Junior Amateur Golf Scholars
Memorial Salute
May 17-18, 2003
Cypress Golf Club
Los Alamitos, California
Par 71

LOPEZ AND SALAS TAKE TITLES AT CYPRESS MEMORIAL SALUTE

Los Alamitos, CA – Junior Amateur Golf Scholars, a non-profit organization, hosted the 36-hole Memorial Salute at Cypress Golf Course on May 17 & 18, 2003 in Los Alamitos, California. 

Boys’ Champion, Joseph Lopez, a graduating senior at Ayala High School won his second JAGS event by holding off fellow competitors Doug Fortner, Tustin, California,  Nick Baratelle, Cypress, California, Andrew Gunson, Irvine, California and Peter Deltondo, Laguna Hills, California to finish with a one-over par 143 (67-76) on the narrow and tricky course. 

Round one found a demanding course set up with tight pin placements tucked near the many water hazards and bunkers.  Lopez was up to the challenge and played fairways and greens during his round to post a 4-under 67 with 6 birdies and 2 bogeys.  Lopez said, “This course is very narrow and it was so important for me not to miss fairways and greens today in order to score well.”    

Round two offered many of the same conditions including the tight pin placements and the added steady wind as the afternoon progressed.  Lopez enjoyed a 6 shot lead over Fortner and 8 shots over Baratelle and Gunson.  Lopez quickly learned today would be different and bogeyed his first hole cutting his lead.  At the turn, Lopez was 3 over for the day and had lost 2 strokes to his pursuers.   Lopez played the back nine with 7 pars and 2 bogeys for a final round of 76 (5 over) and his followers were unable to continue their charge and make up any additional strokes.   By the end of the tournament Lopez had overcome the field with a 7 shot margin for his second JAGS championship title.  Lopez said, “JAGS tournaments are always played on tough courses and I knew I could not rely on my lead from yesterday to carry me through.”  Lopez added, “I did struggle a little today and lost my focus on a couple of holes, but settled down on the back for a strong finish.“  Second place was captured by Doug Fortner, (73-77-150), third to Nick Baratelle, (75-76-151), fourth to Andrew Gunson (75-78-153) and fifth to Peter Deltondo (76-79-155).  John Hoppe, Irvine, California, DJ Schultz, Palos Verde Estates, California and Brian Cox, Yorba Linda, California tied for sixth.  Andy Kim, Laguna Niguel, California took ninth and Jordan Francis, Yorba Linda, California placed tenth. 

First time JAGS competitor, Ronnald Monaco, Rancho Cucamonga, California posted a 153, (82-71) to take the title in the 13-14 year old Boys Division.  Monaco fired the second day’s low round, an even par 71 to overtake 5 players and win his division over second place finisher Alex Bon, Santa Monica, California and Jake Sarnoff, Manhattan Beach, California who placed third.  Fourth place was taken by Mark Alvarez, Pomona, California, fifth went to Brett Lawler, Lake Forest, California, sixth to Johnny Chipman, Rancho Santa Magarita, California and Robert (Bobby) Lehman, Palos Verde, California finished seventh. 

In the Girls Division, sixteen players teed it up as 13 year old Lee Lopez, Whittier, California carded a first day round of 78 despite posting a 9 on the 324-yard, par 4, fourteenth to finish the day with a two stroke lead over fellow competitors, Lizette Salas, Azusa, California and 3 shots better than Madison Butler, Coto De Caza and 4 better than Kim Lorenzana, Long Beach, California and Lianne Choi, Cypress, California. 

Day two had the leaders paired together in the final group as Salas fired a 78 while Lorenzana shot 79 to catch Lopez, the first day leader.  Salas finished on top of the leader board with a 3 shot victory over Lorenzana and Lee who finished tied at 161 for second place.  Salas said, “This is a tough course with tight fairways.  I was rolling my putts pretty well even though the pins were in really hard places.”  Kristin Ingram, Pasadena, California placed fourth and Allison Ek, Cypress, California, Lianne Choi, and Madison Butler all tied for fifth.  Cara Freeman, San Juan Capistrano, California finished eighth, Jacqueline Struck, Coto De Caza, California placed ninth and Colette Lowe, Rancho Palos Verde, California finished tenth. 

JAGS is accepting players for the 2003 “Marty LaRoche Junior Invitational” at the beautiful Tijeras Creek Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.  This 36-hole no cut tournament will be played on Monday-Tuesday, June 30-July 1, 2003 with tee times beginning at 9:00 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: 6,510 – Blue Tee Ratings – 72.2/134 – Par 71

BOYS DIVISION 13-14
Yardage: 6,039 – White Tee Ratings – 69.5/127 – Par 71

GIRLS DIVISION 
Yardage: 5,188 – Red Tee Ratings – 70.8/129 – Par 71