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Two juniors
added their names to the history books of one of the AJGA’s
most prestigious events earlier this month. Randy Lowry and
Erica Blasberg won their respective divisions at the AJGA
Rolex Tournament of Champions in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Randy
Lowry |
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Lowry,
of Spring, Texas, carded a 1-under-par 71 to hold his lead
through the final round, capturing the Boys Division crown.
In the Girls Division, Blasberg, of Corona, Calif., carded
a 3-under-par 69 to claim the title.
The invitational, which attracts the nation’s top juniors,
has produced past champions such as Charles Howell III, David
Duval, Phil Mickelson, Kellee Booth and Grace Park.
The final round of the 25th annual Rolex Tournament of Champions
was held on the par-72 Geronimo course at The Desert Mountain
Club. The 72-hole event featured 169 players - 109 boys and
60 girls - from 30 states and five foreign countries, and
included 57 Polo Golf Junior All-Americans.
Lowry entered the final round with a four-stroke lead and
maintained the margin throughout most of the final round.
Lowry's victory at Rolex surprised even him, he
said. |
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He started
the day in solid fashion with an eagle on the 574-yard, par-5
first hole. After finishing the front nine at even par, Lowry
went on to birdie hole Nos. 12, 13, and 14 to finish the championship
with rounds of 69-65-71-71—276.
“My eagle on the first hole really got me going,”
Lowry said. “After that I was able to keep it at even-par
on the front nine. The three straight birdies on the back
nine gave me some confidence. At that point I tried to avoid
disasters and cruised the rest of the way.”
The 15-year-old
won three national titles during the 2001 season, but won
his first major at Desert Mountain.
“It really feels great to win such a prestigious tournament,”
Lowry said. “A month ago I did not think that I would
be standing here. However, all aspects of my game came around
this week - my hard work in practice really paid off.”
Taylor Wood of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Chris Kirk of Woodstock,
Ga., finished tied for second at 280. With a four-day total
of 281, Kevin Kisner of Aiken, S.C., finished fourth, and
Jessie Mudd of Louisville, Ky., and James Vargas of Miami,
Fla., finished tied for fifth at 282.
Erica
Blasberg |
In the
Girls Division, Blasberg carded five birdies during the final
round en route to posting a 69. She finished strong down the
stretch with three birdies and only one bogey on the back
nine.
“Today I wanted to play safe and hit all my irons close,”
Blasberg said. “I gained confidence as the week progressed.
My irons were what helped me go low today. I was able to hit
them really close to the hole and give myself good birdie
opportunities.”
The University of Arizona signee ended her AJGA career with
a bang, turning in rounds of 75-70-69-69—283 and finishing
three strokes ahead of the field.
Blasberg's
Rolex victory was her first in an AJGA Major event. |
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“I
have always played well at majors, but could never win one,”
Blasberg said. “I came into this tournament hoping to
play well. This is a great way to end my junior career and
start a new one in college.”
Brittany Lincicome of Seminole, Fla., finished second with
a four-day total of 286. Her final-round 69 was highlighted
by a hole-in-one on the 152-yard, par-3 seventh hole. Jane
Park of Beaumont, Calif., finished third in the Girls Division
with rounds of 76-74-72-68—290.
Click here to go to the 2002 Rolex Tournament
of Champions tournament page.
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