LENNAR JUNIOR AT MISSION HILLS
Mission Hills Country Club — Arnold Palmer Course
Rancho Mirage, California
June 28 - July 1, 2004
HIE CLAIMS VICTORY BY ONE-STROKE
Joh rises above her competitors in final round
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.— With a tournament total of 11-under-par 205, Rory Hie held on to his lead by one-stroke and picked up the Boys Division title at the Lennar Junior at Mission Hills. Tiffany Joh claimed the Girls Division title with a tournament total at 6-under-par 210.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Lennar Junior at Mission Hills featured 84 players from seven states and Canada, including 70 California natives. The 23rd annual Lennar Junior at Mission Hills was a 54-hole, stroke play tournament that was held at Mission Hills Country Club — Arnold Palmer Course.
Hie, 15, of Lakewood, Calif., celebrated his second AJGA win after picking up the title in the final round. He won the 2004 Heather Farr Classic and placed second in the 2004 Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship. Hie’s goal for this tournament was to be under par every round, and he accomplished it by shooting in the 60s each day of the event. Hie shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round.
“I had a great round today,” he said. “I began with four straight birdies and that helped me out because it gave me room for error later on in the round. I knew I had to shoot under par today even though I was leading after the second round.”
Hie’s highlight of the final round was his last putt on No. 18 that occurred right before his victory.
“I reached the par-5 in two and I two-putted for birdie,” he said. “I feel great about how I played, especially after that putt on the last hole.”
Finishing at second place in the Boys Division was Brian Locke of Los Angeles, with a tournament total of 10-under-par 206. At third place was Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., at 8-under-par 208, and tied for fourth are Garret Sapp of Cerritos, Calif., and Sasan Shahi of Laguna Niguel, Calif., with tournament totals of 7-under-par 209.
Joh, 17, of San Diego, claims she’s on a lucky streak. She now has two wins under her belt after winning last week’s 2004 Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship. At this week’s tournament, Joh said she played consistently throughout the rounds and she said she was lucky to emerge as the champion after shooting a 4-under-par 68 in the final round.
“Once you get on a roll, you can ride it for however long it goes for,” she said. “My first two rounds were solid, but today was a surprise. I didn’t expect to drop into the 60s. I got off to a fast start when I was 5-under for the first 10 holes.”
Tied for second in the Girls Division are Jennifer Osborn of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Esther Choe of La Quinta, Calif., with tournament totals of 2-under par 214.
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 largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch U.S.A., a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became an AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
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 Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer.
For more information on the Lennar Junior at Mission Hills, contact Tournament Headquarters at (760) 324-9400 ext. 507
