AJGA NEEDHAM JUNIOR AT DIABLO GRANDE
Diablo Grande - The Legends West Course
Patterson, California
August 11-14, 2003
SAVAGE GARNERS FIRST AJGA WIN
Lee claims fourth AJGA victory
PATTERSON, Calif. -
Matt Savage of Scottsdale, Ariz., carded a final round 74
then battled through a two-hole sudden-death playoff to
claim his first AJGA victory at the 2003 AJGA Needham Junior
at Diablo Grande Thursday. Jennie Lee of Huntington Beach,
Calif., claimed her second AJGA victory of the season and
fourth of her AJGA career, after carding a final round 3-under-par
69.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA
Needham Junior at Diablo Grande was held at the par-72 Diablo
Grande - The Legends West Course and featured a field of
72 boys and 27 girls from 10 states and South Korea.
Savage's first win came in his penultimate AJGA event of
his career on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff
after making birdie on the 440-yard par-4 18th hole to defeat
Jamie Puterbaugh of Carlsbad, Calif. Puterbaugh shot 67-74-69-210
to take second place.
"I surprisingly wasn't
too nervous," said Savage of the playoff. "I just
tried to hang in their heading down the stretch. I really
wanted to win and felt confident that I would."
Savage's round included 13 greens and 12 fairways in regulation
and featured two birdies.
"I hit the ball a lot better than I scored today,"
remarked Savage. "I putted well all day, but they just
weren't falling."
Savage was thrilled to win his first AJGA event prior to
attending Stanford University.
"It's great to win my first AJGA event," commented
Savage. "I'm so glad I got this win before I head off
to school. I've always wanted to win an AJGA event and it
has been everything that I thought it would be."
Danny Buell of San Carlos, Calif., and Kyle Stanley of Gig
Harbor, Wash., tied for third with tournament totals of
211. Stanley, a 2006 graduate, shot a final round even-par
72, while Buell carded a final round 2-under-par 70.
Billy Olsen of Fountain Valley, Calif., carded the low final
round Thursday, a 4-under-par 68. Olsen's round brought
his tournament total to 212, tying Brady Sharp of Port Orchard,
Wash., for fifth place as Sharp carded a final round 75.
In the Girls Division, 16-year-old Lee, brought her tournament
total to 215 following a final-round 69 that included six
birdies compared to only three bogeys.
"I hit the ball alright today and I didn't make many
mistakes," commented Lee.
The 2003 Canon Cup participant hit 11 fairways and 11 greens
in regulation.
"I putted really well today," remarked Lee, who
had only 25 putts in Thursday's final round. "I didn't
hit very many greens but I was able to get up and down a
lot."
Thursday's win marked Lee's fourth career AJGA victory and
second this year. Lee's other victory in 2003 came at the
AJGA Sprint Junior Golf Championship hosted by the Las Vegas
Founders in June.
"I really wanted to win, so it feels great to get another
victory," Lee said.
Lee was followed in second place by Ki-Shui Liao of Alameda,
Calif., who brought her tournament total to 216, one stroke
back of Lee, following a final round 4-under-par 68. Liao's
round included five birdies and only one bogey. Da-sol Chung
of Seoul,South Korea carded a final round 72, bringing her
tournament total to 218, taking third place honors.
For more information on the AJGA Needham Junior at Diablo
Grande or any other AJGA event, please contact the association's
headquarters at (877) 373-2542.
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