MAINEVILLE, Ohio -- The summer's premier junior Championship, the 2008 Junior PGA Championship, kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 13, with an experienced and deep field of junior golfers from across the country competing at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio.

"We are excited to bring the Junior PGA Championship to a venue like TPC River's Bend," said PGA of America Secretary and Championship Chairman Allen Wronowski. "The level of competition will be high and Junior Ryder Cup spots are up for grabs, so we are expecting a great Championship."

After opening its doors in 2001, TPC River's Bend was named a Golf Digest "Top 10 Best New Private Course in America" in 2002 and has been rated as one of the "Best in State" by Golf Digest from 2005-08. TPC River's Bend also played host to the Kroger Classic, a Champions Tour event, from 2002-04.

The field of 156 contestants consists of one boy and one girl Champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, winners of selected national junior tournaments conducted earlier in the year, special invitees and past Junior PGA Championship winners who have not reached their 19th birthdays and have not yet started college. Included in the field are more than 15 golfers who are ranked among the top-50 golfers in the country, along with defending Champion in the girls' division, Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla.

The 72-hole competition will feature a 54-hole cut to the low 30 boys and 30 girls, including ties, following the third round of play on Aug. 15.

Both the boys' and girls' divisions will be full of golfers who are returning with hopes of building on their past success in the Championship.

Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., headlines the boys' division. Guthrie, ranked 33rd by Golfweek, will be competing in his fourth Junior PGA Championship and has never finished outside of the top-16. His best finish was in 2007, where he finished third. Joining Guthrie will be Jordan Spieth and Anthony Paolucci of Dallas, Texas. Paolucci finished seventh in last year's Junior PGA Championship and was second at the 2007 U.S. Boys Junior Championship.

Thompson would be joined in the girls' division by a strong contingent that includes Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury, Mass., the 2006 Junior PGA Champion.

The 2008 Junior Ryder Cup Team will be determined following the Junior PGA Championship, Aug. 16. The Junior Ryder Cup will be contested on Sept. 15--16, at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky.

Golf Channel will present a one-hour highlight show from the Junior PGA Championship beginning Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. EDT, with re-airings on Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 4:00 p.m.