Buchanan wins Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau Junior Open
Amy Lee comes from behind to win at The Reserve at Spanos Park

STOCKTON, Calif. — Andrew Buchanan of Los Altos Hills, Calif., shot a final-round, even-par 72, leading wire-to-wire to win the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau Junior Open. In the Girls Division, Amy Lee of Brea, Calif., fired a tournament-best, 6-under-par 66 to erase a 3-stroke deficit and win at The Reserve at Spanos Park.

The Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau Junior Open was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton, Calif. The tournament field featured 69 boys and 27 girls from six states, Brazil, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 7,039 yards and the Girls Division played at 6,246 yards.

Buchanan, who went 67-69-72 for an 8-under-par 208, clinched his first career AJGA victory. After playing the front nine 1-over-par and bogeying No. 10, Buchanan hit a 3-iron from 225 yards to within a foot of the hole on the par-5 No. 11. Buchanan then tapped in for eagle, moving to even par on the day.

“That eagle got me going to negate the two bogeys before,” Buchanan said. “This win gives me a lot of confidence in any tournament going forward.”

Zane Thomas of Las Vegas fired a final-round, 4-under-par 68 to clinch second place, at 5-under-par 211. In third place was Justin Suh of San Jose, Calif., who finished at 2-under-par 212. Tied for fourth at 2-under-par 214 were Cody Blick of Danville, Calif., and Michael Howe of Temecula, Calif.

In the Girls Division, Lee rallied with five birdies on the back nine to clinch her first AJGA victory. Lee, who is ranked No. 25 in the Polo Golf Rankings, is coming off a second-place finish at the AJGA Junior at Centennial and a semifinalist finish at the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.

“On the back nine my putting was phenomenal,” Lee said. “When I became tied for the lead on No. 15, I started thinking, ‘Maybe I can win this.'”

Second-round leaders Hee Wook Choi of San Diego and Esther Lee of Los Alamitos Calif., finished in second and third place, respectively. Choi carded 72-70-71 to finish at 3-under par 213. Lee went 74-68-72 for a tournament total of 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 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.

The Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau was founded in 1979 and is the official destination marketing organization for Stockton, Calif. The bureau's mission is to promote Stockton by increasing the awareness and enhancing the image of the city's diverse cultural, historical and recreational assets. Since its founding, the bureau has been integral in bringing hundreds of quality regional, national and international sporting events and tournaments to Stockton. More information can be found at www.VisitStockton.org.

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, Rickie Fowler, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau Junior Open, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200, or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.