SWANSON MAKES FINAL CHARGE TO TRIUMPH AT DODGE/BOB ESTES ABILENE JUNIOR
Weaver extends lead to claim first AJGA title at Abilene Country Club
ABILENE, Texas — Brian Swanson of Katy, Texas, fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 to move up from four strokes back and take the crown at the Dodge/Bob Estes Abilene Junior. Lauren Weaver of Scottsdale, Ariz., carded a 3-over-par 75 to increase her lead and claim the Girls Division title by 11 strokes.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Dodge/Bob Estes Abilene Junior was a 54-hole stroke play event being held at Abilene Country Club. The tournament field consisted of 89 boys and 30 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 10 states, Mexico, Japan and British Columbia. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 7,041 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 6,155 yards.
Swanson sat tied for eighth entering the final round, but rapidly made his way up the leaderboard. His four birdies on the front nine gave him momentum making the turn and helped him to finish the day strong. With six total birdies on the day, Swanson posted a tournament total 3-under-par 213 to take victory in only his third ever AJGA event.
“My goal was just to not worry about what other people were doing and play my own game,” Swanson said.
“It's great to compete against such a good field and come out on top with all these players.”
In second place was Tim Mitchell of Austin, Texas, at a tournament total 1-over-par 217. Colton Staggs of Tulsa, Okla., followed in third at 3-over-par 219. Finishing tied for fourth, all at 4-over-par 220, were Kyle Souza of Livermore, Calif., True Graves of Odessa, Texas, and Joe Doramus of Little Rock, Ark.
In the Girls Division, Weaver controlled the lead throughout the tournament, finishing at a three-day total even-par 216. Weaver did not allow playing with the lead to affect her game, recording three birdies and 28 putts in the first AJGA win of her career.
“This means a lot to me,” the 2007 HP Scholastic Junior All-American said. “I only have a couple years left [playing in the AJGA], and I just wanted to get a win in my pocket.”
Victoria Vela of Mansfield, Texas, finished in second place at 11-over-par 227. Tied for third were Talia Campbell of Dallas, and Shelby Hardy of San Saba, Texas, each at 13-over-par 229.
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 Dodge/Bob Estes Abilene Junior please contact National Headquarters at 770-868-4200. |
