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AJGA PING JUNIOR AT THE PENINSULA CLUB
The Peninsula Club
Cornelius, North Carolina
July 14-17, 2003
SOLAN COMES OUT AHEAD AFTER PLAYOFF
Park scorches Girls Division with 13-under-par
CORNELIUS, N.C.- After a three-way sudden death playoff,
Ryan Solan of Charlotte, N.C., is the new champion in the
Boys Division of the AJGA PING Junior at The Peninsula Club
with a tournament total of 70-72-69-211. In the Girls Division,
In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., distanced herself from the field,
tying the tournament record of 13-under-par.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the PING
Junior at The Peninsula Club features 99 players, 81 boys
and 18 girls from 21 states and France. Former champions in
this event include Charles Howell III in 1995 and two-time
winner and current LPGA player Beth Bauer in 1995 and 1996.
Solan had a steady round with one lone birdie on No. 10, hitting
13 greens and having 27 putts, but felt he came alive after
he chipped-in for eagle on No. 18 to get into the sudden-death
playoff with Ryan Holler of Morehead City, N.C. and Will Shambley
of Cary, N.C.
"I had no idea I was tied for the lead," the 17-year-old
said. "I was nervous through the playoff but knew I have
been chipping and putting well lately which really helped
me."
Shambley (69-71-71—211) was knocked out of the playoff
after making par on the first hole. On the second hole, Holler
(70-70-71—211) hit an errant second shot into the water
guarding the green to make par for the hole giving Solan a
tap-in birdie putt for the win. The tournament win marks Solan's
first AJGA title.
Rounding out the Boys Division top-five was Robert Riesen
of Pinehurst, N.C. (75-69-70-214), and Walter Koelbel of Cherry
Hills Village, Colo. (75-73-66-214).
In the Girls Division, 15-year-old Park (65-68-67—200)
tied the AJGA Girls Division record for the largest winning
margin record with her 16-stroke win.
The 2002 Polo Golf Girls Junior Player of the Year had five
birdies and one bogey in her final round for a tournament
total of 17 birdies and four bogeys.
"My putting was good today," Park said. "I
had a great experience this week and feel very honored to
win this tournament."
The tournament marks Park's third AJGA win this season with
her other victories coming at the Dunlop Carolina Junior and
the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Rounding out the Girls Division top-three is Blair Lamb of
Flat Rock, N.C. (74-73-69—216), Laura Crawford of Lancaster,
S.C. (76-70-72—218) and Julie Bartholomew of Marietta,
Ga., (75-70-73—218).
For more information about the AJGA PING Junior at The Peninsula
Club, please contact AJGA headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
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