AJGA Aurora Junior: Kopsick comes back
AURORA, Ill. (July 23, 2008)--Kyle Kopsick of Lake Bluff, Ill., fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 Thursday to come back from sixth place and take top honors in the Boys Division of the Old Second Bank Junior Championship at Aurora. Milena Savich of Carmel, Ind., finished with a three-day total of 5-over-par 221 to win the Girls Division by 10 strokes.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Old Second Bank Junior Championship at Aurora was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Aurora Country Club. The tournament field consisted of 99 players, 75 boys and 24 girls, from 20 states and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,664 yards and the Girls Division played it at 6,079 yards.
Kopsick, claiming his first victory in his last AJGA event, carded his second consecutive under-par round and was happy with his improvement from the first round to the last.
“It feels great to finally get a win,” Kopsick said. “I was just able to make birdie after birdie and was on top of my game today.”
Kopsick finished his round with four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to end up with a tournament total 3-under-par 213.
“The eagle that I had on No. 16 was the highlight of my round,” Kopsick said. “It was great to finish up strong with eagle, par and a birdie.”
Ross Frankenberg of Barrington, Ill., David Fink of Kailua, Hawaii, and Jack Pennington of Eugene, Ore., finished tied for second with totals of 2-under-par 214. Parker Page finished alone in fifth place with a three-day total of even-par 216.
Savich, also claiming her first victory in her last AJGA tournament, shot a final-round even-par 72 to clinch her first career AJGA victory. She was able to offset two double bogeys on the front nine with five birdies, including three on her final four holes. She credited the victory to her solid short game along with a consistent mindset.
“I played my best today by far,” Savich said. “I was able to hit greens and make lots of putts and I just went out and tried to make as many birdies as I could.”
Savich plans to compete in the US Amateur later this summer before going on and beginning her collegiate career at the University of Michigan.
“It's just a feeling of relief to finally win after so many top-10 finishes,” Savich said.
Pamela Burneski of Surrey, British Columbia took second place behind Savich with a tournament-total 15-over-par 231. Alexandra Lederhausen of Hinsdale, Ill., took third place with a three-day total 16-over-par 232.
--Courtesy AJGA