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AJGA CLUBCORP JUNIOR PLAYERS
CHAMPIONSHIP
The Homestead Resort, Lower Cascades Course
Hot Springs, Virginia
July 29 - August 1, 2002
JONES CLAIMS FIRST VICTORY
AT THE HOMESTEAD
Smith tops Girls Division
HOT SPRINGS, Va. - Jared Jones of Kenova, W.Va., posted
an even-par round of 72 Thursday to cruise to victory at the
AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship, held at The Homestead
Resort's par-72 Lower Cascades Course. Rachel Smith of Powell,
Tenn., also carded even-par 72 to capture the title in the
Girls Division.
The ClubCorp Junior Players Championship was conducted by
the American Junior Golf Association and featured 120 boys
and girls from 27 states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-one
participants hailed from the state of Virginia.
Jones, who was tied for the lead entering the final round,
began the day with a birdie on the par-4, 347-yard first.
He bogeyed three of the next seven holes and then birdied
No. 8 to finish the front nine at 1-over-par. One birdie on
the back nine completed a final round of 37-35-72.
"Fifteen was probably my best birdie hole today,"
Jones said. "I was in the bunker on my second shot, but
then hit out of that to within three feet. That was a clutch
putt for me."
Jones, 17, was playing in just his third AJGA tournament.
Earlier this summer, Jones notched a second-place finish at
the AJGA Henry-Griffitts Bluegrass Junior Invitational.
"I just tried to stay positive going into today,"
Jones said. "I didn't start off as well as I would have
liked and I had a couple of bogeys that I shouldn't have had,
but I am definitely happy with the way the tournament ended."
Chris Barron (71-76-69-216) of Ashland City, Tenn., and Robert
Riesen (76-71-69-216) of Pinehurst, N.C., finished the tournament
in a tie for second place. Curtis Centracchio of Westfield,
Mass., and Greg Carlin of Kensington, Md., rounded out the
top-five tied for fourth at 1-over-par 217. Centracchio carded
the low round of the day with a 32-35-67.
In the Girls Division, Smith, 17, was four strokes behind
the leader to start the day. A final round of 37-35-72, however,
vaulted her into the lead, en route to her first AJGA victory
in four starts.
"I came into this tournament hoping to place in the top
three," Smith said. "Right now, I'm just shocked,
but I'm very excited for this win and for the chance to attend
the Polo Golf Junior Classic."
A 45-foot putt for birdie on the par-5, 479-yard second was
one of Smith's four birdies on the day.
"That putt just barely fell in," Smith said. "It
really helped my confidence when two of the four bogeys I
had today were followed by birdies."
C.J. Kim of Diamond Bar, Calif., carded 75-75-76-226 to end
the tournament in sole possession of second place. Defending
champion Whitney Myers of East Berlin, Pa., claimed third
place with rounds of 76-79-74-229.
For more information on the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship,
contact AJGA national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
#AJGA#
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