AJGA ROLEX GIRLS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
LPGA International, Legends Course
Daytona Beach, Florida
June 9-12, 2003
CREAMER CAPTURES ROLEX GIRLS CROWN IN TWO-HOLE SUDDEN-DEATH
PLAYOFF
Jane Park places second in Daytona Beach
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Paula Creamer, 16, of Pleasanton,
Calif., captured the title at the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior
Championship in dramatic fashion. Her tournament total 71-69-71—211
tied her with Jane Park of Beaumont, Calif., for first place
before beginning their fight for the championship in a two-hole
sudden-death playoff.
The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association, featured 79 girls, representing 24 states,
Mexico, and Japan. Held on the Legends Course at the LPGA
International, 17 Florida residents were included in the
field. The Polo Golf Girls Junior Player of the Year, In-Bee
Park of Eustis, Fla., and 22 other Polo Golf Junior All-Americans
also participated.
Creamer, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open on
Monday, held the lead throughout the final round until a
challenging lie on No. 17, where she carded her first bogey
of the day. Park, however, posted a needed birdie on the
same hole that moved her to the top of the leaderboard.
The focused Creamer did not waver as she drained a 20-foot
birdie putt on No. 18 to force the sudden-death playoff.
After Park’s par on the final hole, they were sent
back to the 18th tee box to finish what they started.
Heading into the playoff, Creamer claimed it was the adrenaline
from her clutch putt that her gave the energy to finish
strong.
“I felt great going into the playoff,” Creamer
said. “That putt was key for me.”
Park and Creamer were both relentless as they garnered matching
pars on the first-hole of the sudden-death playoff. Creamer
then drained a 15-foot putt for birdie on the second-hole
of the playoff to clinch the win over Park.
“I needed a birdie to win and I knew I could do it,”
she said. “Jane is a great player and she challenged
me.”
Thursday’s win in Daytona Beach marks Creamer’s
sixth win in 2003 and her 10th AJGA career victory. After
receiving a sponsor exemption, she will play in the Wegmans
Rochester LPGA tournament next week.
Park, 16, the second-round leader, had a solid overall tournament
performance, posting rounds 70-69-72—211. She took
runner-up honors after the two-hole sudden-death playoff
against Creamer.
Rounding out the top-10 finishers, Angela Park of Torrance,
Calif., carded a final round of 71 to finish in third place
at 213, while recent U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, Morgan
Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., finished fourth with a scores
of 72-73-71—216. Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale,
Ariz., and Brittany Lincicome of Seminole, Fla., finished
tied for fifth with tournament totals of 217. Tied for seventh
place at 218 were Florida natives Christie Reed of Coral
Springs and In-Bee Park of Eustis. Jackie Concolino of Orlando,
Fla., and Mary Jacobs of Godfrey, Ill., shared ninth place
honors after posting matching scores of 219.
For more information on the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship
or other AJGA events, please contact our national headquarters
at (770) 868-4200.
