AJGA Under Armour: Local players win titles
FRISCO, Texas. (March 30, 2014) — Brandon Smith of Frisco, Texas, shot a final round 1-under-par 71 for a tournament-total of 3-under-par 141 to win the Under Armour® / Hunter Mahan Championship. Jordy LaBarbera of Allen, Texas, shot a 2-under-par 70 at Stonebriar Country Club – Fazio Course to finish the tournament at 3-under-par 141 and win her first AJGA event.Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Under Armour® / Hunter Mahan Championship was a 36-hole stroke play competition played on the par-72 course at Stonebriar Country Club. The event featured 51 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18, from 15 states and eight countries. The Boys Division played the course at 6,905 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 6,110 yards.
Smith started the day one shot back from the leaders, but birdied his first three holes to put himself in good position to win the round. He added three birdies during the back nine to seal his first AJGA win.
“I’ve been dreaming about winning forever,” Smith said. “I started calm, prepared, and composed off the first tee which led to my first three birdies. I tried not to think too far ahead and fell into a good place. This win means a lot.”
Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, La. posted a 2-under-par 70 for the round, taking second with a tournament score of 142. Cooper Dossey of Austin, Texas, won the Scotty Cameron Award with 4-under-par 68 and a tournament-total 143. Drew Miller of Allen, Texas, Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas, Tiger Lee of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla, and Maxwell Miller of College Station, Texas, tied for fourth with two-day scores of 144.
LaBarbera powered through the front nine, making the turn with one birdie and no bogeys. She added two birdies on the back nine, including one on No. 18 to seal the day with a three-shot victory.
“I did not make a bogey on the front nine so I was just kind of going smooth and steady and taking it slow,” LaBarbera said. “It’s awesome to win here. I had a bunch of fans out there watching so it was pretty cool to win for the first time so close to home.”
Alexis Sadeghy of Edmond, Okla., finished three-strokes behind LaBarbera with an even par 144 for the tournament. Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas finished third with a tournament total of 145.