Each week, the AJGA honors the boy and girl junior golfers who shoot the lowest round during the final tournament round. Each of these players will be presented with one of this year's new Scotty Cameron putter covers in silver or gold. In this feature, we will hear from the players each week who take home this honor and what helped them get there.
ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior
"On No. 2, my second shot was my best of the day,” said Daniel Lee of Valencia, Calif., who fired a 4-under-par 68 during the final round which launched him into a playoff. “I hit it about 200 yards in, then used my 5-iron to hit to the green. Then I made a 10-foot putt for eagle. It definitely started my day out the right way."
“My third shot on No. 18 was my best. It used an 8 iron at about 150 yards out,” said Andrew Perez of Oxnard, Calif., who also shot a 68 during the final round. “I punched it to less than 10 feet then made the birdie putt. No. 18 is was definitely the pressure hole."
"My best shot was my putt on No. 18. I hit my tee shot in the water but I ended up putting for par,” said Emily Tubert of Burbank, Calif., who shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to finish tied for second. “The putt was about 25 feet downhill so the ball was really moving. It had a little bit of a break to it but it went in for par, allowing me to shot 1-under on the day."
Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic
“I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts,” said Franco Castro of Alpharetta, Ga., who became tournament champion after shooting a final-round 6-under-par 64. “The two greens I missed, I made them from off the green. A 64 is pretty cool especially after hours of sitting down during the delay.”
“I had eight birdies today. No. 6 was a big hole for me because that got me to 2-under-par for the day,” said Austin Ernst of Seneca, S.C., who fired a 5-under-par 66 during the final round. “I knocked it to about a foot. I hit the best iron shot probably ever. And, then the birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 were great because I bogeyed No. 7 so I really wanted to get back at it.”
SAP Junior Open
“The first four holes, I had four birdies, but if I had to choose a best hole it would be No. 4,” said Emma Talley of Princeton, Ky., who shot an even-par 72 during the final round to finish second. “My drive was way right, almost out-of-bounds, and on my second shot I had a really funny stance but was able to land it within 10 feet of the flagstick. I made the putt and it was a great birdie for me.”
Elbit Systems of America Junior Golf Classic
“On No. 14, I was 2-under-par going in. I spun a wedge to a two-footer for birdie,” said Johnathan Schnitzer of Houston, who was victorious with help from his 3-under-par 69. “I knew I would have to make one more birdie to have a chance and I made it.”
“My putting was good today. I was making all my putts within six feet,” said Valentina Fontaine of Hilton Head Island, S.C., who shot a 1-under-par 71 during the final round. “I made a long two putt on No. 18 with the pin on the back of the green. On No. 16, I had a par but I played it very well. all the other days I made bogey. I was really happy. “
“No. 7 was an awesome hole for me today. During the second round, I tripled it,” said Victoria Vela of Mansfield, Texas, who also shot a 1-under-par 71 during the final round. “I hit a 9-iron from 150 yards to inside four inches. It was a tap in. That was the best because it put me back to even-par. Then I birdied No. 9.”
First American Title Junior Classic
“My best shot was my second shot on No. 17,” said Katsuyuki Sakuai of Odessa, Fla., who shot a final-round 5-under-par 67. “I hit an 8-iron from 166 yards stiff and got to 6-under-par on the day.”
“On No. 18, I had 149 yards to the pin for my second shot,” said Victoria Kiser of Orlando, Fla., who shot a 2-under-par 70 during the final round to become champion. “I hit an 8-iron because I had been flying my irons a little farther and the greens had been really hard so I knew that was the right club. I hit it about six feet from the pin.”
Past My Scotty Cameron Moments
Heritage Junior Championship
Sta-Green® Junior All-Star Championship
Aldila Junior at Oak Tree
AJGA Las Vegas Junior
Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior
Junior All-Star at Lake Havasu
John Deere Classic Junior Open
Junior All-Star at Aspen
Medicus Preseason Junior at Callaway Gardens
AJGA Junior at Steelwood presented by AT&T
Ringgold Telephone Company Junior Classic
Thunderbird International Junior
Medicus Preseason Junior at Rochester presented by Wegmans LPGA and Xerox Classic
Golf World/Medicus Preseason Junior at Rancho Mirage
I.R.I./Srixon Mixed Team Championship hosted by Jim Furyk
Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland
Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana
AJGA Cliffs Championship
Medicus Preseason Junior at Walnut Creek
Horseshoe Bend Junior Classic