GLENDALE, CA, July 12, 2016 - The California State Qualifier of the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship took place July 11th and 12th at the Oakmont Country Club. After competing in local qualifiers around the state, 68 golfers advanced to Oakmont CC to see who would move on to the National Championship which will be held the first week of August at the Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento. California is allotted 5 spots for boys and 2 for girls based on the local qualifiers.

In the boys division, Raymond Navis of Nipomo was the low qualifier shooting a 2 under, 142. Bradley Reeves of Woodbridge and Noah Woolsey of Murrietta were 1 shot back shooting 143. The final two qualifiers in the boy's division were Keith Moles of Santa Maria (146) and Justin Gums of Lodi (149).

The girls division was captured by Noor Ahmend from Folsom shooting 147 and the second and final qualifier was Leila Dizon from Los Angeles shooting 151. 

Beginning in 1969, Trusted Choice Big "I" has grown into one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States.  More than 2,500 youngsters from across the United States play annually in state and local qualifying rounds for an illustrious trip to the Trusted Choice Big "I" National Championship to be played this year at the Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, CA, Aug. 1 - 4, 2016.

The months leading up to the Trusted Choice Big "I" National Championship include several grueling rounds against many of the country's top junior players. 

The state and local qualifying tournaments have become fierce battlegrounds on which youngsters must combine hard work, commitment and dedication, and hopefully avoid running into a future Tiger Woods or Billy Andrade. Woods and Andrade, both two-time winners of the Big "I" are just two former participants who eventually wound up on the PGA Tour. The list of tournament alumni reads like a PGA Who's Who: Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson, Justin Leonard, Webb Simpson, Jonathan Byrd and more.

In 1993, the Big "I" established a girls' division to promote similar values among female student-athletes. Some former participants, including Trusted Choice Big "I" champions Beth Bauer (1997); Grace Park (1996) and Cristie Kerr (1994, 1995) are leaving their mark on the sport.

The Big "I" is sponsored nationally by more than 300,000 members of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), and in Glendale by local Trusted Choice Insurance Agents. IIABA is the nation's oldest and largest association of small business owners who offer all lines of insurance property, casualty, life and health.

Special thanks to Committee Members Roger McCollum, Scott Bedell, Rick Dinger; and volunteers, Ken Turknette of Bolton & Co., Mark Miranti of Shaw Moses Mendenhall, Ian Martin & Charlie Deaver of Cornerstone, Taylor Williams & Greg Johansing  of Arroyo, John DeSpirito of A.J. Longo, Bo Courtney of Cooper & McCloskey and Johnny Brittan & Kristor Meister of Hospitality General Insurance.

In addition, special thanks goes out to the event sponsors: Nationwide Insurance, Jeff Short of Partners Specialty Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Central Coast I Day, IBA of San Diego, Brad Freer of A Nice Guy American Strategic Insurance/Progressive, AmWins, Robert Zeiman of IOTEC (Office Technology Supplier), Safeco Insurance, Andrea Zenner of Western Security Surplus, Monarch Excess & Surplus, Patrick Longo of Andy's Transfer & Storage, Mathew Glassman of TOPA Insurance Company, Don Pickard of TCP Insurance, Marjorie Yamat of The Hartford and Brian Novoa of Heartland Payroll Services.

For more information about the Trusted Choice Big "I" qualifying tournament, call local chairperson Rick Dinger at 818-414-2758.