Junior Amateur Golf Scholars
2003 Marty LaRoche Junior Invitational
June 30-July 1, 2003
 Tijeras Creek Golf Club — Par 72
Rancho Santa Margarita, California

DEHUFF AND PEASE CLAIM TITLES AT
2003 MARTY LAROCHE JUNIOR INVITATIONAL

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Junior Amateur Golf Scholars, a non-profit organization, hosted the 36-hole Marty LaRoche Junior Invitational at Tijeras Creek Golf Course on June 30-July 1, 2003 in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. 

Boys’ Champion, Bo DeHuff, Coto de Caza, Calif., played steady golf to claimed his first JAGS title holding off fellow competitors Peter Deltondo, Laguna Hills, Calif. (74-76-150), and Matthew Belden, Orange, Calif. (73-773-150) finishing with a four-over par 148 (74-74) on the very challenging Tijeras Creek course. 

First round leader, Belden carded 1-over 73 with Deltondo, Huff and DJ Schultz, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., trailing by one (74).  Belden said, “I had an opportunity to score lower today with 5 birdies, but was unable to hold my putts for par on holes 5, 6, on the front and 13, 14 on the back.”  Also chasing Belden was Matt Cole, Coto de Caza, Calif., and Charles Acret, Orange, Calif., both posting 75, two strokes behind Belden.  

Belden began round two with birdies on the first two holes but found trouble down the stretch to lose his lead as DeHuff continued his steady play posting 1-over 37 for both the front and back nine’s.  DeHuff said, “My game plan was to stay as close to par as possible avoiding high numbers.”  By the end of the tournament DeHuff had overcome the field with a 2 shot margin for his first JAGS championship title.  DeHuff added, “Tijeras Creek is a tough course if you don’t hit fairways and greens especially on the Canyon back nine.  I played smart golf these two days and am excited to be the JAGS’ champion.”  Deltondo got off to a rocky start on the front nine posting a 5-over 41, but regrouped on the back side for a 1-under 35 tying him for second place with first round leader Belden.  Fourth place went to Cole, (75-77-152), fifth to Greg Gauvin, Valencia, Calif., (76-77-153), and Jeff Grant, Coto de Caza, Calif., (75-78-153).  Dustin Slikker, Bakersfield, Calif., (76-78-154) placed seventh. Scott Clayton, San Bernardino, Calif., (78-77-155), Ryan Kahl, Palmdale, Calif., (76-79-155) and Acret (75-80-155) tied for eight to round off the top ten finishers. 

John Hoppe, Irvine, Calif., carded the low round of the tournament on day two posting a 1-under 71. 

Mark Alverez, Pomona, Calif., carded 155, (75-80) to take his first title in the 13-14 year old Boys Division by two strokes over Brett Lawler, Lake Forest, Calif. (75-82-157) and four shots over Gene Webster, Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., (78-81-159).  Alverez said,  “This course has some very difficult holes, especially the par 3’s which made me stay focused and patient on every shot.”  Alverez added,  “It is great to be the winner of my division and I look forward to playing in the next JAGS event.”  

In the Girls Division, Catherine Pease, Camarillo Calif., captured her second JAGS title by a two-stroke margin to post (82-79-161,) over second place finisher Kristin Ingram, Pasadena, Calif., (81-82-163) and third place finisher Kathy Suarez, Los Flores, Calif., (81-83-164).  Pease said, “JAGS is a great organization that honors players for their game and for their academics too!  It is an honor to be a second time champion on the JAGS Tour and I look forward to coming back as an alumni player next year.”  Pease a 2003 JAGS Academic Scholarship winner is also a 2003 graduate from LaReina High School in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and will be attending Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in the Fall.   

JAGS is accepting players for the 2003 “Jack B. Hooper Memorial” at the beautiful California Country Club in Whittier, Calif.  This 36-hole no cut tournament will be played on Thursday - Friday, July 24-25, 2003 with a 7:30A.M. shotgun 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: 6,613 – Blue Tee Ratings – 71.7/126 – Par 72

BOYS DIVISION 13-14
Yardage: 6,220 – White Tee Ratings – 69.5/120 – Par 72

GIRLS DIVISION 
Yardage: 5,130 – Red Tee Ratings – 69.8/120 – Par 72