ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS/LAWRENCE HALL ABILENE JUNIOR
Fairway Oaks Country Club
Abilene, Texas
July 18, 2004
GOODSON, CHO CROWNED MEDALISTS AT FAIRWAY OAKS COUNRY CLUB
The field is set for the 24th annual event in Abilene
ABILENE, TEXAS – Texas native Larry Goodson of Fort Worth, Texas, and Henna Cho of Buena Park, Calif., both captured top honors in their respective divisions while trying to earn a spot for the Abilene Reporter-News/Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior during Sunday’s tournament qualifier.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Abilene Reporter-News/Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior Qualifier was held at Fairway Oaks Country Club. Eighty-seven junior golfers from seven states, including 74 from Texas, competed in the 18-hole qualifier. Fifteen boys and three girls qualified for this week’s 54-hole tournament, which will feature 120 juniors, ages 12-18.
Goodson (33-36—69) began the day strong on the 525-yard par-5 ninth hole with a birdie, which boosted his confidence.
“Making a birdie on the first hole always sets a good pace for the rest of the round,” the 17-year-old said. “I felt great all day and my goal was to just play steady.”
Goodson, who placed in the top ten at the Forth Worth City Star Telegraph Championship last week, added four more birdies to his scorecard on Nos. 1, 4, 7 and 14.
“I have been playing pretty well lately,” Goodson said. “I would love to go home at the end of the week with a win.”
Trent Whitekiller of Sallisaw, Okla., who aced the par-3 sixteenth hole with an 8-iron, finished second with an even-par 72. Nicolas Donaldson of Windermere, Fla., and Brad Sumrall of Georgetown, Texas, both qualified with 73s.
Texas natives Kellen Mackey of Garland, Kyle Finkler of Wichita Falls, Chance Pipitone of Houston, Wil Keener of Dallas, Pacman Walters of Grand Prairie, Travis Woolf of Arlington, Travis Watson of Rockwall, and Tyler Darden and Taylor Morrow, both of Lubbock, will also be playing in the event.
Rounding out the Boys Division are Corey Bartlett of Kilbourne, La., and Acer Chen of Walnut, Calif.
Cho set the pace in the Girls Division with a 79. She came into Sunday’s round mentally ready to play.
“My mental game is the best it has ever been,” the rising Gahr High School junior said. “I played very consistent today and I am looking forward to playing this week.”
Cho qualified for the True Temper Junior Open in early July and seeks to expand her golf resume.
“I would like to place in the top three or five next week, which will help me become a fully exempt player,” the 16-year-old said. “I plan to stay focused and strong.”
Joining Cho at this week’s tournament are Texas natives Lauren Olaya of Wichita Falls and Megan O’Connell of Odessa. Olaya finished the day with an 81, while O’Connell finished at 82.
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 has a membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
First-round tee times will begin Tuesday at 7 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. at Fairway Oaks Country Club. For more information on the Abilene Reporter-News/Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior, please contact tournament headquarters at (325) 698-4971, ext. 218
