Kelly takes first AJGA victory at the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament
Prince wins by six strokes in the Girls Division at The Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tee-k Kelly of Wheaton, Ill., went wire-to-wire, finishing two strokes ahead in the Boys Division carding a 1-over-par 214 tournament total at the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament. In the Girls Division, Kendall Prince of Lake Oswego, Ore., carded a 6-over-par 219 to win on her future home course at The Ohio State Golf Club – Scarlet Course.

The Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course. The tournament field included 72 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18 from 17 states, Canada and Colombia. The Boys Division played the par-71 course at 6,992 yards and the Girls Division played at 6,062 yards. Kelly came into the final round confident, believing consistency would turn his two round lead into his first AJGA victory.

Kelly utilized two birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to give him a 2-over-par 73 final-round score leaving him two strokes ahead of the field.  

“I am proud of how I handled it mentally out there,” Kelly said. “It gives me confidence knowing that I can now go toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the country and that I can compete with them.”

In second was Matthew Gerard of Rocky River, Ohio, who carded a 3-over-par 216 final score. A four-way tie for third included, Brad Burgess of St. Catharines, Ontario, Logan Lagodich of Canton, Ohio, Mert Selamet of Dublin, Ohio, and Joo-Young Lee of Hilliard, Ohio who all shot 5-over-par 218 tournament totals.

In the Girls Division, Prince shot an even-par 71 in the final round to give her a six stroke win for the tournament. Prince, who will be attending Ohio State in the fall, fulfilled her wish of defending her future home course this week by leading the second-round and winning her third AJGA event.   

“It felt great to defend the home turf,” Prince said. “I now know that I can play this course well and play it smart. I have a lot of confidence going into next year.”

Coming in second, Lauren Grogan of Columbus, Ohio, finished with a 12-over-par 225 tournament total. Rounding off the top three, Silvia Garces of Cali, Colombia carded a 15-over-par 228 to take third.

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 more than 40 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, 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 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament, please contact the American Junior Golf Association Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.