DUAL FIRST TIME CHAMPIONS AT W. DUNCAN MACMILLIAN CLASSIC AT RUSH CREEK
Perry goes wire-to-wire in Boys Division, Piyapattra dominates Girls Division
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Jack Perry, 16, of Santa Barbara, Calif., shot a final-round 3-under-par 69 to take home his first AJGA tournament victory Thursday at the W. Duncan MacMillian Classic at Rush Creek. Michelle Piyapattra, 16, of Corona, Calif., separated herself from the rest of the Girls Division, winning by eight strokes to also take home her first AJGA title.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Rush Creek Golf Club. The tournament field consisted of 75 Boys and 24 Girls, ages 12-18, from 22 states and Canada. The par-72 course was played at 7,107 yards for the Boys Division and 6,193 yards for the Girls Division.
Perry knew it would come down to the wire after entering the final round leading by only one stroke. Perry, who had at least a share of the lead each day, finished the final round strongly by making birdie on the last three holes, Nos. 16, 17 and 18. Perry knew it was a great day after hitting his 7-iron on No. 16 to about one foot. Perry added birdies on Nos. 8 and 12 to finish the week with a 7-under-par 209.
“It is great to finally win an AJGA event,” Perry said. “To play against the best players and win, is exhilarating. To see that all my hard work is paying off is the most rewarding part.”
Motin Yeung of Orlando, Fla., finished second, carding a 1-under-par 215. Marcus Plunkett of St. Augustine, Fla., and Gregory Fehrman of Rothchild, Wis., finished tied for third after shooting 2-over-par 218s. David Walter of Eau Claire, Wis., and Kevin DeHuff of Coto de Caza, Calif., rounded out the top five in the Boys Division with 5-over-par 221s.
Using her irons to her advantage, hitting them straight and with distance, Piyapattra was able to hit sixteen fairways. She was nervous going in to the final round with the lead, but quickly boosted her confidence when she made her first birdie on the par-3, 137 yard 12th hole after making bogey on No. 11. Piyapattra added birdies on Nos. 4 and 17 to finish the tournament with a 4-under-par 212.
“I felt like it was neck and neck out there,” Piyapattra said. “Every hole felt like the lead could change hands. I'm just glad I was able to hang on and win.”
Anne Cheng of Torrance, Calif., took home second place, firing 4-over-par 220. Gabriella Then, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Jessica Vasilic of Anaheim Hills, Calif., and Elizabeth Doty of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., finished tied for third place, carding tournament totals of 8-over-par 224.
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 50 states and more than 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 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 about the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200. |
