Junior Amateur Golf Scholars
2003 President’s Junior Cup
February 16-17, 2003
Los Serranos Golf Course

South Course- Par-74
Chino Hills, CA

LOPEZ AND SANDERS CLAIM VICTORY AT PRESIDENT’S JUNIOR CUP

Chino Hills, Calif., - Junior Amateur Golf Scholars, a non-profit organization hosted the 36-hole 2003 President’s Junior Cup at Los Serranos Golf Club,  (South Course) in Chino Hills Calif., on February 16-17, 2003. 

Boys Champion, Joseph Lopez, Chino Hills, Calif., playing on his home course, held off first round co-leader Derek Zellmer, Huntington Beach, Calif., and fellow competitors Daniel Chin, Huntington Beach, Calif., Brian C. Kim, Cerritos, Calif., John Hoppe, Irvine, Calif., and Kyle Warren, Los Alamitos, to win his first JAGS victory at the demanding Los Serranos South course (par 74) by shooting even par 148 over a field of 40 in a nationally ranked Golfweek/Titleist and Junior Golf Scoreboard event.   

Day one of the tournament saw the Los Serranos’ staff preparing for the PGA’s Nissan Open qualifying round being held day after this event, giving the JAGS’ players a chance to play in real challenging conditions. To score well, players had to avoid the long rough, and stick the ball as close to the pin as possible on their approach shots because of the long un-cut and very slow greens during round one.  Players at the top of the leader board said, “If you didn’t hit fairways and greens in regulation today, you were scrambling just to save bogey.”     

What a difference a day makes, as day two greeted the players with freshly cut rolled greens giving them a chance to score low with solid putting.  Leaders Lopez and Zellmer began tied at 1-under 73, with Chin hot on their heals 2 back at 75, Nathan Holste, Bishop, Calif., 3 back at 76, Kim and Warren 4 back at 77 and Hoppe 6 back at 79. Lopez said, “These conditions really make you stop and assess every shot every time to avoid getting in trouble.”  At the turn, Lopez and Zellmer both posted 2 over-par (39), while Chin scored 1 over-par (38) which put them in a three- way tie. Hoppe, Kim and Warren pulled within 2 shots of the leaders on the back nine, with Lopez and Chin each shot 1-under 36 on the on the back, while Zellmer was 2 over.  Hoppe continued his great second day and fired the day’s low round of 1 under 73 for a two-day total of  (79-73-152) 4 over.  Kim eagled from the bunker on 18 to post even par 74 and a 3^rd place tie with Zellmer at 151 while Warren who got to 2 under during his round with a birdie/eagle, finished at 2 over for the day, total of 153.  Lopez edged Chin by 1 for the win.  Brandon Olsson, Palmdale, Calif., and Scott Clayton, San Bernardino, Calif., finished tied for 7^th.  Christopher “CJ” Gilman, Yorba Linda, Calif., was 9^th at 157 (9 over), T J Balhon, Diamond Bar, Calif., rounded off the top 10 finishers.  Lopez credited his victory to his steady play and getting pumped up by a near hole in one on the 174 yd, par 3, 6^th hole where he got one of his 4 birdies on the day.  Knowing the course and the greens helped him stay in front of the challengers for his first JAGS’ victory.  

In the Girls Division, Rosary High School junior, Jennifer Sanders, Placentia, Calif., (79-78-157) defended her championship as she won her fourth overall Girls title by 13-strokes over fellow competitors, Amanda Pentecost, Lakewood, Calif., (85-85-170), Meaghan Montoya, Redlands, Calif., (87-87-174), Michele Ann Johnson, Los Angeles, Calif., (86-89-175) and Catherine Pease, Camarillo, Calif., (86-89-175).   Sanders said, “This is a long and difficult course especially with the rough they let over-grow for the PGA’s Nissan Open qualifier being held here tomorrow.”  “I played steady and did everything I could to stay in the fairways to keep my score down.  I am so proud to defend my title from last year and look forward to defending again next year.”   Added Sanders.     

JAGS is accepting players for the 2003 “Oxnard Junior Challenge” at the beautiful River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard, Calif.  This 36-hole no cut tournament will be played on Saturday/Sunday, March 8-9, 2003 with tee times beginning at 10 A.M. both days.   

The JAGS Tour is a year-round junior golf program that specializes in nationally-ranked, two-day   (36-hole) no cut junior tournaments for boys and girls ages 13-18 years old.  Membership is not required; however, members pay lower tournament fees and have priority entry.  JAGS is a fully-accredited 501c (3) non-profit organization.  For information please visit our web site at www.jagstour.com or call us at 562-493-8416.

BOYS DIVISION 15-18
Yardage: 7,104 – Blue Tee Ratings – 74.0/134 – Par 74

GIRLS DIVISION 
Yardage: 5,954 – Gold Tee Ratings – 73.9/128 – Par 74