|
AJGA NIKE GOLF JUNIOR ALL-STAR CLASSIC AT
AMES
Veenker Memorial Golf Course
Ames, Iowa
June 2-5, 2003
HU TOPS JONES FOR VICTORY
IN AMES
Fish Records Low Score of Day en route to Girls Division
win
AMES, Iowa -
Mu Hu of Bradenton, Fla., carded a 1-over-par 73 Thursday
to capture the title in the Boys Division of the AJGA Nike
Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Ames after defeating Mark
Jones of Odessa, Texas, on the first hole of a sudden-death
playoff. Edging out a win in the Girls Division was Shannon
Fish of Spring, Texas.
The 54-hole event was held on the par-72
Veenker Memorial Golf Course at Iowa State University. Conducted
by the American Junior Golf Association, the Nike Golf Junior
All-Star Classic at Ames featured 87 players with boys and
girls, ages 13-15, representing 26 states, including four
juniors from Iowa.
Hu (69-72-73-214) felt confident and extended
his lead to two strokes after the first hole but Jones remained
close to the lead all day. After the 54th hole, Hu and Jones
(69-73-72-214) were tied for the lead. In the playoff, Hu
knocked a 3-wood from 250 yards out to within 15 feet of the
hole on the par-5 18th. He two-putted for birdie to edge Jones
and clinch the championship.
"Today my strength was putting under
pressure," Hu said. "I sunk two 6 foot, left-to-right
downhill putts."
Rounding out the top four in the Boys Division
were Jonathan Khan of Tucson, Ariz., with a 73-72-72-217,
and Arnond Vongvanij of Bradenton, Fla., with a 77-74-69-220.
In a tie for fifth were Adam Hogue of Plymouth, Mich., with
a 76-72-73-221, and Philip Francis of Scottsdale, Ariz., with
a 72-71-78-221.
Fish, the champion of the Girls Division,
gained momentum after recording a birdie on the first hole,
a 400-yard par-4.
"I pitched in from 65 yards on the first
hole," said Fish. "It really set the tone for the
rest of the day."
Fish's final-round score of 77 was her best
of the week.
"I stayed mentally stronger during this
round," explained Fish. "My goal for today was to
play good for myself and not worry about winning the tournament."
Finishing close behind the leader in the Girls
Division were So-Hyun Park of Bradenton, Fla., (86-77-82-245)
who finished in second, and Bethany Leclair of Scottsdale,
Ariz., (83-78-85-246) who finished third.
Hu and Fish will receive two tournament exemptions
into AJGA Open events and an invitation to the Nike Golf Junior
All-Star Series Championship in Portland, Ore. The top-eight
boys finishers and the top-three girls finishers will receive
an invitation to the Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series Championship.
For more information on the AJGA Nike Golf
Junior All-Star Classic at Ames, contact the AJGA at (877)
373-2542.
#AJGA#
|
