By Emily Greenwood, AJGA Communications
Paphangkorn Tavatanakit of Bangkok, Thailand, defended her title at the LA Junior Open after shooting 4-under-par 67 in the final round. With 12 birdies and an eagle on the tournament, the 15-year-old finished at 7-under-par 206, the same score as last year, to win the Girls Division and her second AJGA event.
In the Boys Division, Dan Erickson of Whittier, California, won his first AJGA title with a three-day total of 8-under-par 205 at Hillcrest Country Club. Erickson jumped ten spots to gain a share of the lead after carding five birdies and an eagle in the second round. The 16-year-old added six final-round birdies to clinch the win.
David Toms Foundation Shreveport Junior
Pajaree Anannarukarn of Bangkok, Thailand, posted a 1-under-par 71 in the final round to win the David Toms Foundation Shreveport Junior with a tournament total of 3-under-par 213. The 16-year-old tallied 12 birdies en route to the seven-stroke victory, her third AJGA title in the past two months. Anannarukarn, currently No. 87 in the Polo Golf Rankings, also earned wins at the 2015 St. Francisville Area Foundation Junior at the Bluffs and the 2015 Lockton Kansas City Junior.
In the Boys Division, Mason Weld of Helotes, Texas, turned in a 3-over-par 75 in the final round for a tournament total of 1-over-par 217 to claim the title. Weld, who will attend Sam Houston State University in the fall, collected 11 birdies throughout the tournament for his second AJGA championship and fifth top-10 finish.
JoS. A. Bank / David Leadbetter Championship
Rij Patel of Hunt Valley, Maryland, shot a 6-under-par 210 and won the JoS. A. Bank / David Leadbetter Championship. The 17-year-old had a share of the lead through all three rounds, tallying five final-round birdies to claim the victory by three strokes. After finishing T2 at this event in 2014, Patel earned his second AJGA victory and fifth top-10 performance in three seasons.
In the Girls Division, Julia Calbi of South Barrington, Illinois, came out on top after shooting 2-over-par 218 at Cattail Creek Country Club. Calbi, who will attend Dartmouth College in the fall, made 11 birdies for the three-stroke win. This is the AJGA Scholastic Junior All-American’s second title and 13th top-10 finish.
Bass Pro Shops / Payne Stewart Junior Championship
Varun Chopra of Champaign, Illinois, shot a 5-under-par 205 to win at the Bass Pro Shops / Payne Stewart Junior Championship. Now a three-time AJGA champion, Chopra amassed 13 birdies through three rounds for a two-stroke victory. The 16-year-old is verbally committed to the University of Illinois.
In the Girls Division, Kenzie Wright of McKinney, Texas, topped the leaderboard after shooting 2-over-par 212 at Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course. Wright, who is verbally committed to Southern Methodist University, tallied six birdies for the six-stroke win and her first AJGA victory.
AJGA Junior at Forest Lake presented by Tom Holzer Ford
Karl Vilips of Foxfire, North Carolina, fired a 2-under-par 69 in the final round to win the AJGA Junior at Forest Lake presented by Tom Holzer Ford with a 7-under-par 206 tournament total. The 13-year-old turned in 18 birdies, including seven in the final round, to earn his first victory in his fourth AJGA competition.
In the Girls Division, Jessica Yuen of Bolingbrook, Illinois, carded a tournament total 10-over-par 223 for the victory at Forest Lake Country Club. The University of Missouri verbal commit held onto her second-round lead to win by four strokes, earning her first AJGA title and fifth top-10 performance.
Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Junior Championship
Caroline Curtis of Richmond, Virginia, claimed the Girls Division title after shooting 7-over-par 220 at the Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Junior Championship. The 14-year-old tallied four final-round birdies to clinch the win. Currently No. 166 in the Polo Golf Rankings, this marks Curtis’ second AJGA victory and fifth top-10 finish.
In the Boys Division, Tyler Johnson of Knoxville, Tennessee, finished even-par 213 to win at Barefoot Resort & Golf – Norman Course. In his third AJGA event, the 17-year-old captured his first victory by carding nine birdies on the tournament.