Barbaree crowned champion after one-hole playoff at Junior All-Star at Eagle Ridge
Strong final round propels Rennegarbe to victory at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa - South Course

GALENA, Ill. — Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, La., shot a 1-under-par 71 to send himself into a sudden death playoff with Matthew Walker of Ottumwa, Iowa. Barbaree pared the playoff hole to secure the victory.

Barbaree, who is playing in his third AJGA event of the 2011 season, won the AJGA National Qualifier — Galena on Sunday afternoon.

“Before the Qualifier, I really didn't know how I would play on this golf course. When I won the qualifier and shot a 69, it boosted my confidence,” Barbaree said.

Barbaree, a 2017 graduate, used his new found confidence on the challenging Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa — South Course to propel his strong final round. “On No. 4, I drove it left into the hazard, hit it out, and then made the putt for par. It was a good par save to start,” said Barbaree when asked if he knew his final round would be a good one from the start.

Walker finished second with a 3-over-par 219. Finishing third with a 6-over-par 222 was Poom Pattaropong of Hilton Head Island, S.C. Matthew Weber of Saint Charles, Ill., finished five strokes back in fourth place with an 8-over-par 224. Shintaro Ban of San Jose, Calif., and Bradley Keyer of Henderson, Nev., finished tied for fifth with a 10-over-par 226.

In the Girls Division, Shawn Rennegarbe of Addieville, Ill., used overall consistent play throughout the week to keep herself in championship contention. Rennegarbe shot a final round 7-over-par 79 that included two birdies to seal the deal.

“[This week] I tried to keep it in the fairway, and go for pars,” said Rennegarbe.

Rennegarbe, a 2014 graduate, is optimistic that this win will propel her to more success.

“This is my first win, and it feels really great with such a strong field, and hopefully I have more to come,” Rennegarbe said.

Finishing one-stroke back in second place was Alexandra Harkins of Crystal Lake, Ill., who finished 24-over-par 240. Bing Singhsumalee of Naperville, Ill., and Jordan LaBarbera of Allen, Texas, finished two-strokes back and tied for third place with a 25-over-par 241.

The Junior All-Star at Eagle Ridge was one of 10 events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger players to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy All-Star Series events. The tournament field included 74 boys and 25 girls, ages 12-15 from 26 states, Thailand, China, Ecuador and Mexico. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,578 yards and the Girls Division played at 5,855 yards.

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 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, 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 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 Junior All-Star at Eagle Ridge, contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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