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MOBILE,
Ala. - Paula Creamer of Pleasanton, Calif., stormed out
of the gates early with four birdies on the front nine in
the final round of the AJGA Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Junior Classic and preserved the win with smart, conservative
play to end the tournament. In the Boys Division, Tyler Leon
of Dallas carded a final round 4-under-par 68 to come from
four strokes back and earn his second career AJGA title.
The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf
Association, featured 165 players representing 24 states,
Mexico and Singapore. Fifteen participants hail from Alabama.
The event was held at the par-72 Magnolia Grove Golf Club,
Falls and Crossings Courses. Past champions include PGA TOUR
players Ty Tryon (2000) and David Gossett (1994) and LPGA
tour player Beth Bauer (1995 and 1996).
Creamer's
win in Mobile brings her total AJGA victories to
seven. |
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Creamer,
who improved her score each round, won her last two AJGA events
and said it was key to end the summer on a high note.
"At the end of the year you have to have a lot of energy
to get through the summer," Creamer said. "I have
been on the road for a long time so it is good to end on a
win."
The high school sophomore entered the final round with a three-stroke
lead, but instead of starting conservative she stuck with
her aggressive style and built her lead to seven with nine
holes to play. She birdied the first hole and from there the
ball just rolled the 16-year-old's way.
"That birdie started it all off. I picked up a lot of
momentum from there," Creamer said. "I knew I was
in good shape after nine holes. On the back side I wanted
to stay out of trouble and keep it in the fairway. I made
a few mental mistakes, but my short game helped me through
it."
Creamer (73-70-69-212) ended a phenomenal year with her seventh
career AJGA title, but the young prodigy does not dwell on
success for long as she is already locking in on next year.
Creamer
goes over her final-round scorecard with Senior
Rules Official Mike Murphy. This was Creamer's
fourth AJGA victory in 2002. |
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"I
worked hard on my game all year," Creamer said. "The
competition keeps getting better and better, so I am very
pleased with my summer. Hopefully next year will be just as
good."
Jennifer Pandolfi of Navarre, Fla., and Brittany Lincicome
of Seminole, Fla., locked up second place honors with three-day
totals of 218.
In the Boys Division, Leon put together his first complete
round of the tournament to snare the title after starting
the day four-strokes back. Leon, who started in the second
to last group of the day, had no doubt he would be able to
make a rally if he had his complete game working.
"I have been playing well lately, but the first two days
I could not get a putt to fall," Leon said. "Today
when I had birdie opportunities I made them. Everything started
clicking today."
Trent
Leon is presented with the Boys Division Champion
trophy by Tournament Chairman Michael Thompson.
Leon now has two AJGA victories to his credit. |
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Leon (72-74-68-214)
played his first three holes at 1-over-par and then turned
the heat on with four-consecutive birdies. The fun began with
a 20-foot chip on No. 4 that fell for birdie and did not end
until No. 8 where the 18-year-old parred the 443-yard, par-4.
"The whole game is about momentum and when you do something
like that it just builds your momentum and helps you to keep
making good shots and putts," Leon said.
Leon's tournament clinching birdie was on No. 15. He knocked
his 8-iron from 155 yards to six feet and then drained the
putt. That birdie proved to be the difference maker as Robert
Gates, Jr. of Gainesville, Fla., birdied No. 17 to get within
one, but could not get any closer.
Gates finished alone in second at 215 with first-round leader
Christopher Anderson of Lake Mary, Fla., earning third place
with a total of 216. Warren Thomas, III of Columbia S.C.,
placed fourth at 217 and Will Osborne of Wichita Falls, Texas
rounded out the top five at 219.
Click
here to view the complete final-round results.
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