BRAVER STAYS ON TOP TO CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Martindale climbs back to win Girls Division in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Sam Braver of Roswell, Ga., fired a final-round low 2-under-par 69 Thursday to take home the championship in the Boys Division of the David Gossett Junior Championship presented by Stanford Financial Group, finishing with a three-day total of 2-under-par 211. In the Girls Division, Kendall Martindale of Jefferson City, Tenn., carded an even-par 72 to finish with a tournament total of 5-over-par 218, claiming her first AJGA victory.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the David Gossett Junior Championship presented by Stanford Financial Group was a 54-hole stroke play event held at TPC Southwind. The 82-player field featured players from 19 states, Taiwan and Canada. The par-71 course was played at 6,835 yards for the Boys Division and 6,000 yards for the Girls Division.

Braver, who led the tournament from start to finish and had a two-stroke lead coming into the day, again credited solid play and focus to his success. He finished with five birdies, one bogey and a double bogey on the day as he shot 34 and 35 on the front and back nines, respectively.

“Just another solid day out here with my game,” Braver said. “For me it has been hitting the ball well lately, but today I was able to make more putts as well.”

The win was the third of Braver's AJGA career, including his victory at last week's Heritage Junior Championship.

“I had no problems out here,” Braver said. “I took a little rest at home after last week and came out here Monday to get it going again. I just feel great.”

Tommy Chung Hao Mou of Taipei, Taiwan finished in second with a three-day total of 3-over-par 216. In third was Jack Belote of Bartlett, Tenn., finishing with a tournament-total of 4-over-par 217. Robert Burrow of Charlotte, N.C., and Ian McConnell of Riverview, Fla., finished tied for fourth with 8-over-par 221s.

In the Girls Division, the 14-year-old Martindale, who was the youngest girl in the tournament field, overcame a three-stroke deficit at the beginning of the round to win in her first AJGA open event. It came down to the wire for her as she was caught up with second-round leader Lauren Stratton of Spring Hill, Tenn., on No. 13 and stayed tied with her at 5-over-par until No. 18.

“I knew I just had to go chip it close, make par and make her hit a shot,” Martindale said. “It was good that nothing major happened out there to me, good or bad.”

Martindale finished her day with three birdies and four bogeys. She takes home the victory after finishing in the top ten of every AJGA event that she has played.

“It feels really good,” Martindale said. “It is good to get my first win out of the way while I am a little younger,” Martindale said.

Finishing in second place was Lauren Stratton of Spring Hill, Tenn., who finished with a three-day total of 6-over-par 219. Brooke Beeler of Butler, Ill., finished in third with a tournament-total of 9-over-par 222.

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, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 25 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 is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

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 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

For more information on the David Gossett Junior Championship presented by Stanford Financial Group, please contact National Headquarters at (877) 373-2542.