College coaches check out juniors at national championships | Golf News and Tour Information [Video]

College coaches always flock to the U.S. Junior Championships. This year with the best boys and girls playing concurrently at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., record numbers of head coaches and assistants showed up. They’ve come to watch the kids on their wish lists, but strict NCAA rules determine how they can go about building relationships with them.

This week the coaches are mostly watching. They’ve done their scouting and know whom they’d like to sign. It gets pretty competitive with the hottest players pursued by a host of schools.

Take Jordan Spieth, for instance. Based on his semifinalist finish in the U.S. Junior in 2008, he is one of only five boys fully exempt in this year’s tournament. Walking with him on Trump’s New Course during Monday’s qualifying round were the six coaches pictured below. Each would consider it a coup to sign him. A high school junior with excellent grades, Spieth has his …