John Marshall Butler of Louisville, Kentucky, captured his first AJGA victory at the AJGA City of London Junior Championship. Butler carded 15 birdies over the course of the week on his way to winning the tournament by one stroke at 4-under-par 212. The rising junior is currently No. 123 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and has finished top-5 in his last four AJGA tournaments. In 2017, Butler was awarded All-State Boy’s First Team honors in Kentucky.
Catherine Rao of Camarillo, California, pulled out a victory at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Wood Ranch. Winning by one stroke, Rao shot a 6-under-par 210 to earn her first AJGA victory. In the first round of the tournament, the 14-year-old carded zero bogies and six birdies to post a 6-under-par 66, which was the lowest round of the tournament. Rao has finished top-10 in the last three AJGA tournaments she’s played in.
Baron Szeto of Moraga, California, caught fire during the final round of the AJGA Junior All-Star at Wood Ranch after firing seven birdies and one eagle to come from behind for the win. Shooting a 9-under-par 207, Szeto walked away with the victory by three strokes. This is Szeto’s first AJGA victory and his lowest 54-hole score in the AJGA.
Jillian Bourdage earned her second AJGA victory after carding a 4-under-par 67 in the final round of the Gateway Mortgage Group Tulsa Junior. Shooting even-par 213, Bourdage won by two strokes. Earlier this year, the rising junior finished second at the Daniel Berger Junior Championship. Bourdage is a 2017 FHSAA Class 2A golf state champion and is currently No. 158 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. She also was named the 2017 Broward Golf Player of the Year.