Lewis Overcomes Three-Way, Sudden-Death Playoff to Capture Glory at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship
Ferguson holds on at Southern Oaks Golf Club to notch her first AJGA victory

FORT WORTH, Texas — Myles Lewis of Metairie, La., overcame both the Texas heat and a three-way, sudden-death playoff to take home the title at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship with a final score of 4-under-par 209. Despite shooting a 4-over 75 in the final round, Courtney Ferguson of Houston, finished with a tournament total even-par 213, collecting the championship in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Southern Oaks Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The 144-player field consisted of junior golfers from 14 states, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. The Boys Division played the course at 7,124 yards while the Girls Division is played at 6,017 yards.

After shooting even-par throughout the first two rounds, Lewis came out firing from the start, notching four birdies. He also had an impressive eagle on No. 11, a 567 yard par-5, the longest hole of the course. The thought of winning never left Lewis' mind.

“I knew I had to shoot low today to win, but it was doable,” Lewis said. “I just had to stay calm, cool, and collected. If I could sink some putts I'd be good.”

Sinking putts is exactly what Lewis did throughout the entire round, including a six-footer on No.1 after chipping out of a hazard to save par. Lewis would follow with birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 5, and 7 to make the turn at 4-under.

“I knew I was 4-under so I put it on cruise control,” Lewis said. “I knew I did my work for the day and as long as I kept par through the next nine holes, I would be in contention.”

Brandon Ng of Toronto, and Adam Colwell of The Woodlands, Texas, finished tied for second after their sudden death playoff with Lewis, also shooting a tournament total 4-under-par 209. Brax McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, finished in fourth with an even-par 213. Rounding out the Boys Division in fifth place was Will Griffin of Lufkin, Texas, shooting 1-over-par 214.

After leading the Girls Division through the first two rounds of the tournament, Ferguson admitted to feeling the pressure as she headed into the final round. Nonetheless, she kept her composure, making her first AJGA victory that much sweeter.

“There was definitely a little bit of pressure to perform well but I tried to forget about it and play my game,” Ferguson said. “I have never had this happen before. Before this the best I have had was a top 10 finish. It's a weird feeling but it feels great.”

Oddly enough, a bogey on No. 6 was what kick started Ferguson's play in the final round.

“I hit a horrible shot and was lucky not to have gone into the hazard,” Ferguson said. “The ball was actually resting on the cart path. I did not want to take the drop because it really wasn't any better of an option and there was a little bit of dirt on the cart path. It was probably the best situation for ending up on the cart path so, for a bogey, it was pretty good.”

Kaira Martin of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas, rounded out the Girls Division leaderboard two strokes behind Ferguson, tied for second place, shooting a tournament total 2-over-par 215.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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