MOORHEAD TAKES TITLE AT KINGWOOD COUNTRY CLUB
Mao tops Girls Division by three strokes at the Junior All-Star at Kingwood

KINGWOOD, Texas — Michael Moorhead of Newport Beach, Calif., finished strong as he eagled his last hole to give him a one-stroke victory in the final-round of the Junior All-Star at Kingwood. In the Girls Division, Briana Mao of Folsom, Calif., carded a 1-under-par 71, at Kingwood Country Club — Forest Course.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Junior All-Star at Kingwood featured 66 boys and 18 girls — ages 12-15 — from 15 states, Canada and Mexico. The Boys Division played the course at 6,738 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 5,834 yards. The event was shortened to one round of 18 holes after weather forced players off the course Saturday.

Moorhead, 15, started off a little nervous playing in just his second AJGA event. He missed a one-foot putt on his first hole for bogey, but his nerves started to settle as the sun broke through the clouds. Moorhead birdied Nos. 5 and 13, to card a 2-under-par 70 for the tournament.

“I started the day just hoping that we would get to play all 18 holes,” Moorhead said. “I was upset about yesterday's round being suspended, but I am happy that we got to play today. This is a great feeling.”

Rounding out the top five for the Boys Division in second place is Corbin Renner of Little Rock, Ark., at 1-under-par 71. Joshua Martin of Pinehurst, N.C., carded a 1-over-par 73 for third. Tied for fourth at 2-over-par 74, is Daniel De La Garza of Monterrey, Mexico, Connor Black of Katy, Texas, Kyle Bowser of Danville, Calif., Kevin DeHuff of Coto de Caza, Calif., and Michael Oretsky of Parkland, Fla.

Mao, 15, spent yesterday catching up on homework after the first-round suspension. She finished today's round at 1-under-par, carding birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 10. Mao played a consistent round, hitting most of the greens in regulation and staying out of the recently formed causal water throughout the course.

“I just wanted to keep the ball in play,” Mao said. “I just had to grind through the tough greens and the wet fairways. I am happy this tournament was this weekend when I didn't have to worry about school because of a Spring Break.”

In the Girls Division, Amy Alston of Mission Viejo, Calif., finished second with a 2-over-par 74. Marijosse Navarro of San Antonio, Texas, rounds out the top three with a 4-over-par 76.

The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series is a collection of nine events specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15 and presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into Open tournaments. Juniors are limited to a maximum combination of five AJGA Open and Junior All-Star Series events during a calendar year. The series concludes with the Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, a full-time junior golf training and development program, enters its first year as an Official Partner of the AJGA. The partnership features an endowment of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and the naming rights to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series, which will provide juniors access to national competitive golf opportunities.

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, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 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 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 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 on the Junior All-Star at Kingwood, please call AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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