Sanders Birdies Playoff Hole to Win Emerson Junior Golf Classic
Lee finishes with eight-stroke victory at Maderas Golf Club

POWAY, Calif. — Jonathan Sanders of Chatsworth, Calif., made a six-foot putt for birdie on the first playoff hole to edge Beau Hossler of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., as the champion of the Emerson Junior Golf Classic at 4-under-par 212. Esther Lee of Los Alamitos, Calif., tied the women's course record at Maderas Golf Club with a 5-under-par 67 in the final round to claim an eight-stroke victory at 5-under-par 211.

The Emerson Junior Golf Classic was a 54-hole stroke play tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Maderas Golf Club in Poway, California. The tournament field featured 134 boys and girls ages 12-18 from eight states. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 7,094 yards while the Girls Division played at 6,113 yards.

Tied after 54 holes, Sanders knew it would take his best effort to beat Hossler in the playoff, who had won two-straight AJGA events.

“I figured I would have to at least birdie it in order to go on to the next hole,” Sanders said. “I hit a hybrid to the middle of the fairway and then had a beautiful 8-iron that spun right back to six feet from the hole. I was able to make the putt.”

Hossler came back from one stroke down following the second round to force a playoff before falling just short. Byron Meth of San Diego had the low final round in the Boys Division at 3-under-par 69, and finished in third place at 1-under-par 215. Matthew Negri of El Cajon, Calif., and Zane Thomas of Las Vegas tied for fourth place at even-par 216.

In the Girls Division, Lee, who also won the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst in July, had six birdies on a day where she also tied her personal low round. Once she was able to build some momentum early on, she was able to carry it for the rest of the round.

“After a birdie on No. 3, I was able to keep making birdies for the rest of the round,” Lee said. “I had 30 yards to the hole—I stuck it and was able to tap in for birdie.”

Amy Lee of Brea, Calif., finished in second place at 3-over-par 219 and Gabriella Then of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., finished third at 5-over-par 221.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information on the Emerson Junior Golf Classic contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200