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Whittier,
California
- Junior Amateur Golf Scholars (JAGS)
hosted the 4TH Annual Jack B. Hooper Memorial 36-hole
golf tournament with 43 junior golfers from California and Hawaii
enjoying two days of excellent weather and great course conditions
at the demanding California Country Club in Whittier, California.
Day one of the
tournament give many players trouble with lightening fast green
which had just been cut prior to the start of the event. Even
though the course was wet from over watering, the cool early morning
temperature was a nice welcomed relief from the 90+ degree heat that
was predicted for later on in the day. Kristofer Butkys, Newbury
Park, Calif., and Jordan Bertoglio, Orange, Calif., both posted
2-over (74) to lead the tournament after round one. Bertoglio who
had just come off a victory at the JAGS tournament at Tijeras Creek
Golf Club last month was eager to start round two with Butkys and
Scott Clayton, San Bernardino, Calif., who was one shot back at (75)
and were paired together in final group to battle it out. The
leaders started on the par-4, seventh hole as each easily made par
to move on to the eight when Bertoglio started his birdie run to
emerge as the leader after their first nine holes. Scoring a
4-under 68 during round two for a 36-hole total of (74-68-142),
Bertoglio was very excited to win his second JAGS title. His
2-under-par (142) was a six shot victory over Clayton who placed
second scoring (75-73-148). Kyle Warren, Los Alamitos, Calif.,
playing in his final JAGS event before attending Elon University in
North Carolina, fired a 1-under par 71 on day two to take 3rd
with a final score of (78-71-149). Bertoglio was unstoppable on
the final day as he rolled in 6 birdies. Bertoglio said, “My putter
was really hot today and on these smooth quick greens to see my ball
drop for birdies was a great feeling and really built up my
confidence.” Bertoglio credited his sub-par performance to hitting
solid approach shots giving him lots of birdie opportunities.
Rounding out the top ten in the Boys 15-18 Division were Alex Bon,
Santa Monica, Calif., and Brendan Wong, Orange, Calif., tied for 4th
at (151), Butkys finished 6th, Micah Burke, Los Angeles,
Calif., 7th; Paul Hanzal, Jamul, Calif., was 8th, Tommy Fonseca, San
Dimas, Calif., 9th, and Ryan Boyker, Long Beach, Calif., placed
10th.
The Girls division
was very exciting as Sunkyung (Keaton) Kim, Buena Park, Calif.,
posted 1-under 73 taking a 2-stroke lead over last year’s champion,
Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif., who scored 75 after round one. Salas
played solid golf on day two to defend her title and continue her
winning performance with JAGS with a sub par of 1-under 73 to seal
her victory to finish at even par (75-73-148) and a 4 shot victory
over Kim, who placed 2nd (73-79-152). Lopez said, “I really managed
my game today giving me lots of opportunities to score birdies and
pars.” The leaders began round two on the par-3 fifth hole and
completed their round on the very long par-4, 438 yd., fourth. “I
was very excited to birdie my final hole today because the fourth
hole is a long tough hole,” Added Sales. Rounding off the top
eleven were Mariko Makabe, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Maki
Kamimura, West Covina, Calif., tied for 3rd at 155, Lee Lopez,
Whittier, Calif., placed 5th, Erica Im, Cerritos, Calif., and
Allison Wing, Irvine, Calif., tied for 6th, Jennifer Bermingham,
Long Beach, Calif., 8th, Stephanie Yocum, Palos Verde Estates.,
Calif., 9th, Colette Lowe, Palm Springs, Calif., 10th and Jacqueline
Struck, Coto de Caza, Calif., and Kristin Medlin, Garden Grove,
Calif., tied for 11th.
In the Boys 12-14
division, Bodin Bhanaraksa, Chino, Calif., had a two day total of
(79-74-153) to win by seven strokes over Brett Robertson, Tustin,
who was 2nd. Jonathan Fidone, Laguna Niguel, Calif., placed 3rd,
Graham Waks, Coto de Casa, Calif., 4th. Mason Davis, Ewa Beach,
Hawaii, 5th, Cory Bacon, Cypress, Calif., 6th, Alex Park, Mission
Viejo, Calif.,7th and Ryan Victor, Fallbrook, Calif., placed 8th.
Keeping with
tradition at this special tournament in honor of JAGS’ founder Cindy
Warren’s grandfather, Jack B. Hooper, a long drive contest for the
boys and closest to the pin contest was held for the girls. The
long drive hole was the very long 461 yd., par-4, fourth as Ryan
Boyker, Long Beach, Calif., drove his drive 280 yds. down the middle
of the fairway to take the 15-18 boys division. Mason Davis, Ewa
Beach, Hawaii crushed his drive 240 yds., dead center to take the
boys 13-14 division. The closest to the pin for the girls was on
the par-3, 129 yd., tenth as Kayleigh Horn, Newport Beach, Calif.,
put it within 10 feet of the pin for the win.
JAGS is a year round
junior golf tour and conducts monthly 36 hole tournaments for junior
golfers at courses throughout Southern California. Juniors need not
be members or qualify to participate. Tournament results are
reported to national junior golf ranking services, local and
national media. Players may benefit from these services. JAGS 5th
membership year begins in September 2004 and runs through August 31,
2005. All boys and girls 12 – 18 yrs old are welcome to join and
play the JAGS Tour.
Junior Amateur Golf
Scholars is a 501C 3 non-profit public benefit organization
providing college scholarships and the opportunity to play golf in a
competitive format while minimizing the cost of travel, lodging and
qualifying. Scholarships and other player benefits are provided by
tax deductible personal and corporate contributions that are fully
tax deductible. All contributions are appreciated and will allow
JAGS to continue its growth and programs.
JAGS year end awards
banquet will be held August 1st at Old Ranch Country Club
in Seal Beach and the next tournament is scheduled at Cresta Verde
Gold Course, August 10 & 11. To sign up call JAGS at
562.493.8416 of visit the website at
www.jagstour.com; JAGS e-mail address is jagstour@earthlink.net. |
