2006 Jack & Madaline Hooper Memorial Major Tournament July 20-21, 2006 California Country Club Whittier / City of Industry, California Results Nationally Ranked By:   Results submitted to: Golfweek, AJGA and JGS

GEIS TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP IN A 3-HOLE PLAY-OFF PICCIO POST 2-UNDER TO CAPTURE FIRST JAGS VICTORY

Boys: Back Row (L-R): Craig Wolfman, Champion Dan Geis, Spencer Montgomery, Brandon Van Goethen Front Row (L-R): Kenny Roberts, Tom Moore	Girls: (L-R)  Marissa Steiner, Megan Chang, Champion Maria Imelda T. Piccio, Alice Kim, Lady Jasmin Samson

Whittier, California, JAGS (Junior Amateur Golf Scholars) conducted its 6^TH annual Jack and Madaline Hooper Memorial at California Country Club in Whittier, California on June 20-21, 2006.  The summer heat and unusual high humidity was in full force as players teed it up on this tight course with narrow fairways lined with mature trees.

Dan Geis, El Segundo, Calif., went wire to wire in the boys division to claim his second JAGS title this season.  Scoring 1-under par during round one gave Geis a one stroke advantage going into round two over Russell Boring, Westlake Village, Calif., (72) and two strokes ahead of Spencer Montgomery, Bolder City, Nevada (73), and Brandon Van Goethen, Huntington Beach, Calif., (73).  Geis said, “It is always great to post under-par in round one, but I know the strong players that are one or two strokes behind me have game and I must play solid tomorrow for me to have a chance to win this tournament.”  The girls division day one leader, Alice Kim, Diamond Bar, Calif., blazed the course during her round as she posted 4-under (70) giving her a 5-stroke lead over Maria Imelda T. Piccio from the Philippines who posted a 1-over (75).  Kim said, “Today was really a great round of golf for me.  My game was really on target, especially my short game.” 

Day two brought high expectations from players to go low but the extreme heat and high humidity was a definite factor in the final scores.   Geis, Boring, Van Goethen, and Montgomery grouped together were all within one stroke of each other at the turn.  Geis and Boring each were 1-over par (37), Montgomery gained a stroke by posting even-par (36) and Van Goethen dropped a stroke posted 2-over par (38)  Geis took advantage of Montgomery’s double-bogey on the 10^th hole as he made par to retake the lead.  But with Montgomery not giving up, he managed his game to finished at 1-over par (73) forcing a play-off with Geis who found his putter going cold on the final holes posting a 3-over (75).  A play-off began on hole number one, a 506 yd. par-5.  Montgomery drove his ball to the perfect position while Geis sent his right in front of a sand trap.  Both players were short on their second shots but managed to get up and down for par to carry it over to hole two.  A par-3 141 yd. hole surrounded by sand traps.  Geis had a double-bogey earlier in the day which made him really evaluate his club selection prior to teeing up.  Montgomery had birdied and par the hole during the tournament and but found his tee shot drifting straight into the left bunker.  With Geis was safely on the green and  knowing Geis would get down in two, Montgomery had to make a great shot out of the sand to try to force the play-off to the next hole.  Montgomery made an incredible sand shot putting his ball 1 foot from the hole to save par.  Geis just missed his birdie putt, tapped in for par setting the stage for hole number 3.  Montgomery hit a perfect shot down the right hand side in the fairway with an opportunity to chip and putt for birdie.  Geis drove his ball over the green on this short par-4 hole looking at a very difficult chip with the green running down hill.  Montgomery chip shot landed 7 feet past the hole as Geis’ hit his shot perfectly utilizing the down hill slope on the green to gently roll his ball 3 feet right of the pin.  Montgomery made an excellent putt just edging the cup for his birdie attempt and putted out for par.  Geis stroked his ball to the center of the cup to claim the victory.  Montgomery said, “This was my first JAGS Junior Tour tournament.  I had never played this course before an am extremely proud to take 2^nd place in this tournament.”  Geis said, “Flying the green on my tee shot was not my intent, and having to chip the ball so it would land softly allowing it to trickle down to the hole was key.  Spencer is a great golfer and I look forward to playing with him again in the future on the JAGS Junior Tour.  I am honored to win this tournament and claim my 2^nd JAGS title this season.”  Van Goethen placed 3^rd (73-76-149), Tom Moore, Huntington Beach, Calif., took 4^th (77-73-150) and Kenny Roberts, Seal Beach, Calif., and Craig Wolfman, Manhattan Beach, Calif., tied for 5^th.  Longest drive was won by Jarred Mondonedo, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Van Goethen took closest to the pin honors. 

The final round in the girls division saw Kim played steady on her first nine holes but found trouble on the back scoring (38-41-79) three strokes out of the lead.  Piccio finished 2-under par (75-71-146) to claim her first JAGS Junior Tour victory.  Piccio said, “Scoring 2-under on the back nine with two birdies and the rest pars gave me a lot of confidence in my game.  I am honored to be the champion and look forward to defending my title next year.”  Kim claimed 2^nd place and Lady Jasmin Samson, Santa Clarita, Calif., took 3^rd posting 156.  Marissa Steiner, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Megan Chang, Irvine, Calif., placed 4^th and 5^th respectively.  Kim won the longest drive contest and Yolanda Lin, Brea, Calif., took closest to the pin honors. 

JAGS final 36-hole tournament of the 2005/06 season will be held at Cresta Verde Golf Course in Corona, Calif., on August 2-3, 2006.  This tournament is nationally ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard with the results submitted to the AJGA, Golfweek, and college coaches throughout the US.   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.