By John Egnot
Manager of Media Relations/Tournament Director

American Junior Golf Associatio alumnae and 2004 Rolex Junior Player of the Year Julieta Granada of Asuncion, Paraugay, took home her first LPGA tournament title Nov. 19 at the ADT Championship at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

This wasn't just a typical tournament, however. Granada became the first female in history to take home a $1 million paycheck by winning the prestigious LPGA event.

With the win, Granada capped an outstanding rookie year on tour that included two runner-ups and seven top-10s, good enough to finish second in the standings for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. The victory vaulted her to fourth place on the 2006 ADT Official Money List, trailing only Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam.

Granada at the 2004 Rolex Girls Junior Championship

The 32-player tournament field was filled through the 2006 LPGA Playoffs and was cut to 16 after Friday's second round, which happened to be Granada's 20th birthday. After Saturday's third round, the field was cut to the top eight for the final day of play. The three-day scores were wiped out, leaving Sunday's final round to determine the champion.

Granada, who fired rounds of 70-69-69 to tie for second place after three days of play, saved her best, a 68, for the round that mattered most. Granada edged Ochoa by two shots to claim the victory.

"I played very solid all four rounds," Granada said. "I managed to not make so many bogeys and managed to just play conservative and take birdies where I had the opportunity."

During her time with the AJGA, Granada built one of the most impressive resumes in junior golf history. A four-time Rolex Junior All-American and two-time first-team selection, Granada racked up six AJGA victories, as well as the 2004 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship. She was also a two-time East Canon Cup Team member (2003, 2004).

Granada after winning the Randall Parker Shootout

Granada's most impressive accomplishments in junior golf came in a 2004 season that won't soon be forgotten. In 11 national junior golf tournament, Granada never finished outside the top three. In addition to the aforementioned U.S. Girls' Junior Championship win, Granada took home titles at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., the Randall Parker Shootout at Fieldstone, AJGA Richmond Junior and the 41st Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship.

At the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, Granada fired rounds of 68-69-64–201 to win by nine shots over the impressive duo of Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lincicome.

Granada came to the United States with her mother at age 14 after receiving a scholarship to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Her father is still a greens keeper at a golf course in Paraguay. Both of Granada's parents played a large role in the ADT Championship victory. Her father came to Trump International to celebrate Julieta's birthday and to watch the tournament. Her mother was even more involved. She was Julieta's caddie.

"I'm very calm around (my mother). I'm always myself around her," Granada said. "Just to have her on the bag was very nice because I could just look at her, and I would find comfort in just looking at her. She did a great job. She didn't get confused on any yardages. She just did great."

Staying calm was key to the victory for Granada, who had seven of the world's best gunning for her in the final round. When asked what makes Granada such a good player, Ochoa, the No. 1 players on the LPGA Tour, had a simple answer.

"I think she loves pressure."