LOCALS WIN ON HOME COURSE AT TRADER JOE'S JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Grimes, The shoot low final rounds to win Boys and Girls Division at Castlewood Country Club
PLEASANTON, Calif. — Patrick Grimes of Palo Alto, Calif., and Tessa The of Los Altos, Calif., both came from behind to win the Trader Joe's Junior Championship at their home course, Castlewood Country Club Thursday. Grimes shot a final-round 4-under-par 67 to come from seven-strokes back to win in a one-hole sudden death playoff following regulation. The carded a 2-under-par 69 for her final round to come from five-strokes back.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Trader Joe's Junior Championship was played at the Castlewood Country Club - Hill Course. The tournament field consisted of 98 players, 71 boys and 27 girls from nine states, Indonesia and Canada. The Boys Division was played at 6,212 yards and the Girls Division at 5,744 yards.
Grimes found that it was fewer mistakes that allowed him to climb to the top of the leaderboard Thursday.
“I didn't make many mistakes today,” Grimes said. “I made some putts for birdies and then my chip-in birdie on No. 17 is really what made it for me today.”
Winning at home was the definite highlight of the week for Grimes.
“It's fun to win at home,” he said. “I knew there were lots of people pulling for me here and with it being my first open event win, it just makes it that much more special.”
Taking second after the sudden-death playoff was Matt Crawford of Redwood City, Calif., also at 5-under-par 208. Third at 3-under-par 210 was Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, Calif. Fourth went to another local, Jonny Baxter of Pleasanton, Calif., at 2-under-par 211. In a tie for fifth were Dennis Carson of Burlingame, Calif., and Nicholas Schafer of Rocklin, Calif., at even-par 213.
The opened her final-round 2-under-par 69, with a 3-under-par 33 on the front nine after birdies on Nos. 2, 5, and 6. She said it was difficult to think of the event as a real tournament and not just another day on her home course.
“When I started the tournament I wasn't as focused as I normally am in a tournament,” The said. “When I came out today I was focused on shooting a good score and not just playing another round at Castlewood.”
The also used motivation from a friend to stay steady throughout the back nine.
“My friend came to watch me after his round was done,” she said. “When he told me he shot 70, I wanted to beat him, so I had to stay where I was.”
The finished the tournament at 4-over-par 217. Finishing the tight race in the Girls Division at 5-over-par 218 was Bonnie Hu of Fremont, Calif., in second. Third was Alexandra Groetsema of Palo Alto, Calif., another stroke back at 6-over-par 219.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.
For more information about the Trader Joe's Junior Championship please contact AJGA National Headquarters at 770-868-4200.
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