|
ASHWORTH PRESEASON JUNIOR
AT DIABLO GRANDE
Diablo Grande, The Ranch Course
Patterson, California
March 21-23, 2003
COX CONQUERS DIABLO GRANDE
WITH FINAL-ROUND 74
14-year-old edges Kim by a stroke
PATTERSON, Calif. - Jordan Cox of Redwood
City, Calif., captured the title at the Ashworth Preseason
Junior at Diablo Grande with a final-round, 2-over-par 74.
His two-day tally of 145 left him 1-over-par for the tournament.
The 36-hole stroke play event, conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association, featured 90 boys, ages 13-18, representing
six states and Canada. The tournament was held on The Ranch
Course at Diablo Grande.
The AJGA's Ashworth Preseason/Postseason Junior Series is
a boys-only series designed specifically for first-time AJGA
members or those members who have not yet participated in
an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or AJGA Nike Golf Junior
All-Star Series event.
Cox entered the drizzly final round with a one-stroke lead
over Tyler Ichikawa of Los Altos, Calif., and a two-stroke
lead over Sihwan Kim of La Mirada, Calif. Cox and Kim each
began play with a birdie on No. 1 after knocking their approach
shots to within a few feet. A bogey by Cox on No. 2 opened
the door for Kim, and he capitalized with a birdie on the
par-3 fourth hole.
Kim blitzed the first nine holes with a 2-under-par 34,
while Cox's 38 left him two strokes behind Kim heading into
the back nine.
Cox's round began to percolate on the par-3, 180-yard 11th
hole. He launched a 6-iron shot that landed 25 feet from the
cup. A long birdie opportunity now available, Cox settled
in and lined up his putt.
"I felt comfortable over the ball," said the native
of Redwood City, Calif. "It was headed right for the
heart of the cup."
The ball rolled in and Cox eased into his comeback on the
back nine. "I had a tough front nine, so that putt really
turned it around," he said.
Kim's double-bogey on No. 14 provided separation and Cox
sailed to victory with pars on the final three holes to claim
a one-stroke victory.
"The feeling of winning is indescribable," said
the champion. "It feels good to get through an AJGA tournament
because now the pressure is off."
Kim finished the day with a 1-over-par 73 to claim the runner-up
spot. Ichikawa was in contention throughout the day as well,
but finished two strokes off the lead with a final round 3-over-par
75 and a weekend total 147. Eric Mina of Fremont, Calif.,
was fourth with rounds of 74 and 76. Tied for fifth were Kevin
Horan of Marina Del Rey, Calif., Arthur Golden III of Long
Beach, Calif., and Geoff Gonzalez of Diablo, Calif., with
final scores of 152.
Now in its fourth year, the Ashworth Preseason/Postseason
Junior Series grew from eight events in 2002 to 10 in 2003.
The Series helps juniors gain the experience needed to compete
at the national level. The Preseason schedule continues March
28-30 in Hot Springs, Ark.
For more information about the Ashworth Preseason Junior
Series, please contact the American Junior Golf Association
headquarters at (877) 373-2542.
Complete Results
|
