THOMPSON SIBLINGS TAKE HOME TOP SPOTS AT LAREDO ENERGY JUNIOR AT TRADITIONS

Alexis Thompson goes wire to wire as a back-to-back champion at the Traditions Club at Texas A&M

BRYAN, Texas — Curtis and Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., shared Easter Weekend together and made history as the first siblings to win the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions, in the same year. In the Girls Division, Alexis shot a new course record at the Traditions Club at Texas A&M with a round of 6-under-par 66, and won with a tournament total of 4-under-par 212.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions was a 54-hole stroke play event held at the Traditions Club at Texas A&M. The tournament field consisted of 132 boys and girls, ages 12-18, from 22 states and four foreign countries (Mexico, Canada, Thailand and Colombia). The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 7,072 yards and was cut to the low 42 and ties after 36 holes. The Girls Division played at 6,159 yards and was cut to the low 18 and ties.

In the Boys Division, the leaders were back and forth all day as Brenden Redfern of Austin, Texas, and Curtis weren't willing to give either one an edge. Curtis, 16, said that he has been working on his preshot routine. Today, when the pressure was starting to rise, he was grateful that he had devoted so much time to practicing and conditioning. He finished the tournament with a three-round total of 3-under-par 213.

“I just wanted to play a straightforward round and I knew I had to try not to make too many mistakes,” Curtis said. “I hit 17 greens in regulation and two putted almost every hole.”

According to Curtis, the family does not get to travel that much together.

“Having both of us win on Easter Weekend and having our family here is a great feeling,” Curtis said. “With this being my first AJGA victory and with Alexis and I winning the Verizon Junior Heritage earlier this year, I couldn't be happier with where my game is headed.”

Redfern shot 217 and finished in second, four strokes back. Curtis Reed of Castroville, Texas, finished third at 218, and Chris Worrell of Enid, Okla., took fourth with a 219 tournament total. Tied for fifth were Johnathan Schnitzer of Houston, and Jordan Spieth of Dallas, at 6-over-par 222.

In the Girls Division, Alexis, 14, had to battle the Texas winds and an hour rain delay before she began her round this morning, but she was able to stay focused. She carded the lowest round of her young career. Thompson only missed two greens all day and birdied six holes. This is Alexis' third victory with the AJGA, and is currently ranked second in the Polo Golf Rankings.

“I don't know why I shot the way I did today, I was just feeling it,” said Alexis, who is a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. “I was hitting my irons great and making my putts today.”

Alexis joins an illustrious list of tournament winners as she is the fourth back-to-back winner in the tournament's 24-year history.

“It was very important to come back and defend my title,” Thompson said. “I am glad my brother and I were able to both be champions in such a great tournament.”

Erynne Lee of Silverdale, Wash., finished second for the second year in a row with a three-day tournament total of 219. Alexandra Stewart of Peoria, Ariz., finished third at 223.

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 AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 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 on the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions, please contact National Headquarters at (877) 373-2542, or visit the AJGA Web site, ajga.org.

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