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AJGA HARGRAY JUNIOR CLASSIC
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
June 25-28, 2002
HILLSTROM, PAIK WIN AT HARGRAY
Champions claim first AJGA tournament victories
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -Ryan Hillstrom of Ft. Lauderdale,
Fla., fired a final-round 2-under-par 70 Friday for a come-from-behind
victory in the AJGA Hargray Junior Classic. Theresa Paik of
Silver Springs, Md., carried a one-stroke lead into the final
round and held on to claim the Girls Division.
The Hargray Junior Classic, conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association, featured 84 players, including boys and
girls representing 17 states. Seventeen players hailed from
the state of South Carolina.
Hillstrom (71-72-70-213) had a strong front nine, hitting
the first eight greens. On No. 5, the 17-year-old carded his
first birdie after hitting the flagstick with a pitching wedge
from 135 yards out, putting him within two feet of the hole.
Hillstrom had a one-stroke lead until a three-putt bogey on
No. 9 dropped him one behind Robin Yoo, of Bradenton, Fla.
On the back, Hillstrom made par on the first four holes before
making his move on Yoo, the leader at the time. Hillstrom
sunk a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3, 163-yard 14th to
move to one stroke off the lead. Yoo bogeyed No. 17, while
Hillstrom ran in a 10-foot birdie putt to take the lead. Hillstrom
made par on the final hole to seal his first AJGA victory.
"It's nice to get my first national win," Hillstrom
said. "I have been in the final group a few times before,
but I have never been able to hold on and win. It felt good
to get the lead and not give up any strokes and win."
Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., fired the low round of the
day, a 4-under-par 68, to finish in a tie for second with
Yoo at 214. Zack Siefert of Simpsonville, S.C., finished fourth
with a 1-under-par 215 for the tournament, and Steven Bain
of Orlando, Fla., shot even-par 216 for fifth place.
In the Girls Division, Paik (76-68-71-215) started the day
with an even-par 36 on the front nine. Paik missed several
greens, but got up and down to save par each time. Paik found
trouble off the tee on No. 10 and went on to make her only
bogey of the day; however, she followed it up with five straight
pars.
On the par-4, 338-yard 16th, Paik's drive found the rough
to the right, but she made birdie after sticking her second
shot to within four feet of the flagstick. After a birdie
on No. 17, Paik reached No. 18 in regulation and had a two-putt
for par and her first AJGA victory.
"I was nervous this morning and I didn't hit many greens
on the front, but I got up and down to save par a lot,"
Paik said. "I felt alright going into the back. I was
just sitting back and waiting for some birdies. I feel great,
getting this first win will really help my confidence."
Christie Reed (75-73-70-218) and Nicole Hage (75-71-73-219),
both of Coral Springs, Fla., finished second and third, respectively.
For more information on the AJGA Hargray Junior Classic or
other AJGA events, contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770)
868-4200.
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