Champions Eagle Their Way to Victories at TEE UP Junior Challenge presented by Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Cup
Cho trumps Boys Division and Liu claims first AJGA title at Oak Valley Golf Club

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Rak Cho of Brea, Calif., fired an impressive 6-under-par 66 in the final round of the TEE UP Junior Challenge presented by Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Cup en route to his second AJGA win. Yu Liu of Beijing, China, carded a final round 1-over-par 73 to win the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the TEE UP Junior Challenge presented by Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Cup was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. The 144-player field featured 101 boys and 45 girls, representing nine states, Mexico, China, Argentina, Thailand and the Philippines. The Boys Division played the par-72 course from 6,995 yards and the Girls Division played from 6,089 yards.

Coming off a one-month break from practicing, Cho was curious to see how his first tournament back would go. Upon completion of the first round, Cho held the fourth-place spot, and then moved up to second place after 36 holes. Shooting 2-under-par on his first nine of the final round and doubling that with 4-under-par on the back, Cho was able to easily slide into first place. He finished the tournament at 11-under-par 205. Cho took home second place at this event last year and is a 2008 second-team Rolex Junior All-American.

“I didn't expect to win at all,” Cho said. “I took a break because I was having some problems with my back. I am excited to get my second win.”

Cho's error-free round included five birdies and an eagle on No. 16.

“On No. 16 I had a great drive with a fade over the bunker,” Cho said. “I was 174 yards out and used my 7-iron to get about 15 feet from the hole. I thought I hit my putt too hard, but it wound up going in for eagle.”

In a tie for second in the Boys Division were Jonah Texeria of Northridge, Calif., and Matt Pinizzotto of Salinas, Calif., each with 5-under-par 211 for the tournament. Shuai Wu of Beijing, China, took fourth with a 4-under-par 212. In a tie for fifth were David Gazzolo of Riverside, Calif., and Ki Taek Lee of La Quinta, Calif., who both finished at 3-under-par 213.

After coming off last week's medalist honors for the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst K12 Qualifier and her low 6-under-par 66 in the second round, Liu was confident heading into the final round. Although, she got off to a rocky start with a double bogey on No. 2, Liu was able to come back with three birdies on the front and finish out with an eagle on No. 9.

“I hit my first shot well about 200 yards to the pin,” Liu said. “My second shot was great; I got it to about one foot and tapped in for eagle.”

Chieh Peng of Beaumont, Calif., finished second at 4-under-par 212. Rounding out the Girls Division leaderboard was Gyeol Park of Anaheim, Calif., and Elisabeth Bernabe of Anaheim Hills, Calif., who tied for third each with a 2-under-par 214.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the TEE UP Junior Challenge presented by Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Cup, please contact National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.