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AJGA NIKE GOLF JUNIOR ALL-STAR CLASSIC AT TOFTREES RESORT
Toftrees Resort & Four Star Golf Club
State College, Pennsylvania
August 18-21, 2003
MARKOVITZ CHIPS IN ON NO. 18 FOR WIN IN
STATE COLLEGE
Sheary fires 232 to claim victory in first AJGA event
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - After his second shot on No.
18 came up short, Jimmy Markovitz of Bridgeville, Pa., was
positive that he was going to have to go into a playoff. Instead,
Markovitz chipped in for birdie to retain his one stroke lead
and win. Natalie Sheary of West Hartford, Conn., played consistently
with rounds of 77-77-78-232 to win in her first AJGA appearance.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the 54-hole
event was held at the par-72 Toftrees Resort and Four Star
Golf Club. The field featured 89 players, ages 13-15, from
22 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The field
also included 24 Pennsylvania residents.
The Junior All-Star Series was started by the AJGA in 1998
with Ty Tryon winning the inaugural event in Kissimmee, Fla.
The series has since grown annually and continues to feature
top juniors from around the country, ages 13-15. In 2003 the
series expanded to seven events with a championship being
held over Labor Day weekend near Nike's headquarters in Beaverton,
Ore.
"Coming into this tournament, all I wanted to do was
play well enough to get into the Nike Golf Junior All-Star
Championship. As the week progressed, I wanted to win,"
Markovitz said.
Markovitz (72-69-71-212) carried a one-stroke lead into No.
18 but thought he had lost it when his second shot landed
just short of the green.
"I thought it was on the green, but I also didn't realize
that Mu Hu was that close," Markovitz said. Hu of Bradenton,
Fla., landed his second shot within a foot of the hole.
"After seeing where my ball was and where Mu was, I was
just hoping to get up and down for par and go to a playoff,"
Markovitz said.
But that didn't happen. Markovitz chipped in for birdie to
hold on to his lead and walk away with the win. Hu tapped
in for birdie to finish with a 3-under-par 69 for the round
and finish second with a tournament total of 213.
"My iron play was going pretty good for me today. I hot
some good shots that left me with some good putts," the
15-year-old said. Markovitz had four birdies on the day on
Nos. 2, 13, 16 and 18.
Sheary used her consistent play to stay in the front of the
Girls Division. She finished the first round with a 77, finishing
two strokes behind Michele Grilli of Lutherville, Md. Sheary
came back in the second round with another 77 to take a three-stroke
lead over Alina Lee of Bradenton, Fla.
"I was really happy that I was able to play well and
come into the final round with the lead. But I was also really
nervous because I did not want to come out here and choke,"
Sheary said.
Sheary did not choke and came in with a 78 in the final round
for a tournament total of 232. Grilli finished the final round
with a 76 for a tournament total of 236.
"I was able to keep my drives in the fairway and go for
the greens," Sheary said. "Because I was able to
keep the ball in the fairway I was able to save a few strokes.
Then my putting started to come around after the first few
holes."
Sheary was really excited to be able to play in her first
AJGA event and even more so to pick up her first win.
"Being able to play in an AJGA event is great but now
I am really looking forward to being able to play in the Nike
Golf Junior All-Star Championship," Sheary said.
Rounding out the top-five in the Boys Division are Hu with
a 3-under-par 213 in second and Peter Uihlein of North Dartmouth,
Mass., with even-par 216. Craig Cerbins of Portage, Wis.,
finished in fourth with a 219 while Chris Rockwell of Owings
Mills, Md., comes in fifth with a 220.
Grilli finishes in second in the Girls Division with a tournament
total of 236. Alina Lee of Bradenton, Fla., and Angela Oh
of Maple Shade, N.J., finish in a tie for third with 237s.
For more information on the AJGA Nike Golf Junior All-Star
Classic at Toftrees Resort contact AJGA national headquarters
at (770) 868-4200.
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