Three AJGA Opens and a Junior Golf Hub Preview Series event were showcased over the weekend. The four events, concluding on April 23, were held in California, Georgia, Kentucky and Texas.
AJGA Preview at River Ridge (Ages 12-15) – Two first-time AJGA players were crowned medalists at River Ridge Golf Club’s Victoria Lakes Course. Scotty Kennon, a 14-year-old from Bandon, Oregon, finished at even-par 144 to top the Boys Division. Kate Villegas of Arcadia, California, finished at 1-over-par 145 to earn medalist honors in the Girls Division. Each player went wire-to-wire after carding rounds under par in the first round.
Rome Junior Classic presented by State Mutual Insurance Company – In an event shortened to 18 holes due to inclement weather, Jenny Bae of Lawrenceville, Georgia, defended her title at Coosa Country Club with a 3-under-par 68. The University of Georgia verbal commit earned her third win in her third AJGA season. Atlanta native Alex Ross, a 2016 Transamerica Scholastic Junior All-American, earned his first AJGA victory with a 3-under-par 68.
Strategic Communications / Justin Thomas Junior Championship presented by Phocus – For the second straight year, PGA TOUR professional Justin Thomas hosted an AJGA event. In 2017, the tournament was held at Harmony Landing Country Club, where his father Mike Thomas is the PGA Professional. Austin Vukovits of Fishers, Indiana, notched his first AJGA win at 1-over-par 214 after going eagle-eagle-birdie on the par-5 ninth hole. Kelly Sim of Edgewater, New Jersey, earned her fourth AJGA victory with a 7-over-par 217.
Under Armour® / Hunter Mahan Championship presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research – The tournament, in its ninth year, did not disappoint with both the Boys Division and Girls Division going into a playoff. Matthew Riedel of Houston, birdied three of his last six holes to enter a playoff, after which he birdied the first hole. The victory was the 16-year-old’ss first with the AJGA. Hailey Jones of Dallas, birdied the second hole of a playoff to earn her fourth AJGA victory and first of 2017.