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AJGA MARSHALLIA RANCH JUNIOR CLASSIC
Marshallia Ranch Golf Course
Vandenberg AFB, California
July 22-25, 2002
BISHOP HOLDS ON TO WIN AT MARSHALLIA RANCH
Woo comes from behind to top Girls Division
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. - Louie Bishop of Murrieta,
Calif., turned in a 1-over-par 73 in the final round of the
AJGA Marshallia Ranch Junior Classic to complete a wire-to-wire
victory and earn the first national title of his career. In
the Girls Division, AJGA rookie Grace Woo of Burbank, Calif.,
came back from one stroke behind to win by six strokes.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Marshallia
Ranch Junior Classic was held on the par-72 Marshallia Ranch
Golf Course in Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Bishop got off to a good start in the final round with birdies
on holes No. 2, 4 and 7, but bogeys on No. 5, 6, and 8 caused
him to finish the front nine at even-par.
"I was playing well at first today, but when I three-putted
on No. 8 the wheels tried to come off," Bishop said.
"Even though I finished the front nine at even-par, I
made some careless mistakes that could have hurt me much more."
On the back nine, the 17-year-old birdied par-5 holes No.
12 and 15, but flew the green on hole No. 16 and carded a
double-bogey. He finished the championship with rounds of
69-72-73-214.
"Today I came out here with the idea of playing the course
and not the scores," Bishop said. "I got off to
the start that I wanted, but I didn't finish as strong as
I would have like to. This is all very exciting to me. It
feels great to win an AJGA event."
James Lee of Fullerton, Calif., who won last week's AJGA Las
Vegas Founders Junior, finished second with rounds of 71-77-71-219.
Brandon Beck of Oak Park, Calif., and Hunter Kenihan of Irvine,
Calif., tied for third at 221. University of Houston signee
Zach Mowbray of Mesa, Ariz., and Garrett Sapp of Cerritos,
Calif., tied for third with a three-day total of 222.
In the Girls Division, Woo entered the final round one stroke
out of first place. The 14-year-old birdied the 510-yard,
par-5 fifth hole, as well as the par-4 ninth, to finish the
front nine at 2-under-par.
"I really drove the ball well today and I had two great
shots out of the bunker," Woo said. "I went into
the bunker twice and hit out to within three feet. That doesn't
happen very often so I was very pleased with the way I played
today."
After opening the back nine with a bogey on No. 10, Woo carded
another bogey on No. 16. She finished her round of 71 by draining
a 70-foot putt for birdie on the 450-yard, par-5 18th hole.
Woo won her first AJGA title in only her second AJGA event
with rounds of 80-76-71-227.
"My birdie on No. 18 was really exciting," Woo said.
"I didn't come here with the thought of winning, I just
wanted to stay around par and be happy with the way I played.
I can't believe that I won, especially since this is only
my second AJGA event."
Alissa Kuczka of Phoenix placed second with rounds of 80-75-78-233,
and Angela Park of Torrance, Calif., finished third at 78-82-77-237.
For more information about the AJGA Marshallia Ranch Junior
Classic, please call AJGA national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
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