles Howell III, Lucas Glover, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel are just a few of the thousands of talented players who participated in AJGA Junior-Ams when they were teenagers.

Supporting golf at the grassroots level, Junior-Ams allow the AJGA to make contributions to local junior golf charities and programs in hosting communities.

In 2011, the proceeds of the Golf Pride Junior Classic Junior-Am will benefit the First Tee of The Sandhills and the AJGA Foundation.

To participate, contact Chris White (cwhite@ajga.org) at (678) 425-1712.

Prior to the AJGA event, an 18-hole TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifier will be held July 3 at Forest Creek. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifiers give juniors the opportunity to “play their way in” to coinciding AJGA Open tournaments or build status for entry into a future event.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 ­victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information on the Golf Pride Junior Classic, contact Ashley O’Dell (aodell@ajga. org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 227-8490.

Contact Howard Ward at howardward@att6.net