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AJGA HENRY-GRIFFITTS JUNIOR
AT FURMAN
Furman University Golf Club
Greenville, S.C.
June 3-6, 2002
BASS FIRES FINAL-ROUND 69
TO CLAIM FIRST AJGA TITLE AT FURMAN
Hetzel survives sudden-death playoff to capture Girls Division
crown
GREENVILLE, S.C. -
J.D. Bass, of Fairview, N.C., fired a final-round 3-under-par
69 to capture the Boys Division title at the AJGA Henry-Griffitts
Junior at Furman, held at the par-72 Furman University Golf
Club. In the Girls Division, Summerville, S.C. native Mallory
Hetzel defeated Blair Lamb in a one-hole sudden-death playoff
to claim the title.
The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association,
featured 99 players representing 16 states, the Philippines,
Canada and Singapore. This was the second of three tournaments
Henry-Griffitts will sponsor during the 2002 season.
Bass (68-72-69-209) carded five birdies on the day to help
him break free of a four-way tie for the lead entering the
final round. After a 1-under-par 35 on the front, Bass continued
his hot putting down the stretch, connecting on a pair of
birdies on Nos. 13 and 14. Chris Kirk of Woodstock, Ga., also
birdied No. 14 and added an eagle on the 508-yard, par-5 15th
to move to within two shots, but Bass held on for the win
with four straight pars.
"I struggled some on the front nine," said Bass,
who was playing in only his fourth AJGA tournament. "I
had some good up-and-downs to save par. On the back, I didn't
hit any close, but I made some long putts."
Clint Smith of Asheboro, N.C., Zack Siefert of Simpsonville,
S.C., and Kirk tied for second at 211. Brad Doster of Winter
Park, Fla., and Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., finished the
tournament tied for fifth at 212.
Hetzel, a Polo Golf Junior All-American, started strong with
birdies on the first two holes, however bogeys on Nos. 7 and
9 left her at even on the front. Hetzel's ups-and-downs continued
on the back nine as she started out with a par on No. 10 and
a bogey on the par-5 11th.
Hetzel (73-71-75-219) then pared the next five holes before
making double bogey on No. 17 to drop into a tie for the lead.
She pared No. 18 to finish at 219 and force a sudden-death
playoff on the first hole with Lamb.
Lamb opened the playoff hole with a drive down the middle
as Hetzel pushed her tee shot into the right rough. Lamb missed
the green into the left-side bunker and Hetzel, who had never
carried a 3-iron until this tournament, hit a low punch out
of the rough and found the green. Hetzel then two-putted for
par and the win.
"I had an excellent start with back-to-back birdies,"
Hetzel said. "I thought that I might be able to go low.
I knew that Blair and Megan [Miller] would play good today,
so I tried to just step it up on the back. This is a huge
confidence builder for me. I came in with a goal of making
it to the Canon Cup, and this win will help me get there."
Lamb of Flat Rock, N.C., finished the tournament at 72-74-73-219
and Megan Miller, from Murrells Inlet, S.C., finished third
with a 5-over-par 221.
For more information on the AJGA Henry-Griffitts Junior at
Furman, contact our national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
#AJGA#
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