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Brian
Harman of Savannah, Ga., picked up his first national win
with a final round of 3-under-par 69, and he did it amongst
the best junior golfers in the world at the Thunderbird International
Junior. Ashley Knoll of The Woodlands, Texas, took the title
in the Girls Division for her first major championship.
The 54-hole
stroke play event featured 84 players from 20 states, Australia,
Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden. Sixty-six members
of the Polo Golf Junior All-America teams were entered in
the event held on the Raptor Course of Grayhawk Golf Club.
The Thunderbirds, Grayhawk Golf Club, the Phil and Amy Mickelson
Foundation and the AJGA are all partners in the international
event. Mickelson served as the honorary tournament chairman
at his home course.
Harman's
steady back nine at the Thunderbird International Junior
was what he needed to hold off Anthony Kim.
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Harman
entered the final round with a one-shot lead over Song Jeon
of Ocala, Fla., while Anthony Kim of La Quinta, Calif., was
three shots off the pace. Harman carded three birdies on the
front nine to make the turn at 3-under-par 33. He then parred
all the way in for the one shot win.
"I
knocked down about a 20-foot putt for birdie on No. 6 and
after that, I thought I would probably play pretty well,"
Harman said.
Harman
held off a strong charge from Kim who carded six birdies on
the day. Harman headed to the tee on No. 18 with a two-stroke
lead. Kim hit the par-5 18th hole in two, while Harman played
it safe. Kim had a 15-foot putt for eagle to send the championship
to a playoff. He lipped out the putt and tapped in for birdie
while Harman made his par putt.
"When
it (the eagle putt) was about half way to the hole, I saw
it had too much speed and I knew I had won it," Harman
said.
"This
tournament was No. 1 on my summer schedule and I was really
looking forward to it," he continued. "This is the
best field all year and I really wanted to do well here. This
is probably the most stressful tournament I have ever played
in, though."
Harman
finished with a tournament total of 9-under-par 207, while
Kim who fired a 67 in the final round, finished one shot back
at 8-under-par 208. Tied for third at 213 were Song Jeon of
Ocala, Fla., and Brendon Todd of Cary, N.C. Rounding out the
top five was Joshua Wooding of Riverside, Calif.
Knoll,
a second team Polo Golf Junior All-American, added her
third AJGA victory in as many years to her resume at the
Thunderbird International Junior .
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In the
Girls Division, Knoll played a steady round and carded an
even-par 72 to finish the tournament at 3-under-par 213. She
finished with three birdies on the day, including one on No.
15 that she said got her back on track.
"I
thought if I shot even-par today that I would win," she
said. "After the birdie on No. 15, I was just trying
to get it to 1-under for the day. I was just playing the course
and not worrying about the other people."
"This
win feels awesome," the Oklahoma State-signee said. "I
played three great rounds and I just feel honored to win such
a great event."
Two shots
back after carding a 1-under-par 71 on the day to finish at
1-under-par 215 was local talent Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale.
Brittany Lincicome of Seminole, Fla., took third place with
a tournament total of even-par 216. Hannah Jun of San Diego,
Calif., placed fourth at 217 while Lauren Todd of Phoenix
and Julieta Granada of Bradenton, Fla., round out the top
five at 220.
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