GIELOW WINS FIRST AJGA TITLE IN WINDSOR
Pressel defends Girls Division title in sudden-death playoff

WINDSOR, Ontario - After playing in his first full AJGA event, Brendan Gielow of Muskegon, Mich., has secured his first AJGA title with a 6-under-par 207. Defending champion Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., held on to her title after winning on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff and finished with a 2-over-par 218.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior featured 105 players with boys and girls, ages 13-18, representing 13 states and Canada, including 50 Ontario natives. The 54-hole event was held at the Roseland Golf and Curling Club.

Gielow (67-66-74-207) only had one birdie on the day but still managed to keep his place atop the leaderboard.

"I couldn't get anything going," the 15-year-old said. "I kept in there, though, and I am really happy that I played well."

Gielow's only other AJGA event ended early after he had to withdraw due to an injury at last year's AJGA Junior All-Star Classic at Midland.

"My goal this time was to just finish the round," he said. "I came in thinking that it is only a one-day tournament. I had to play my own game and the course and not worry about what the other players were doing."

Gielow hopes his next tournament will be the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

Ryan Brehm (67-71-71-209) of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., took second after three rounds of play. Brehm's key to success was playing well on the par-5s.

"I birdied all of the par-5s," the 17-year-old said. "My bunker play also went well today."

Brehm next plans on competing in the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior in Harbor Springs, Mich., in early July.

"I hope I can be in contention again on the last day and pull out a win," he said.

In the Girls Division, Pressel pulled ahead of Amber Prange of Noblesville, Ind., for the win after three holes of a sudden-death playoff. Pressel recently won the Buick Junior Open presented by Golfweek.

"It's great to win," the 15-year-old U.S. Women's Open qualifier said. "It's a good feeling to accomplish my first multi-win year."

Pressel (74-72-72-218) will start her first round of competition in the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday in Portland, Ore. She and six other AJGA members will be competing against the LPGA's best.

"I'll have to play better to make the cut, but it will be fun," Pressel said.

Prange (74-72-72-218) was still happy with her performance after her sudden-death loss to Pressel. The 18-year-old only had 12 putts on the front nine.

"I let Morgan creep up on me," she said. "I had too much adrenaline and 3-putted on the 18th. I'm disappointed I didn't win, but I still hung in there."

Prange will be attending the University of Washington on a golf scholarship in the fall. She later hopes to land a spot on the LPGA tour.

For more information on the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior, contact the AJGA at (770) 868-4200.

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