AJGA First American Title Classic: Final results
TAMPA, Fla. (June 26, 2008)--Chase Marinell of Cape Coral, Fla., defeated Carson Weinand of Naples, Fla., with a par on the third playoff hole to win the Boys Division crown at the First American Title Junior Classic. Victoria Kiser of Orlando, Fla., won the Girls Division with a score of 2-under-par 214.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the First American Title Junior Classic was a 54-hole stroke play event played at Avila Golf & Country Club. The tournament field consisted of 54 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 10 states and China. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,853 yards, while the Girls Division played at 6,114 yards.
After closing his round with three straight birdies to tie Weinand at even-par 216, Marinell clinched his first AJGA victory with a two-putt par from 60 feet on the third playoff hole.
“This is what you practice for,” Marinell said. “The AJGA is the cream of the crop and this is why I go to the course everyday and grind like I do.”
Weinand's second place finish gives him top-five finishes in consecutive AJGA events. Shun Yat Hak of Lake Mary, Fla., finished in third at 1-over-par 217 and Joseph Byun of Sanford, Fla., placed fourth at 2-over-par 218. Finishing in a four-way tie for fifth at 3-over-par 219 were George Letson of Tampa, Fla., Max McKay of St. Augustine, Fla., Zachery Sobel of Clearwater Beach, Fla., and Marcel Puyat of Bradenton, Fla.
In the Girls Division, Kiser sealed her victory with a birdie on the water-lined par-4 No. 18, the toughest hole on the course for the week. After striping a drive to the narrowest portion of the fairway, Kiser stuck an 8-iron to six feet from 148 yards out and drained the birdie putt for a four-shot victory.
“Throughout the day I had a lot of short birdie putts that just didn't go in,” Kiser. “I told myself that this one was going to go in. I read it pretty straight and I made it.”
Finishing in a tie for second at 2-over-par 218 were Ginger Howard of Bradenton, Fla., and Catherine O'Donnell of Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Perhaps the shot of the tournament came during Thursday's round as Shannon Pak of Kenner, La., aced the 148-yard par-3 No. 17 with a 6-iron on her way to finishing 11th.