Richardson Putts to the Top Spot at AJGA Palmetto Junior Classic
Tobey holds on to win the Girls Division at Columbia Country Club

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — Conor Richardson of West Palm Beach, Fla., came from behind Thursday to win the Boys Division at the AJGA Palmetto Junior Classic scoring an even-par-216 tournament total. First- and second-round leader Mattie Tobey of Denver, N.C., also scored an even-par-216 to hold tight to first and take the Girls Division.

The AJGA Palmetto Junior Classic was a 54-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, S.C. The tournament field featured 75 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 16 states, Colombia, Argentina and Taiwan. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 7,111 yards while the Girls Division played at 6,185 yards.

Richardson came into the final round in fifth place but sunk an eagle on No. 3 to put himself into contention early. The tournament is his first AJGA win. Richardson's best moment came on No. 18 when he made a 20-foot putt for par and ended his round with a 2-under-par 70. He struggled with putting early in the week and made a conscious effort to improve coming in to the final round.

“I didn't putt too well the first two days and I think today I only had 30 putts. I made a lot of 5-footers for par to keep me where I was and not fall too far behind,” Richardson said. “My biggest putt was No.18.”

Shane Rogan of Columbia, S.C., finished in second with a 2-over-par 218 tournament total. Jay Pinkos of Clifton, Va., carded a 3-over-par 219 to take third. Bailey Patrick, Jr. of Charlotte, N.C., scored the low round of the day, 5-under-par 67, to finish fourth with a 4-over-par 220. Jonathan Lilly of Evans, Ga., finished fifth with a score of 5-over-par 221.

Tobey also marked her first AJGA win on Thursday. The end of her winning week was highlighted by a birdie on No. 9 to help her finish the final round with a 1-over-par 73. Tobey was able to stay focused, even when the greens got tough. She also relied on putting to pull her through.

“It was just there,” Tobey said of her putting. “If I needed to make a par putt for 10 feet I knew I had it because I hadn't missed one yet. It was a great time for me.”

Samantha Swinehart of Lancaster, Ohio, was close behind Tobey and took second with a 1-over-par 217 three- round total. McKenzie Talbert of Edgefield, S.C., and Mayko Chwen Wang of Taipei, Taiwan, tied for third with tournament totals of 5-over-par 221.

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 AJGA Palmetto Junior Classic please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

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