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AJGA PING JUNIOR AT THE PENINSULA
CLUB
The Peninsula Club
Cornelius, N.C.
July 22-25, 2002
HAGLER ROUNDS OUT JUNIOR CAREER
WITH WIN AT CORNELIUS
Myers holds on to win in Girls Divison
CORNELIUS, N.C. - Thomas Hagler, IV,
of Ringgold, Ga., carded a final-round 72 Thursday and finished
the tournament at 3-under-par 210 to capture the title at
the AJGA PING Junior at The Peninsula Club. Whitney Myers
of East Berlin, Pa., finished with a 220 total to win the
Girls Division. Both players held on to win despite three
separate rain delays that lasted a total of nearly three hours.
The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association,
featured 99 boys and girls from 18 states, with the majority
of players hailing from North Carolina.
Hagler made his first of two birdies of the day on the par-4,
432-yard 6th and finished the front nine with a 1-over-par
36. After four straight pars on the back that were in between
the final rain delay, Hagler made a bogey on No. 14 before
making his second birdie of the day on No. 15. Hagler finished
with three straight pars to end his junior career with his
first national win.
"I am happy to end with my first national win,"
said Hagler, who will be playing golf for Augusta State next
year. "I grinded my whole round today. I couldn't get
anything going with all the rain delays we had. I just played
my game and fortunately I was able to pull it out."
Sung Back of Rossville, Ga., fired a 3-under-par 68 Thursday
for a three-day total of 211 and a tie for second place with
Ty Lefler of Apex, N.C. Frank Wrenn IV (72-71-70-213) of Greenville,
S.C., and Richie Hunt (74-68-71-213) of Elm City, N.C., round
out the top five in a tie for fourth place.
In the Girls Division, Myers recorded four birdies on Nos.
1, 9, 15 and 16. On the 16th, Myers sank a 30-foot-putt to
take her to 1-under-par for the day. Myers double-bogeyed
No. 17 and then made a solid par on 18 to seal the victory.
"I was okay after the first rain delay," said the
16-year-old. "But the second delay really got to me.
I made a good birdie on 16 but I was thinking about how Mallory
(Hetzel) was playing and doubled 17. I just told myself to
calm down and finish the round. This win gives me more confidence
heading into next weeks tournament."
Myers will continue on to the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players
Championship at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., to defend
her 2001 title.
Mallory Hetzel of Summerville, S.C, carded a 2-under-par 70
and a 222 for the tournament to finish second and Erica Battle
of Columbia, S.C., finished third at 81-70-76-227.
For more information on the AJGA PING Junior at The Peninsula
Club, contact the AJGA's National headquarters at 1-877-373-2542.
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