Seiple captures first AJGA victory in a sudden-death playoff win
Ko holds on to win Girls Division

ASPEN, Colo. — Joshua Seiple of Castle Rock, Colo., was the outright winner in the Aspen Junior Golf Classic after a one-hole sudden death playoff, edging out the final round low-score shooter Cristian DiMarco with a three-day total of 5-over-par 218. Naomi Ko of Victoria, British Columbia, secured the victory in the Girls Division with a three-day total of 12-over-par 225, maintaining the two-day lead she held going into the final round.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Aspen Junior Golf Classic was a 54-hole stroke play event at Aspen Golf Club in Aspen, Colo. The tournament field consisted of 24 girls and 72 boys, ages 12-18, from Canada and 11 states, including 24 from Colorado. The Boys Division played the par-71 course at 7,046 yards, and the Girls Division played at 5,955 yards.

In the Boys Division, Seiple sunk three birdies and an eagle putt in the final round to force a sudden-death playoff. After making par on the first hole of the playoff, Seiple won his first AJGA title.

“I was nervous,” Seiple said. “I thought I hit it [my second shot] in the water, but I actually hit it underneath a tree.” Seiple then hit it up-and-down and made a three-and-a-half foot putt to win the event.

DiMarco, son of PGA professional Chris DiMarco, carded a final round 2-under-par 69 for a 5-over-par 218 tournament total to place second in the Boys Division. Michael Hodson of Amarillo, Texas, placed third with a 6-over-par 219, followed by Andrew Hudson of Burleson, Texas, in fourth with a 9-over-par 222. In fifth place was Max Alcorn of Poway, Calif., with a 10-over-par 223.

In the Girls Division, Ko remained calm through the last round to win by three strokes; her composure enabled her to capture the victory, simultaneously gaining her full exemption into any AJGA event over the next two seasons.

“It means a lot,” Ko said. “Now that I have full exemption I can pick and choose which tournaments I want to play in. It makes my schedule much more relaxed.”

In a two-way tie for second place was Kathleen Scavo of Benicia, Calif., and Brittany Fan of Pearl City, Hawaii, each with a three-day total of 15-over-par 228.

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 Aspen Junior Golf Classic, please contact the AJGA Headquarters at (678) 231-5079 or visit ajga.org.

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