Shuman and Southard Win First AJGA Event at Killington Junior Golf Championship
Longtime friends take home victory from Green Mountain National Golf Course

KILLINGTON, Vt. — Jake Shuman of Needham, Mass., won his first AJGA event at the Killington Junior Golf Championship. Shuman took home the Boys Division title with a tournament total of 3-under-par 210. Shuman's friend and golf club partner, Isabel Southard of Sharon, Mass., went wire-to-wire at Green Mountain National Golf Course for a tournament total of 5-over-par 218.

The Killington Junior Golf Championship was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington, Vt. The tournament field consisted of 144 players from 17 states. The Boys Division played the par-71 course at 6,590 yards and the Girls Division played at 5,913 yards.

Shuman said he did not get any sleep the night before the final round. This was his first AJGA Open Event, and Shuman said he calmed down on the back nine when he began playing more consistent.

“I was hitting the ball really well during the middle of the round,” Shuman said. “I had six pars and one birdie on the back nine, which helped calm my nerves.”

Shuman thanked his longtime friend, and Girls Division winner, Southard, for helping him get through his nerves during the final round. Shuman and Southard have been friends since the age of nine and play together at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton, Mass. The two supported one another throughout the week.

“Isabel and I play in team events together, and she turned me on to the same golf academy I will be going to,” Shuman said. “It's like I am now following in her footsteps.”

Alex Levy of Austin, Texas, finished the tournament in second place with a tournament total of 2-over-par 215. Three strokes behind Levy was Chris Wiatr of Woodbury, Conn. Wiatr posted a final-round score of 3-over-par 74 , tournament total of 5-over-par 218, for a third place finish. In fourth place, Scott Jaster of Bryn Mawr, Pa., posted a tournament total of 6-over-par 219, one shot under Wiatr. Rounding out the boys top five was Thomas La Morte of Haworth, N.J. La Morte scored a final round of 1-over-par 72, tournament total of 7-over-par 220.

Southard was successful with her irons today, hitting five within five feet of the hole. The turning point in her round came on No. 16 when she made a birdie putt following her bogey on No.15.

Southard placed second in the Killington Junior Golf Championship last year, behind the 2010 Girls Division winner Yu Liu of Beijing, China.

“Last year I was telling myself I want to come back and win,” Southard said. “I'm glad I was able to do it, I'm excited.”

Alice Chen of Princeton, N.J., had the low final-round score, winning the Scotty Cameron Award with a score of 1-over-par-72, tournament total of 8-over-par 221. Christine Lin of Austin, Texas, took home the third place award with a tournament total of 10-over-par 223.

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 Killington Junior Golf Championship, please contact the AJGA Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.