LEWIS SHOOTS 8-UNDER-PAR 64 FOR FIRST WIN
Navarro wins second AJGA event in hometown

SAN ANTONIO — Kyle Lewis of Shawnee, Okla., couldn't get any putts to drop in the first two rounds, but when the putts finally did start to drop in the final round, they didn't stop dropping, as Lewis made eight birdies to go with no bogeys on the day to post an incredible 8-under-par 64 for an 8-under-par 208 total to win the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi. Marijosse Navarro, 12, of San Antonio, Texas, lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Classic, but it didn't take her long to get vengeance, winning her hometown tournament by four shots Thursday with a 4-over-par 220 total.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at The Dominion Country Club. The tournament field consists of 90 boys and 30 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 13 states, Mexico, and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,848 yards, while the Girls Division is playing the course at 6,164 yards.

Lewis, who hit all 18 greens on the day, stood on the No. 11 tee three shots back of Kolton Crawford of Mansfield, Texas, and thought he had little chance to win, but that was before he made four consecutive birdies on Nos. 11-14 to take a one-shot lead. Lewis went on to extend that lead on the par-3 No. 17, draining a 15-foot birdie putt to secure the win and tie the 18-hole record since the inception of the event in 1992.

“I didn't make any putts in the first two rounds, but I made everything today,” Lewis said. “This win just means so much to me. I can't really put it into words because I've worked so hard to get here. I'm just speechless.”

Crawford shot a 6-under-par 66, which included a six-under-par seven-hole stretch, to take home second place in the Boys Division. Nick Tremps of San Antonio, finished in third at 4-under-par 212 for the tournament. Drew Dorsey of Edmond, Okla., who will play golf for Texas Tech University in the fall, finished in fourth at 2-under-par 214. Brax McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, Curtis Donahoe of League City, Texas, and Chandler Rusk, the 2008 winner of this event, of Edmond, Okla., round out the top-five in a tie for fifth.

This win was especially sweet for Navarro, as her first AJGA win came at the Junior All-Star at Aspen, which featured 12-15 year-olds, but this win was against 18-year-olds, beating the older girls and earning her second AJGA win in a month. Even though Navarro didn't have her best game today and said she felt tired throughout the round, she still was able to hold on to the lead she held entering the final round. For Navarro, it was even more special that she was able to hold on to her second-round lead after losing the lead at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Classic.

“I practiced very hard after losing in the playoff, and I feel really excited because I beat the 18-year-olds,” said Navarro.

Alicia Malagon of Tampico, Mexico, shot the low round of the day with a 2-over-par 74 to take home second place at 8-over-par 224 for the tournament. Sandra Lee of Euless, Texas, rounded out the top three for the Girls Division with a tournament total 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 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 Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.