Janie Jackson and Andrew Dorn proudly display their new Scotty Cameron putter covers and trophies after the AJGA Franklin Junior presented by Franklin American Mortgage Company.
Each week, the AJGA honors one boy
and one girl at every AJGA tournament who shoot the low final-round score.
Below we hear from players at recent events as they recount the defining moment
of their round.
AJGA
Franklin Junior presented by Franklin American Mortgage Company
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens,” said Winburne Hughes of Memphis, Tenn.,
after his final-round 3-under-par 68. “I didn’t miss any short putts out there.
I felt like my turning point was with No. 7, I missed birdie opportunities in
the other rounds, but today I was able to birdie it. I also felt like my scores
on the back nine were really strong.”
“The putter was going really well today,” said Nick Huggins of Cincinnati. “I
made a couple 10 footers for par which helped. I felt like my turning point
came on No. 14 when I made a 20-foot putt for eagle.”
“I birdied three of my first four holes to get off to a hot start,” said Andrew
Dorn of West Chester, Ohio, who finished in third.“I had seven birdies today so I was really feeling it.”
“I was even at the turn, had three birdies on the back and I
eagled the last hole,” said Girls Division champion Janie Jackson of
Huntsville, Ala., after her 5-under-par 67. “On No. 18 I had 225 in, I hit my
5-wood to probably around six feet and made the putt. It was just a solid day and a
solid week.”
Lockton
Kansas City Junior
“On No. 8 I was really nervous about coming back out after
the rain delay at 3-under through No. 4,” Sarah Schmelzel of Phoenix,
said about her fifth birdie in the final round at the Lockton Kansas City Junior. “But
once I birdied that hole it jumpstarted my round and made me more confident to
finish.”
“I birdied Nos. 8 and 9 to get back to even, then just played really well and coasted
in,” said Charlie Saxon of Tulsa, Okla., who finished at 1-over-par 71. “It’s a great feeling to have the low round and it’s
a great confidence boost going into the rest of the season."
“On No. 16 I had a perfect tee shot down the middle, then hit my best
4-iron right past the hole and made the putt,” said Donald Stimble of Shell
Knob, Mo., about his birdie en route to the low-round 71. “It gives me a lot of
confidence going into the next year and hopefully I’ll get to play in more
high-quality tournaments. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
TEE UP
Junior Challenge presented by Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Cup
“I haven’t practiced in over a month,” said Boys Division champion Rak Cho of
Brea, Calif., after a 6-under-par 66. “I was not expecting to come out and do
that well. I just wanted to stay in the fairway but I wound up playing well.
Today I had five birdies and my eagle on No. 16. Doing this well after a
one-month break makes me think maybe I should stop practicing!”
“I was nervous coming into this tournament because I knew the field was strong,”
said Chieh Peng of Beaumont, Calif., who posted a 3-under-par 69. “Everything
went well today and I was excited that I was able to compete with players at
this level. I had a strong front nine where I got all four of my birdies.”
Junior
All-Star at Penn State
"My best shot of the day was on No.5, a par-5,” said
Tanner Owen, of High Point, N.C., after his 2-under-par 70 round. “I hit a 5-wood to about six feet. I
ended up two-putting but it was great shot, well executed. It boosted my
confidence. I had been playing well all day and that shot put me at 2-under so
it felt good."
"For me, it was the last hole,” said Chayanid Prapassarangkul of Bangkok,
Thailand, who finished second with a final-round 1-over-par 73. “I birdied it.
I approached it to about 70 yards and made a four-foot putt. It felt really
great."
The American Junior Golf Foundation is the primary recipient of all charitable giving to the AJGA and as such administers a variety of programs designed to compliment the AJGA and the members and families who make up our community. Learn more about these important programs and how your contributions to the Foundation secure the AJGA’s financial future for future generations to come.
The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program provides financial assistance to junior golfers who wish to play in AJGA events. Its goal is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA’s mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
Leadership Links
What is Leadership Links?
Leadership Links is a new program whereby the AJGA is able to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the AJGA youth development programs. Please click here to learn more about the program and the different opportunities available.
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.