NIEBRUGGE COMES FROM TWO BACK TO TAKE HOME TITLE AT BOYNE HIGHLANDS
Garces wins by one in the Girls Division

HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. — Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon, Wis., took home the Boys Division title Friday at the Coca-Cola Junior All-Star Championship at Boyne Highlands, shooting a three-day total of 1-under-par 215. Silvia Garces of Cali, Colombia, won the Girls Division with a final-round 3-over-par 75 finishing with a three-day total 10-over-par of 226.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Coca-Cola Junior All-Star Championship at Boyne Highlands was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Boyne Highlands — Moor Course. The tournament field consisted of 101 boys and 32 girls, ages 12 to 15 from 27 states, Colombia and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-72 layout at 6,808 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 6,046 yards.

After taking home medalist honors in the AJGA National Qualifier Tuesday, Niebrugge continued his dominant play to win by two strokes in the Boys Division. He played steady all day recording four birdies against three bogeys. Although he is known for his long drives and power, he had to re-align his game for this tight, tree lined course.

“My game this week was getting up and down,” Niebrugge said. “I made a lot of putts and although distance is an advantage it really doesn't matter here.”

Chris Noble of Niles, Mich., finished second firing a final-round 3-under-par 69 to finish with a three-day total of 1-over-par 217. Taking third was Tyler Williams of Hilton Head Island, S.C. finishing at 2-over-par 218. Ryann Ree of Redondo Beach, Calif., finished fourth at 3-over-par 219. Tied for fifth were Kyle Kochevar of Glen Ellyn, Ill. and Xander Schauffele of San Diego each with three-day totals of 4-over-par 220.

In the Girls Division, Garces managed to take home the title outlasting Vivian Tsui of Markham, Ontario, and Alexandra White of Haymarket, Va., by one shot. Garces is happy with her steady play and excited to bring home the trophy to Colombia.

“This is important to me because it's my first tournament I've won outside my country,” Garces said. “Hopefully this will open some doors for the future.”

Tsui and White ended the tournament tied for second each with three-day totals of 11-over-par 227.

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.

Boyne Highlands Resort, located in Harbor Springs, Michigan, is home to The Golf Channel's Big Break X: Michigan. The full-service resort lures golfers with 72 holes of public play championship golf and delights vacationers with its Scottish charm. Luxury accommodations, savory cuisine, a par-3 course, horseback trail rides and the Young Americans Dinner Theatre make Boyne Highlands Resort a popular destination for golf and family vacations. Golf and lodging packages start at $82.00 per person. For more information, visit www.BOYNE.com.

The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series is a collection of 11 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

For more information about the Coca-Cola Junior All-Star Championship at Boyne Highlands, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.