Chan Comes From Behind to Win AJGA Nebraska Junior at Quarry Oaks
ASHLAND, Neb. — Lorens Chan of Honolulu carded a final-round score of even-par 71 to finish with a winning score of 4-under-par 209 at the AJGA Nebraska Junior at Quarry Oaks. Somin Lee was crowned the Girls Division Champion after posting a 2-over-par 73 during the final round, putting her at even-par 213.
The AJGA Nebraska Junior at Quarry Oaks was a 54-hole stroke play tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Quarry Oaks in Ashland, Neb. The tournament field consisted of 77 boys and girls ages 12-18 from 18 states and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-71 course at 6,813 yards while the Girls Division played at 6,045 yards.
Chan entered the day three strokes off the lead, and made his comeback with consistent play, keeping the ball in the fairways and hitting greens.
“I managed to keep it in play, and I had a shot to the greens, on this course if you don't keep it in play and hit in the wrong spot you are pretty much done,” Chan said. This course will eat you alive so I just kept it in play and just kept trying to make par, and if birdie comes that's great.”
Steven Ihm of Dubuque, Iowa, finished second at 2-under-par 211, while Ian Vandersee of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs, Colo., tied for third at 1-under par 212. Andrew Whalen of Ephrata, Wash., and Michael Culin of Plano, Texas, rounded out the top five, finishing at even-par 213.
In the Girls Division, Lee picked up the first win of her AJGA career Thursday. She entered the final round with a 5-stroke lead but still felt some pressure from the tournament field. The 2011 graduate marked three consecutive birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to pull away down the home stretch.
“Christina (Cantu) was trying to catch me but I had confidence in myself so I knew I could do it. I just tried to come back, and play my game,” Lee said.
Behind Lee was Christina Cantu of Houston, who finished in second at 5-over-par 218 while Elizabeth Doty of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., finished third with a three-day total of 223.
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 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 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 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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.
For more information about the AJGA Nebraska Junior at Quarry Oaks contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200 or visit our website at ajga.org.
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