AJGA MORGAN RUN JUNIOR
Morgan Run Resort and Club
Rancho Santa Fe, California
June 17-20, 2002

MCGURK LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE TO CAPTURE TITLE AT MORGAN RUN
Cho edges Jun, Lee for Girls Division crown

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. - Daniel McGurk of The Woodlands, Texas, took home his first career AJGA victory after shooting a 1-under-par 70 in the final round of the AJGA Morgan Run Junior. California native Irene Cho of La Habra also carded a 70 to grab the Girls Division title.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, was held at the par-71 Morgan Run Resort and Club. The 84-player field features players from 11 states and included 65 California residents and five Polo Golf Junior All-Americans.

Though McGurk maintained even-par on the front nine, a solid performance on the final nine holes put McGurk just ahead of runner-up Zack Miller of San Rafeal, Calif., at the end of the day. McGurk nailed a birdie on the par-4 No. 13, following up with an eagle on the par-5 14th hole. Despite carding a double bogey on No. 15, another birdie on the par-5 16th hole gave McGurk a three-day total of 66-68-70-204, edging out Miller by one stroke.

"We were pretty close the whole time until No. 13 when Miller bogeyed," McGurk said. "I birdied and then made an eagle the next hole. I knew from there if I didn't make any mistakes, I would be in a good position."

McGurk attributed his final score to his cautious playing style through the last two rounds of the tournament.

"After shooting low in the first round, I tried to keep the ball in play and not make mistakes," he said.

Miller, of San Rafael, Calif., got off to a solid start, dropping birdies on holes No. 3 and 5 and landing an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. The 17-year-old Polo Golf Junior All-American also carded birdies on Nos. 11, 14 and 16, but bogeys on Nos. 13 and 15 left him with a 3-under-par 68 to tally a tournament total of 205.

Kevin Larsen of Santa Barbara, Calif., Michael Young of Jacksonville, Fla., Brandon Christianson of Valencia, Calif., and Chad Moscovic of Stockton, Calif., all tied for third place with a three-day total of 208.

In the Girls Division, despite low final round scores from runners-up Hannah Jun of San Diego, Calif., and Jennie Lee of Huntington Beach, Calif., Cho managed two birdies on the final nine to earn a three-day total of 68-72-70-210 and take the Girls title by one stroke.

"Hannah was hitting so well today and she stuck all of her shots," Cho said. "But I told myself, 'Get your head in the game and never give up.'"

Cho, a Polo Golf Junior All-American, stayed consistent on the front nine, carding a single bogey on the par-4 seventh hole to go 1-over. Although she had back-to-back birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 and no bogeys on the back nine, a mis-hit off the No. 18 tee landed Cho just short of the green. The 17-year-old placed her chip to within 18 inches of the hole for an easy par putt to save the round and close out the victory.

"On the 18th hole, I just wanted to get it on the green and two-putt for par," she said. "When I missed the green, I just started thinking, 'I played the best I could, whatever the results turn out to be.'"

Jun and Lee ended the day tied for second with three-day totals of 211.
For more information about the AJGA Morgan Run Junior or other AJGA events, please contact AJGA headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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