Park comes from behind to win AJGA Junior Challenge
Lee's birdie stretch gives her win at Oak Valley Golf Club

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Luke Park of Fullerton, Calif., carded a 4-under-par 68 Thursday to win the AJGA Junior Challenge. In the Girls Division, Esther Lee fired a 5-under-par 67 for the second consecutive day to run away from the field at Oak Valley Golf Club

The AJGA Junior Challenge was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. The tournament field featured 102 boys and 42 girls from seven states and ten countries. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,982 yards and the Girls Division played at 6,080 yards.

Park, who went 74-67-68 for a 7-under-par 209, began the day one stroke off the lead in a tie for fourth place, but birdied four of his final six holes to claim his first AJGA win.

“After birdying Nos. 13 and 14, I knew I had figured out my swing and had a chance to win,” Park said. “It still hasn't hit me yet.”

Shearn Chua of Beaumont, Calif., finished in second place, going 72-69-69 for a 6-under-par 210. Tied for third at 3-under-par 213 were John Lee of Los Alamitos, Calif., and Zecheng Dou of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. In fifth place were Lorens Chan of Honolulu, Sammy Cole of Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Andrew Namkoong of Villa Park, Calif., at 1-under-par 215.

Esther Lee began the day in a three-way tie for first place, but stood three shots back after seven holes. Lee went on to birdie Nos. 9 through 13 to separate herself from the field, finishing with an 8-under-par 208.

“I've been working on my approach shots lately,” said Lee after clinching her third AJGA win. “Today I was able to get everything within 20 feet. It's a great way to end the summer.”

Second-round leader Chieh Peng Shenzhen, China finished in second place, going 71-70-71 for a 4-under-par 212 tournament total.

First-round leader Raychelle Santos of La Quinta, Calif., finished in third place after shooting 69-74-71 for a 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 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, Rickie Fowler, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the AJGA Junior Challenge, contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200 or visit the website at ajga.org.