LEWIS WINS FIRST CAREER AJGA EVENT IN THRILLING FASHION AT TRUE TEMPER/DAVID GOSSETT JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Belcher wins second-consecutive AJGA event in playoff

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jordan Lewis of Marion, Ill., sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Scott Langley of Ballwin, Mo., and win the Boys Division of the True Temper/David Gossett Junior Championship on Thursday. The Girls Division also entered into extra holes before naming a winner, as Kellye Belcher of Bartlett, Tenn., made par on the first playoff hole to win over Calle Nielson of Nashville, Tenn.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the True Temper/David Gossett Junior Championship was held at TPC Southwind. The par-71 course was set up at 6,829 yards for the Boys Division and 5,926 yards for the Girls Division. The tournament field consisted of 63 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, representing 19 states, and included 19 Tennessee residents.

Lewis, who entered the final round five shots off the lead, played steady golf for the majority of the day. Lewis finished the front nine at even-par 36 and shot 2-over-par 37 on the back nine for a final-round score of 73. Lewis and Langley both carded three-day totals of 222 to send the Boys Division into a sudden-death playoff. On the first playoff hole, Lewis made a 45-foot putt from the front of the green to make birdie and secure the win. Lewis said it felt great to win and achieve one of his goals for the summer.

“It feels great to win, and know that my hard work finally paid off,” Lewis said. “One of my goals for the summer was to win an AJGA event so to see it happen in one of my last events of the summer feels great.”

Rob Campbell of Nashville, shot a three-day total of 224 to finish in third place, two shots behind the winner. There was a five-way tie for fourth place with Will Hogan of Ozark, Mo., Dylan Raines of Phoenix, Chris Brant of Edwardsville, Ill., Jace Long of Dixon, Mo., and Case Cochran of Paducah, Ky. Each finished with three-round totals of 225.

Belcher held a three-shot lead going into the final hole, but carded an eight on the 18th hole to send the Girls Division into a sudden-death playoff. Belcher responded and made par on the playoff hole, while her competitor, Nielson, made bogey. Belcher and Nielson both finished with a three-day total of 233. The win was the second-consecutive AJGA win for Belcher. Belcher said that while her win at the Jerry Pate/Andrews Institute Southern Junior was nice, this one was much sweeter.

“I played better in Pensacola than I did this week, but it feels great to win here because it is in my hometown,” Belcher said. “I finished second here last year, and because this is my last event as a junior golfer.”

Kelsey Lindenschmidt of West Chester, Ohio, finished in third place, one shot behind the champion. Lindenschmidt concluded the event with a three-day total of 234.

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 largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior 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, which enters its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Candie Kung, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer.

For more information on the True Temper/David Gossett Junior Championship, or any AJGA event, please call national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.