TRUE TEMPER JUNIOR OPEN
Diablo Grande – The Ranch Course
Patterson, California
July 5-8, 2004
TRUE TEMPER JUNIOR OPEN MARKS DUAL FIRST-TIME WINS FOR KIM AND CHO
Kim fires a 3-under-par 213; Cho shoots 1-under-par 215
PATTERSON, Calif.— Bio Kim was thankful on Thursday afternoon after he sunk his par putt on No. 18 and finished the final round with an even-par 72, claiming his first AJGA win at the True Temper Junior Open. Sooji Cho was able to maintain her lead and claim her first win with a tournament total of 1-under-par 215.
The True Temper Junior Open was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Ranch Course at Diablo Grande Resort. The tournament featured 144 players, ages 12-18, from eight states and three foreign countries. One-hundred and twenty-two California natives were entered in the field.
Kim, 13, of Tustin, Calif., said his family was his main support system throughout the rounds.
“My dad told me not to stress and just to play my own game,” he said. “I’m very thankful for them because they helped me stay grounded.”
He said he was able to maintain his lead and win the tournament because of his mind control.
“My focus was really good today,” he said. “I just tried to listen to my dad’s advice on staying calm.”
Kim birdied his first hole and continued through the front nine with three additional birdies. He sealed victory on the back nine when he shot a 37 and ended the tournament with a three-stroke advantage.
Mathew Tom of Norwalk, Calif., finished in second place with an even-par 216. Tied for third place with tournament totals of 1-over-par 217 were Matthew Shaw of Clovis, Calif., and Nicolas Podesta of Yuba City, Calif.
Another first of the day came for Cho, 16, of Glendale, Calif., when she shot a final round score of 1-over-par 73 to claim her first AJGA title.
“I’m happy, of course,” Cho said. “I concentrated on my job and got it done.”
At the beginning of her round, Cho started out by shooting an even-par 36 on the front nine. When she reached the par-5 16th hole, she said she hooked her drive in a hazard and hit a 5-wood out. She was able to chip in for birdie, which marked her first birdie of the day. She was able to card another birdie on No. 18, which put her at 1-over-par on the back nine.
Grace Woo of Burbank, Calif., finished in second place with a 3-over-par 219. In third place with a 9-over-par 225 was Christy Yun of University Place, Wash.
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 True Temper Junior Open, call national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
