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Mission Viejo,
California, Junior Amateur Golf Scholars
(JAGS) conducted its 4TH Annual Orange County
Junior Championship at the challenging Tom Lehman designed
Arroyo Trabuco golf course in Mission Viejo, Calif., under cool and
gusty conditions. This new course challenged the JAGS players with
its narrow sloping fairways, undulating greens and many, many
bunkers. Despite the windy challenges, players enjoyed the clean
air and surrounding views in the quite canyon area. Arroyo Trabuco
provided every amenity so the players could enjoy the two-day
tournament.
The boy’s division,
crowned newcomer Danny Cacho , Fairfield, Calif., (Napa Valley) as
the boys champion by winning a one-hole play-off over Jeff Chen,
Walnut, Calif., to claim his first JAGS victory. Round one saw
Chen and Tom Moore, Huntington Beach, Calif., tied at 4-over 76 with
the Cacho (Danny), Jonathan Fidone, Laguna Niguel, Calif., Brett
Robertson, Tustin, Calif., and Gavin Foster, Santa Ana, Calif., one
stroke back at 77. Round two saw Chen post even-par (36) on the
front nine and birdie the 18th to finish at par for the
day. Cacho caught fire on the back nine after posting a 2-over 38
on the front. With birdies on 14, 15 and 18, Cacho posted a 1-under
71 to force a play-off with Chen which he won on the first play-off
hole. Cacho said, “I knew I could do it if I just stayed with my
game plan and play the course and not Jeff during the play-off. It
was a great way to win my first JAGS championship.” Jimmy Cacho,
Fairfield, Calif., (Danny’s older brother) and Jonathan Fidone,
Laguna Niguel, Calif., tied at 154 to finish 3rd. Fifth
place went to Brett Robertson, Tustin, Calif., while Gavin Foster,
Santa Ana, Calif., and Tim Silverman, Santa Ana, Calif., finished
sixth and seventh respectively. Tom Moore, Huntington Beach, Calif.,
was eighth and Blake Parker, Placentia, Calif., was ninth. Andrew
Kitching, Huntington Beach, Calif., Adrian Guy, Pasadena, Calif.,
and Ahron Valverde, Whittier, Calif., tied for tenth.
Lee Lopez, Whittier,
Calif., took charge from the start of the tournament by posting a
4-over (76) in strong windy conditions to lead the girls division by
4 strokes over Stephanie Hu, Cerritos, Calif., and Tarah Taylor,
Mission Viejo, Calif., during round one of the two-day event. Day
two brought over all calmer winds with some strong gust throughout
the day that did not seem to faze Lopez as she fired a 2-under (70)
for a two-day total of 76-70-146 to capture her second JAGS Girls
victory this season. Lopez said, “This course made me really think
about where I needed to place my shots to avoid all the lateral
environmental hazards that surround each fairway and green. With
the whipping winds and the new course conditions, I knew if I was
going to have a chance to keep my lead, I had to play smart to avoid
the hazards and put the ball in the center of the green every
time.” Hu and Taylor were unable to catch Lopez and placed second
and third respectively. Kristina Nhim, Buena Park. Calif., took 4th
and Sunkyung (Keaton) Kim, Buena Park, Calif., finished 5th.
Morgan Anderson, Indianapolis, IN will be showing off a new tan
when she returns home to Indiana tied for 6th with Sara
Elliot, Dove Canyon, Calif., and Alejandra Contreras, Yorba Linda,
Calif., placed 8th.
JAGS’
April, 2005 two day tournament will be held at PGA of Southern
California Golf Club, Calimesa, April 9 & 10, 2005. This 36 hole
tournament is ranked by Golfweek/Titliest and the individual winners
will be awarded one PBE Exemption by the AJGA. This is a great
course used as a qualifying site for many USGA/SCGA and PLGA
events. Players need not be members of JAGS to participate,
although member’s tournament fees are lower. Membership and
tournament information can be found at
www.jagstour.com. May 14 & 15, 2005, JAGS will play the SCGA
course in Murrieta, CA. Players playing in monthly JAGS events
keep their games sharp and will be ready for summer golf
competitions. |
