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AJGA JOHN DEERE CLASSIC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Glynn's Creek Golf Course
Long Grove, Iowa
August 13-16, 2002
PEEVLER, REED VICTORIOUS AT
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Medalists both birdie final hole to secure title
LONG GROVE, Iowa - Cole Peevler of Keokuk, Iowa, fired
a final-round 2-under-par 70 Friday to finish at 207 for the
tournament and claim victory at the AJGA John Deere Classic
Junior Championship. In the Girls Division, Christie Reed
of Coral Springs, Fla., carded her third even-par 72 of the
week to capture her second AJGA title of the summer.
The John Deere Classic Junior Championship, conducted by the
American Junior Golf Association at the par-72 Glynn's Creek
Golf Course, featured 99 players representing 19 states and
Canada, with the majority of competitors hailing from Illinois.
Peevler, who began the day in a tie for first with Patrick
Hall of Owatonna, Minn., grabbed an early lead with a birdie
on the first hole. Peevler finished the front nine with a
one-shot lead at 1-under 35. Peevler bagged his second birdie
of the day on the par-4, 403-yard 13th, which pushed his lead
to two. After a bogey on No. 17, Peevler went to No. 18 in
a three-way tie for the lead with Hall and Mark Conlon of
Arlington, Texas.
"I told myself after my tee shot on No. 18, 'You have
to win,'" said the 15-year-old. "Even after my three-putt
on 17, I had a lot of confidence and I did not want to go
to a play-off."
On No. 18, Hall put his second shot on the back of the green
to within 20 feet of the hole. Peevler then ripped his 8-iron
from 155 yards away to within 10 feet. Hall lipped-out his
birdie putt and had two feet left for par. Peevler ran in
his 10-footer for his third birdie of the day and his first
AJGA victory.
"I knew which way that putt on 18 was going to break,
so I had a lot of confidence when I got to the green,"
Peevler said. "I had a great day. I kept making pars
and the birdies came. It feels great to get my first AJGA
win."
Hall (66-71-71-208) and Conlon (69-71-68-208) finished tied
for second, while Steve Sass of Mequon, Wis., finished fourth
at 214 for the tournament. Derrick Whiting of Carlos, Minn.,
Wesley Williams of Franklin, Tenn., Max Harres of Belleville,
Ill., Trent Leon of Dallas, Texas, and Tyler Peglow of Marshalltown,
Iowa, finished in a tie for fifth with a tournament total
of 216.
In the Girls Division, Reed (72-72-72-216) got off to a great
start with a birdie on the par-4, 357-yard first. After a
bogey on No. 5, Reed made her second birdie of the day on
No. 8 and finished the front nine at 1-under-par. However,
Taylor Leon of Dallas, Texas, was right on her tail after
a 3-under-par front nine put her three shots off the lead.
On No. 18, Reed sunk a 30-foot birdie putt to secure the title.
"I was in between clubs on 18 and I waited to see what
Taylor did before I decided what to hit," Reed, 16, said.
"I hit what I knew I could get on the green. Taylor was
on fire today, and I knew that I had to play smart and not
make mistakes. I am excited about this win and this summer."
Leon, who fired a 3-under-par 69, finished second with 218
for the tournament, and Christi Athas of Eldora, Iowa, took
third place at 227.
For more information on the AJGA John Deere Classic Junior
Championship, contact our
National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
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