AJGA BOYNE HIGHLANDS JUNIOR

Boyne Highlands Resort – Moor Course

Harbor Springs, Michigan

July 26 – 29, 2004

FIRST-TIME CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN HARBOR SPRINGS

Pike and Maunu capture titles at AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior

HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. —  Brandon Pike of Huntington, Ind., birdied the final two holes of the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior, to outlast a pack of four other players and claim the Boys Division championship.  Pike finished with a final-round 2-under-par 70 and earned his first American Junior Golf Association victory.  Lisa Maunu of St. Thomas, Ontario, won the Girls Division, posting a 75 for her last round.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior was a 54-hole stroke play event being held at the Boyne Highlands Resort – Moor Course.  The tournament featured 144 of the nation’s premier junior golfers from 17 states and Canada.

Pike finished the week at 5-under-par 211, after recording first and second rounds of 74 and 67.  Pike, whose previous best finish was a tie for 14th at the 2004 Subaru Open at Andover, relied on his putting to get him through the final round.

 “I got off to a shaky start on the front nine, but was able to ride my putter for birdies on Nos. 3, 5, and 8,” Pike said.  “ I shot a 33 on the front, which I was happy with, but then I bogeyed No. 10.”

Pike’s roller coaster ride on the back nine would continue, as he bogeyed No. 13, birdied No. 14 and double bogeyed the par-4 16th.  The drama would continue as Pike entered his final two holes.  Both the challenging par-3 17th and the 523-yard par-5 18th, lay ahead of him.

“After making double on No. 16, I figured I was out of it,” Pike commented.  “I had no idea what everyone else was doing.  My dad knew, but he didn’t tell me until after the round.  It was just a great finish."

 That finish included a birdie on No. 17 and another on 18.  Pike’s first shot on the long finishing hole went behind a tree and he was forced to hit from there.  He was able to punch out into the fairway and then stuck his third shot within four feet of the flagstick.  He followed that up by sinking his putt and securing the victory.

“I played it smart on the final hole and just told myself I had to make four here,” Pike said.  “This win feels great.  I’ve had a bit of a rough summer and to win a tournament like this one is huge.  This win was more for my confidence than anything,” Pike added.  “It was the classic way everyone hopes to win a tournament.”

Clark Klaasen of Grand Rapids, Mich., Ryan Linton of Lake Forest, Ill., Andy Connell of Lima, Ohio, and Josh Thompson of Indianapolis, Ind., all finished the tournament 2-strokes back.  Klaasen and Linton both shot even-par 72 on the final day.  Connell finished with a 76 and Thompson, the first round leader, came in with a 1-over-par 73.

The Girls Division saw another first-time AJGA champion, as Maunu was able to hold off Brianna Do, Carling Coffing and Anita Gahir.  Maunu finished with a tournament total of 8-over-par 224, after carding rounds of 69, 80 and 75.  Maunu, the leader after the first round, made four birdies, including one on the final hole.  The incoming high school senior was able to finish strong and did not know until after her round she was in contention for the win.

“I was aiming for a top-5 finish, but I had no idea,” Maunu said.  “I hit the ball well and I am still in shock.  I had a lot of family support, and this tournament means a lot because it was against very good American competition.  I cannot believe I won,” she said.

Do of Lakewood, Calif., finished in second-place with a tournament total of 9-over-par.  Coffing of Middletown, Ohio, and Anita Gahir of Thornhill, Ontario, tied for third at 226.  Both players shot final-round 78s.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

For more information about the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior, please contact the AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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