ANDREWS GRABS VICTORY AT COOSA COUNTRY CLUB
Ernst gets second win of the year at Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic

ROME, Ga.  — In a final day with playoffs in the Boys and Girls Division, Bo Andrews of Raleigh, N.C., and Austin Ernst of Seneca, S.C., walked away winners of the Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic. Andrews finished at 2-under-par 208, and Ernst finished at 3-under-par 211.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Coosa Country Club. The 99-player field featured players from 20 states and Canada. The course was a 6,804-yard Par 70 in the Boys Division and a 5,946-yard Par 71 in the Girls Division.

Andrews knew he had to finish strong today coming down the stretch, he said. He did just that, posting a 4-under-par 31 on the back nine to finish the day at 3-under-par 67. Andrews was anxious to get the playoff started, he said. He then two-putted his way to victory on the second hole (No. 1) of the playoff.

“It feels great to win,” Andrews said. “This will give me confidence, and golf is a game that revolves around confidence.”

Andrew Cho of Howey in The Hills, Fla., finished second after shooting a final round total of 4-under-par 66. One stroke back, Jeff Rives of Roswell, Ga., came in at 1-under-par 209. David Zickler of Florence, Ala., ended the tournament in fourth at even-par 210. Rounding out the top five was Jonathan Randolph of Brandon, Miss., with a 1-over-par 211.

In the Girls Division, Ernst, winner of the Ringgold Telephone Company Junior Classic just three weeks ago, buried a 30-foot putt on No. 18 to put her at 2-over-par for the day and into a playoff with Haley Sanders of Rogers, Ark. After saving par from the bunker on the second playoff hole (No. 10), Ernst birdied the next hole (No. 1) to close out the victory.

“I knew that we were tied coming up No. 18,” Ernst said. “I thought the putt was going to come up short — then it fell in. So I told myself, ‘Get ready for a playoff.'”

Ernst said she hit her irons well all week and hopes that carries over to next week when she will compete in the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

Sanders came in second after posting a final round 3-under-par 68. Zakiya Randall of Atlanta, Ga., and Katie Burnett of Brunswick, Ga., finished tied for third with tournament totals of 215.

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 ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign 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 Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.