There are more and more choices for junior golfers added each year to the state golf schedule, but the Mike Bencriscutto Junior Masters continues to be one of the pre-eminent junior tournaments in the state.

Being the only junior match play tournament in the state doesn't hurt.

The majority of the best players in the state continue to come to Racine's H.F. Johnson Park Golf Course for the Junior Masters, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

The tournament has 169 players this year, down from 185 last year. The tournament has a cap of 200 entries and entries had to be turned away for many years until recently, when the competition from other events has grown. During the week of the Junior Masters, there are four Wisconsin PGA Junior Tour events, two Future Tour events and two Players Tour events, including a two-day event at the Racine Country Club and Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The junior tournament scene has been flooding, like we were in June," tournament official Bob Sadlon said. "There's way too much going on to have to choose."

But the players who have chosen to play in the Junior Masters make the field is as strong as ever.

"It might be smaller field, but it's a good field," Sadlon said. "It's a nice number to manage. We won't have to worry about finishing in the dark."

Leading the way is Lee Swan of Portage, who last year became just the fifth back-to-back Junior Masters champion and second in the 16-and-under age division. If he plays like he has the past two years in match play, he could become the first three-time Junior Masters champion.

The other 16-under finalist, Tim McCormick, returns and also moves up to 18-under.

The older division will not be easy.

The favorites in the 78-player field may be Anthony Aicher of Wausau, Jeff Groose of Brookfield and Ryan Prickette of Neenah, who were named to the Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association All-State first team.

Prickette is no stranger to the Junior Masters - he was a two-time 16-under finalist, winning in 2005. Prickette will be busy Monday - he will be at the Hartford Golf Club in the morning to try to qualify for the Wisconsin State Open, then will head to Johnson Park for his 1:40 p.m. tee time.

Others to watch in 18-under are Cam Fuller of Sturgeon Bay, who was fourth in Division 3 at the WIAA State Tournament, and Michael Hesselman of Janesville, who was second in Division 2 at the WIAA State Tournament, third at the WPGA Junior Championship and is No. 1 in the WPGA Junior Tour points race.

There are seven Racine County players in the 18-under field, including Kyle Hinz of Waterford and Alex Sullivan and Mack Wallace of Burlington.

No Racine County player has won a Junior Masters title since Steve Borzynski of Racine in 2001, but through sheer numbers, there could be one in the 16-and-under division this year. There are 22 Racine County players in the 91-player field, including a few proven talents.

Leading the county group are All-Racine County high school player of the year John Gullberg, Robbie Jacobsen and Adam Vanderheyden of Racine, Arnie Fitzwater and Jake Blatnik of Waterford and Ryan Hilton of Burlington.

State players on the watch list are Sam Frank of Oconomowoc, the WHSGCA co-Player of the Year and third-place finisher at the WIAA State Tournament; Eric Wolfe of Cuba City, who was second in Division 3 at the WIAA State Tournament; Quinn Moe of Madison, fifth in Division 1 at the WIAA State Tournament; and Alex Gaugert of Lake Geneva, who was fifth in Division 1 at the WIAA State Tournament and is second in points on the Junior Tour.

- Tournament officials always come up with some intriguing pairings for stroke-play qualifying and this year is no exception.

In 16-under, there is an all-Case High School threesome of Gullberg, his brother Jimmy and teammate Robert Kay teeing off at 7:24 a.m. Monday and 10:28 Tuesday.

There are two other foursomes featuring three local players, including the three Ts of Tony Purdy and Tyler Kamakian of

Racine and Teddy Ruetz of Franksville playing with Ben Ehlers of Baileys Harbor.

In 18-under, there are the three Brandons (Panka of Racine, Perry of Oak Creek and Wilson of Monroe) playing with McCormick.

35th annual Mike Bencriscutto Junior Masters State Match Play Tournament.

WHEN: Monday through Friday.

WHERE: H.F. Johnson Park Golf Course.

SCHEDULE: Two rounds of stroke-play qualifying beginning at 7 a.m. both Monday and Tuesday in the 18-and-under and 16-and-under age groups. The top 32 players in each age division advance to match play, which begins Wednesday. Winners will play two matches per day leading up to Friday's 36-hole final matches.

LAST YEAR'S FINALISTS: In 18-and-under, champion Matt Haase of Medford turned 19 and is ineligible and runner-up Chad Ebert of Kenosha is not entered. In 16-and-under, Lee Swan of Portage won his second straight title last year and moves up to 18-under this year, as does runner-up Tim McCormick of Madison.

COURSE CHANGE: Like it did for the Racine Tri-Course Amateur Championship, the par-5 10th hole at Johnson Park will be played as a par-3 during qualifying Monday and Tuesday because of damage from last month's floods and the course will play at par-70. The hole may be played as normal during match play, but a decision will not be made until after qualifying.

ADMISSION: Free; spectators are welcome and encouraged to come out and follow the players all week.