CHRYSLER AJGA BOYS INVITATIONAL
The Cardinal Golf & Country Club
Greensboro, North Carolina
June 9-13, 2003
HARMAN CRUISES TO SECOND CONSECUTIVE
MAJOR VICTORY AT THE CHRYSLER
Suh takes second; Todd, Grube and Barr
claim third place
GREENSBORO, N.C.--Brian Harman of Savannah,
Ga., has shifted his golf game into high gear over the last
month, but it was cruise control that helped him take the
title at the Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational. The 16-year-old
posted a bogey-free round Friday to finish at 5-under-par
275 and claim his second AJGA major championship in three
weeks.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The
Cardinal Golf and Country Club, the Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational
included 99 boys participating in 72 holes of stroke play.
The four-day event featured golfers from 21 states, Chile
and Japan. Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer served as the
honorary tournament chairman for the event in Greensboro,
N.C.
Seventeen-year-old Giwon Suh of Orlando, Fla., was runner-up
at 1-over-par 281 after a final round of 74 (+4). Claiming
a tie for third place were Brendon Todd of Cary, N.C., Rob
Grube of Hinsdale, Ill., and Dustin Barr of Mooresville,
N.C., at 2-over-par 282.
The win at The Cardinal is just the second AJGA victory
of Harman's career, but both have come at major championships
against elite fields. Last month, he won the Thunderbird
International Junior in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"I'm awestruck," he said after shooting 2-under-par
68 in Friday's final round. "My first two AJGA victories
come at two major championships. To beat this many good
people is amazing."
The duo of Harman and Suh entered the day tied at 3-under
par, the only members of the field under par. The two appeared
primed for a neck-and-neck finish as the day began, but
Harman pulled ahead of Suh with a smooth round that showcased
steady and conservative golf.
Friday saw the 16-year-old from Georgia card two birdies
and 16 pars. He consistently placed his ball in the middle
of the fairway and the middle of the green, consciously
avoiding trouble. Harman uncharacteristically altered his
style of play to be more conservative on the Pete Dye design
Friday, he said.
"I never got in trouble and tried to hit it in the
middle of the green," he said. "I was just thinking
middle all day. I have to really swallow my pride to play
conservatively-and I did today."
After two bogeys on the first seven holes, Suh pulled himself
to within one shot of Harman after an eagle on the 418-yard,
par-4 eighth hole. From 160 yards out, Suh knocked his second
shot from the edge of the fairway onto the green at the
flagstick. The ball then rolled three feet and dropped into
the cup, giving Suh the day's first eagle and just the sixth
of the tournament.
But it was two double bogeys by Suh on holes No. 14 and
15 that put Harman ahead for good.
"I made some horrible mistakes on the back nine,"
Suh said about hitting his tee shots into the water hazard
on both holes. "The two double bogeys really hurt me
a lot. It's a really great tournament here. I still finished
second, but my goal was to win this tournament. After two
days, I felt like I could do it."
Last year's event saw Harman race to the lead after two
rounds before coming up short and finishing tied for 16th.
He said last year's performance weighed on him as he returned
to Greensboro this year.
"I thought about (last year) a bit yesterday before
I teed off and said to myself, 'Gosh, I hope I don't shoot
74 today,'" Harman admitted. "But it never entered
my mind today-especially after I shot 67 yesterday."
Rain peppered the golf course for the second straight day,
but play was never delayed during Friday's final round.
For more information on the Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational
or any other AJGA event, contact the association's national
headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
#AJGA#
