FORSS TAKES BOYS DIVISION TITLE AT JOHN DEERE CLASSIC JUNIOR ALL-STAR

Chun pulls away from field to capture Girls Division victory at Glynns Creek Golf Course

LONG GROVE, Iowa —  Alexander Forss of Temecula, Calif., finished with a 7-under-par 137 to win the Boys Division of the John Deere Classic Junior All-Star Thursday at Glynns Creek Golf Course. Michelle Chun of Ontario, Calif., made it a clean sweep for the state of California, pulling away to win the Girls Division with a 4-under-par 140.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the John Deere Classic Junior All-Star was held at Glynns Creek Golf Course. Due to inclement weather, the tournament was shortened from a 54-hole event to a two-day, 36-hole shotgun event. The tournament field consisted of 82 boys and 13 girls from 25 states and one foreign country. The Boys Division played the course at 6,789 yards, while the Girls Division played at 5,748 yards.

Forss, who fired a 4-under-par 68 in the first round, continued his strong play, carding a 3-under-par 69 in the final round. Forss said he wasn't nervous to play with the leader group because he feels he plays his best under that kind of pressure. He said he felt good all day and used his short game to give himself a chance to pick up the win.

“Usually my short game is where I can compete and I was comfortable with it today,” Forss said. “Nothing felt overly spectacular, I was just able to hit greens and sneak a few putts in.”

Richard Werenski of South Hadley, Mass., Kyle Kmiecik of Avon, Ohio, Thomas Bradshaw of Columbia, S.C., Kramer Hickok of Plano, Texas, and Nick Langley of St. Louis, finished tied for second with 5-under-par 139s.

In the Girls Division, Chun said she was excited to pick up her second victory of the year, especially knowing how good her competition was. Chun felt comfortable with her irons and hit them well, giving her opportunities to make birdies. Chun carded a 3-under-par 69 in the final round to go with her 1-under-par 71 Wednesday to win by seven strokes.

“I really have no feeling right now because I can't believe it,” Chun said. “I just played my game today and executed really well. I've worked harder on my game recently and it feels good to know it's working out.”

Ember Schuldt of Sterling, Ill., finished second, recording a two-day total of 3-over-par 147. Casey Grice of College Station, Texas, finished third with a 7-over-par 151.

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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 countries.

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. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

For more information about the John Deere Classic Junior All-Star, please contact National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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