Arnett claims title at BilliardFactory.com Junior Championship
Beck survives sudden-death playoff to win
The Woodlands, Texas — Benjamin Arnett of Houston won the BilliardFactory.com Junior Championship with a tournament total of 218, while Julia Beck of Austin, Texas, survived a sudden-death playoff to win the Girls Division at The Woodlands Country Club — Tournament Course with a tournament total of 228.
The BilliardFactory.com Junior Championship was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Woodlands Country Club — Tournament Course in The Woodlands, Texas. The tournament field consisted of 24 girls and 72 boys, ages 12-18, from Mexico, the United Kingdom and seven states, including 69 from Texas. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,962 yards and the Girls Division played at 6,179 yards.
Arnett remained humble throughout his round. With a score of 2-over-par 74, he kept his cool during a high-pressure finish.
“The hardest part was not falling apart in the last three holes because I knew I had the lead,” Arnett said. “You don't have time to not feel confident, though...You just have to go for it.”
When asked about his bunker shot on No. 18, Arnett said, “I had to trust my instincts.”
Both players were forced to combat weather conditions this week, but it was not reflected in their final performance.
“The rain delays can throw you off,” says Beck. “You have to stay warmed up and just keep fighting.”
Peter Thorseth of the United Kingdom finished second in the Boys
Division with a tournament total of 219. Tied for third place was Jacob
Veerman of Sugarland, Texas, and Wes Artac of Kingwood, Texas with a
tournament total of 220. Shen Yoon of The Woodlands, Texas, finished
fifth with a tournament total of 222.
In the Girls Division, Beck, carding a level-par round of 72, was able to close out her first AJGA title after years of hard work during a playoff on No. 10 against Cheyenne Knight of The Woodlands, Texas.
“I have been working for this every day for the last 10 years. It was only a matter of time before I won.”
After the sudden-death playoff, Knight finished second with a tournament total of 228. Eji Kwon and Grace Choi, both of Dallas, Texas, followed in a tie for third with a tournament total of 231.
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,500 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 40 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.
For more information about the BilliardFactory.com Junior Championship, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (678) 617-9917.
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