Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette photos
	West Penn Minority Junior Golf Association members, from left, Quinn Johnson, Whitney Young, Patrice McKenzie and Rilyn Gancia watch the action yesterday at Oakmont. Click photo for larger image.
	Rilyn Gancia and Patrice McKenzie of the West Penn Minority Junior Golf Association encircle a tree that has survived at Oakmont. Click photo for larger image.

Ask a group of five sixth- to eighth-grade students who they think will win the U.S. Open and the answers, Tiger, Phil or the field, will be bounced around and deciphered by the youngsters, much like the choices that will be pitched all week by expert golf analysts.

That debate between pre-adolescents shows the game of golf is rapidly expanding from middle-aged country club members to a younger, eager-to-learn generation.

The growth of the game is something the USGA has tried to implement the past few years, and that development continued yesterday with the seventh consecutive U.S. Open Junior Day.

More than 300 children ages 6-18 took part in the event that began with a golf-shot exhibition at North Park Golf Course by Dennis Walters, who is paralyzed from the waist down, and ended with the children soaking up the full U.S. Open experience by watching the first practice round of the championship at Oakmont Country Club.

About 40 of those students came from Allegheny Traditional Academy and Sterrett Classical Academy middle schools and were members of the Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, which joined 15 other Pennsylvania and Ohio golf programs in taking part in yesterday's festivities.

While speaking to the gathering of children at North Park, USGA grants committee chairman Jim Bunch explained the values learned in golf could be carried on as kids mature into adults.

"These life lessons, you don't even know you're learning them," Bunch said. "But you'll get them, and we're so proud to be able to support the game of golf so that kids like you can learn it and it can stick with you through your entire life."

The day began for the children with Walters' trick-shot exhibition in which, among other things, he showed off his skills with his favorite 3-iron, a shaft with three club heads attached at the end.

North Park also hosted a "Drive, Chip, and Putt" event before students were shuttled to Oakmont, the site of the 107th U.S. Open, which kicks off Thursday.

The day was no regular field trip for the students, who visited one of golf's most historic and well-known courses. Children were left speechless at times as they wandered through the walkways of the 7,230-yard course, coming within feet of players such as 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson and the most popular player in the game, Woods.

Lee Janzen and Vijay Singh were among the players who teed off in the early afternoon, honing their crafts as the possible future of the game looked on with delight.

Donna McMannus, parent engagement specialist for Allegheny Traditional, served as a chaperone for the school's students. She said golf superstars such as Woods and Mickelson are quickly becoming household names for young sports fans and are inspiring a younger generation to take up the sport.

"You ask these kids who [Woods and Mickelson] are, and they know," McMannus said. "I didn't have that growing up."

McMannus added that increased community involvement also has led to more youth participation.

"Kids won't golf unless their parents golf. If your parents aren't golfing, how are you going to be exposed to this other than through school?"

Nathaniel Kaib, a seventh-grade student at Allegheny Traditional, was one of many who experienced the first day of a seven-day pandemonium known as U.S. Open week.

Kaib, like many of his peers, didn't seem bothered by the long lines at concession stands and merchandise tents, evidence that the U.S. Open mayhem has few rivals in the sports world.

Kaib said he became interested in golf after his two older brothers were part of the Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, and he's glad he opened his eyes to the sport.

"It's different from other sports. In other sports, you can't really hit a ball 300 yards," Kaib said jokingly.

As expected, Kaib offered a prediction for the weekend. Although Woods is his favorite golfer, in the Tiger vs. the field debate that arises in every major championship, he's taking quantity, not quality.

"There's so much more players in the field than [Woods]," Kaib said. "Somebody's bound to have a good couple of holes."