AJGA Future Legends: Sorenson scores

11 Jul 2008
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WALES, Wisc. (July 11, 2008)--Michael Sorenson of Hartland, Wis., grinded out a week-long battle in the Boys Division and came out victorious after firing a three-day total of 1-under-par 212. His tournament total, which included a phenomenal 4-under-par 32 on the back nine Friday, was good for a three-stroke victory.

In the Girls Division, Simin Feng of Orlando, Fla., withstood rallies from four separate competitors throughout the afternoon to earn her second career AJGA victory. Her tournament total of 13-over-par 226 was enough to win by one stroke.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Future Legends was a 54-hole stroke play event held at The Legend at Brandybrook. The 90-player field featured players from 15 states and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-71 course at 6,794 yards while the Girls Division played at 5,955 yards.

Sorenson, 16, went into the back nine trailing by four strokes to Brad Klune of Itasca, Ill. After chipping in on two separate occasions and putting an exclamation mark on his front nine with a 40-foot birdie putt, it appeared as though Klune was poised for victory. But Sorenson was relentless, answering every Klune par on the back nine with a par or birdie of his own. In the end, his back-nine of 4-under-par 32 was too much for anyone else to handle, helping Sorenson walk away with his first career AJGA victory.

“I was definitely aware of what [Klune] was doing all afternoon,” Sorenson said. “He had some great shots, but in the end I just felt that this was one of the best rounds I have ever played.”

Also in the boys top five were Klune and Jack Schultz of Whitefish Bay, Wis., both with 3-over-par 215s, Reid Martin of Mukilteo, Wash., carded a 4-over-par 217 for second place and Maxwell Scodro of Chicago, finished in third with a 5-over-par 218.

Feng, 13, was one of five girls involved in a back-and-forth round that, at one point, saw four of them tied through No. 14. She finally took the lead for good on the par-4 No. 17, where she sank a 20-foot putt for birdie on the deceiving green to affirm her status as leader. Feng stayed patient all day, refusing to let a bad hole get the better of her. Her sequence of a triple bogey on No. 7 and bogey on No. 8 was followed with a par on the challenging par-3 No. 9, giving her momentum for the back nine.

“I started really well today, but had a lot of trouble with No. 7, which gave me problems all week,” Feng said. “I was able to come back from that hole though, and it just feels awesome right now.”

Rounding out the Girls Division top three were Ashley Armstrong of Flossmoor, Ill., and Chessey Thomas of Spokane, Wash., both having shot a 14-over-par 227.