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Calimesa, Calif. – Junior Amateur Golf
Scholars, a non-profit organization hosted its first major tournament
of the season at PGA of Southern California at Oak Valley Golf Club in
Calimesa, California. On a cold and windy
weekend under a threat of rain, 43 boys and girls set out to conquer
the dual courses of Legends and Champions.
Under difficult conditions on the
Legends course, with winds gusting to 25 mph, only 7 of 23 boys in the
15-18 division shot in the 70’s. Mitchell Fedorka, Upland, Calif.
scored even par 72 giving him a one stroke lead over Scott Clayton, San
Bernardino, Calif.,73, and two strokes over Ross Canavan, Rancho
Mirage, Calif.,74. Fedorka said, “The key to today’s round was hitting
fairways, greens and not over stroking the ball on the slick greens”
“I had to stay focused on the back nine to stay even par with the cold
and windy conditions.” Added Fedorka.
Day two was played on the equally
demanding Champions course and although the wind was not as strong, the
temperature was colder at 60 degrees and dropped to 55 degrees by the
end of the day. The PGA pin- setters toughened the course even more by
setting the pins in very difficult positions on the greens with only
four rounds posted in the 70’s. The final pairing of Fedorka, Canavan
and Clayton battled against the conditions, fast greens and each other
with Clayton shooting a total of 154 to win his first JAGS victory.
Clayton said, “I am so excited to win my first JAGS title especially
with how hard the course played today.” “I have never seen pins in
such tough positions.” Added Clayton. Canavan and Fedorka finishing
tied for second both posting 155 with Canavan awarded the second place
trophy in a card off. Tied for fourth was Kyle Warren, Los Alamitos,
Calif., and Blake Shinoda, Santa Ana,
Calif., at 156. Sixth place
went to James Harris, Los
Angeles, Calif., (157) while
Stephan Stallworth, Murietta,
Calif., and Kristofer Butkys,
Newbury Park, Calif., tied for seventh at 161. Matthew Erley,
Bloomfield, Colorado and Sean Kapp, La Palma,
Calif., rounded off the top ten
respectively.
In the Girls Division, Tiffany Lua,
Rowland Heights, Calif., held on to her one stroke lead after day one
to finish first with a two-day total of 152 for her second consecutive
JAGS win. Lua said, “The pins were so tough today. It was a challenge
getting the ball on the green and if you ended up near the pin it was
just luck.” Lizette Sales, Azusa, Calif., took second one stroke back
at 156 and Lee Lopez, Whittier,
Calif., placed third at 162.
Fourth place went to Kendra Linder, Riverside, Calif., with Kristin
Medlin, Garden Grove, Calif., placing fifth, Tara Hale, Bell Canyon,
Calif., taking sixth and
Katheleen Fonte, Seal Beach,
Calif., finishing in seventh.
Alumni, Amanda Pentecost, Lakewood,
Calif., played as an individual
and posted a two day total of 164.
Ronnald Monaco of Rancho Cucamonga,
Calif., posting a two-day total of 152, won the Boys 13-14 Division.
Brett Robertson, Tustin, Calif., claimed second and Jonathan Fidone,
Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Mark Alvarez, Pomona, Calif., tied for
third. Eric Brokop, Yorba Linda,
Calif., and Chris Sercu, Rancho
Mirage, Calif., tied for fifth with Ryan Linder, Riverside,
Calif., was seventh. Alex Park,
Mission Viejo, Calif., John Jensen, Riverside,
Calif., and Cameron Turner,
Glendale, Calif., rounded off the top ten
respectively. Monaco said, “I have never seen pins placements like
these. I am so excited to win my division.”
JAGS
is accepting players for the 2003 “Rose Junior Classic” at Brookside
Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif. This 36-hole no cut tournament will be
played on Monday – Tuesday., December 29-30, 2003.
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 more information
please call JAGS at 562-493-8416 or visit us on the web at:
www.jagstour.com |
