|
|
|
An
Easter Tradition
In
its 20th year of conducting tournaments over Easter Weekend,
the AJGA highlights 2004's champions
By Carla
Paschke, AJGA Communications
|
With
408 players on three golf courses ranging from Atlanta to Phoenix,
the AJGA’s Easter Weekend lived up to its reputation of
being prime real estate on the AJGA schedule.
What started 20 years ago as a single event has turned into
three that span the country and are held in high regards in
the junior golf world.
In the southeast, Patton Kizzire of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Mallory
Hetzel of Summerville, S.C., captured the titles at the TaylorMade-adidas
Golf Junior at Chateau Elan. In its 11th year, the 36-hole stroke
play event was played on the par-71 Chateau Course at Chateau
Elan Resort, home of the AJGA’s National Headquarters.
Kizzire, a first-team Rolex Junior All-American, started the
tournament strong with an opening round of 67 and finished Sunday
with a 2-under-par 69 to earn him top honors in the Boys Division.
Glenn Northcutt of Dothan, Ala., made a late charge for the
lead in the final round, firing birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17
before making a costly bogey on No. 18 to end the tournament
one stroke behind Kizzire.
"All I wanted was to go out and play another solid round,”
the 18-year-old Kizzire said. “I tried to hit the best
shots I could. That’s the way I’ve been looking
at things lately-just go hit it.”
Hit it he did, as did Hetzel who shot a 5-under-par 137 to collect
a three-stroke victory over In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., in
the Girls Division. Using the momentum of an opening round that
included birdies on Nos. 4, 6 and 7, Hetzel survived Park’s
attempts to capture the crown to win her third AJGA event.
"On the front nine, I came out playing strong, just hitting
it close and giving myself a lot of chances,” Hetzel said.
Meanwhile, in The Woodlands, Texas, rain-shortened the 20th
annual TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at The Woodlands, located
at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center’s Panther
Trail Course. The stroke play event was not short of excitement,
however, as Christopher Ward of McKinney, Texas, defeated Ryan
Myers of Flint, Texas, on the first hole of sudden death play-off
in the Boys Division.
After Myers’ shot found water, Ward played a safe shot
to the green and two-putted for par to find victory in one of
the oldest tournament’s on the AJGA’s schedule.
"I was just trying to play it like a match-play tournament,”
Ward said. “After Ryan went in the water, I just wanted
to hit the green and two-putt.
In the Girl’s Division, Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton,
Fla., took a four-stroke victory, firing a 1-under-par 71 in
the opening round and a 1-over-par 37 in Sunday’s final
nine holes to clinch the victory from The Woodlands’ local
Stefanie Page.
"I totally changed my style of play this weekend,”
Pressel said. “I’m usually more aggressive, but
because of the weather, I had to be much more conservative.”
Pressel was not the only one thinking strategy. In Mesa, Ariz.
at the Longbow Golf Club, Paula Creamer of Pleasanton, Calif.,
also adjusted her style to claim the crown at the sixth annual
Heather Farr Classic after entering the final round with a two-stoke
deficit.
"I knew the hole locations would be pretty tough, so I
decided not to aim right at them,” the 17-year-old said.
“Yesterday, I was trying to hit right at them and I don’t
think that worked for me.”
Creamer, 2003 Rolex Junior Player of the Year and defending
champion of the event, overtook the first-round leader Tiffany
Joh of San Diego, Calif., on No. 5 before shooting a birdie
on No. 6, fueling an impressive string of birdies on Nos. 8,
9 and 10. Creamer finished the round with a 68, setting a new
women’s competitive course record at the par-71 course.
Also breaking records was Rory Hie of Lakewood, Calif., whose
opening round total of 64 set the 18-hole Heather Farr Classic
tournament record as well as the men’s competitive course
record at Longbow.
Hie won by a six-stroke margin in the Boys Division, capturing
his first AJGA title in the 36-hole stroke play event.
"It feels good to get my first win,” the high school
sophomore said. “I am very pleased and excited for the
opportunity to play in more AJGA events this season.”
With many more events to be held, Hie along with the other five
recently crowned champions will have many more opportunities
to showcase their talent this season after beginning the season
strong with their performances this Easter. |
|
