MAINEVILLE, Ohio -- A Lone Star State battle came down to a playoff as Anthony Paolucci, 15, of Dallas, Texas, defeated Jordan Spieth, also a Dallas resident, on the second playoff hole to capture the boys' division at the 33rd Junior PGA Championship at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. It was only the third playoff in the history of the Junior PGA Championship. Danielle Frasier, 15, of Encinitas, Calif., cruised to victory in the girls' division.
Paolucci, who recorded a double-bogey on No. 17, sunk a two-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to tie Spieth, who shot a final-round 68 and made up five-strokes over the last 18 holes.
"I thought after the first few holes it was going to be a great round, but then a few missed putts and it was tough," said Paolucci, who was playing in his third Junior PGA Championship. "It was a battle out there today, I am so happy to win but wish I could have played a little better."
Paolucci, who recorded only six bogeys over the first 54-holes, carded four bogeys over his last 18 holes. But the momentum from a clutch wedge approach on No. 18 gave him the confidence he needed during the playoff holes.
"I stopped that 64-degree wedge on the last hole a dime pretty much. Thank goodness I had that club in my bag," said Paolucci. "Then after Jordan and I both missed putts on the first playoff hole, I made a putt on the second to win."
Both players made par on No. 18, the first playoff hole. They then moved to No. 7, a par-3. Both players hit the green but only Paolucci was able to convert his putt.
"I was so happy to make that six-footer," said Paolucci. "I struggled coming down the back-nine but pulled it out in the end when it mattered."
Spieth, who was in fourth place entering the final-round, was happy with his play over the last 18 holes.
"All I wanted to do coming here was make the Junior Ryder Cup, and I did that," said Spieth, who is playing in his first Junior PGA Championship. "I played a consistent round with no bogeys and that is definitely what I wanted to do. I would have liked for a couple of more putts to drop and I left a couple short too."
Jeffrey Kang of Fullerton, Calif., and Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., who was playing in his fourth and final Junior PGA Championship, tied for third place.
In the girls' division, Frasier, who was playing in her first Junior PGA Championship, extended her lead and cruised to victory. The victory was her second in two weeks, but admits that her victory at the Junior PGA Championship has been the most significant.
"This is the biggest tournament that I have ever won," said Frasier. "It is especially good because I was in the lead all four days. I am usually coming from behind when I win so it is nice to win when I have been in front of everyone else."
The 15-year-old Californian felt pressure on the front-nine, but was able to bounce back with five birdies on the back-nine.
"I was telling myself to be patient all day and the putts finally started dropping and I extended the lead," said Frasier. "I came here to get into the Junior Ryder Cup. Winning the Junior PGA Championship was a huge bonus."
Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., finished alone in second-place, seven-strokes behind Frasier. Defending Champion Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., carded a final-round 70 and finished in third place.
The Course played an average of 74.83 in the fourth round, the lowest of the Championship.
This Championship was the final qualifying event for the 2008 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which was announced following the final-round of play by U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team Captain and Past PGA of America
President Ken Lindsay. The top-2 boys' and girls' finishers, Danielle Frasier of Encinitas, Calif., Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., Anthony Paolucci of Dallas, Texas and Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, earned automatic berths onto the team, which will be played Sept. 15-16, at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky.
Golf Channel will present a one-hour highlight show from the Junior PGA Championship beginning Oct. 27, at 7:00 p.m. EDT with re-airings on Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 11, at 4:00 p.m.
Begun in 1976, The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally produced unforgettable golf performances and brings together the best junior golfers from around the country to compete for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys' division and the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls' division.
The Championship has been a stepping stone for competitors to either collegiate or Tour professional careers. The list of past Champions includes some of the most prominent current Tour professionals: Billy Andrade (1981), Billy Mayfair (1982), 2001 PGA Champion David Toms (1984), Sean O'Hair (1998), reigning U.S. Women's Open Champion In-Bee Park (2001, -02), reigning Masters Champion Trevor Immelman (1996), Grace Park (1996) and 2007 LPGA Rookie of the Year Angela Park (2004).
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
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BOYS' DIVISION
1. Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas, 2011, 68-66-69-73-276*
2. Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas, 2011, 70-64-74-68-276
3. Jeffrey Kang, Fullerton, Calif., 2010, 70-72-69-68-279
3. Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill., 2008, 70-66-69-74-279
5. Gaston DeLaTorre, Brush Prairie, Wash., 2008, 69-71-71-69-280
5. Bobby Wyatt, Mobile, Ala., 2010, 71-67-72-70-280
7. T.J. Vogel, Miami, Fla.., 2009, 66-68-72-76-282
8. Tyler McCumber, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 2009, 68-69-73-73-283
9. Richard Werenski, South Hadley, Mass., 2010, 70-73-66-75-284
10. Blake Brown, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2008, 75-74-69-68-286
11. Clarke Fry, Manhattan, Kan., 2008, 67-74-75-71-287
11. Rahul Bakshi, INDIA, 2009, 74-73-69-71-287
11. Mark Joye, Columbia, S.C., 2009, 69-69-74-75-287
14. Austin Gutgsell, Mandeville, La., 2008, 76-69-71-72-288
15. Kyle English, Bloomington, Ill., 2009, 75-71-69-74-289
16. John Popeck, Washington, Penn., 2008, 72-71-75-72-290
17. Robert Bell, Pierz, Minn., 2008, 70-70-76-75-291
17. Andrew Yun, Tacoma, Wash., 2009, 73-71-77-70-291
19. Drew Czuchry, Auburn, Ga., 2010, 70-78-72-72-292
20. Dominic Bozzelli, Pittsford, N.Y., 2009, 71-71-75-77-294
20. Sean Luke, Desoto, Texas, 2009, 72-73-72-77-294
22. Kevin Miller, Dover, Ohio, 2009, 69-75-71-80-295
22. Cameron Freeman, Ft. Collins, Colo., 2009, 74-73-68-80-295
22. Ross Frankenberg, Barrington, Ill., 2009, 76-73-74-72-295
25. Branden Chicorka, Enfield, Conn., 2009, 75-73-73-75-296
25. Ernesto Marin, Miami, Fla., 2009, 75-70-75-76-296
25. Tanner Kesterson, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 2011, 72-75-76-73-296
28. Ji Soo Park, Centerville, Va., 2011, 71-73-75-78-29
28. E.J. McFarland, Pittsburgh, Penn., 2009, 76-72-75-74-297
28. Anthony Aicher, Wausau, WI, 2009, 77-69-77-74-297
31. Brad Gehl, Carmel, Ind., 2009, 76-72-71-82-301
31. Dorian Vauls, Clayton, Ohio, 2008, 75-75-73-78-301
33. Stephen Archibald, St. George, Utah, 2008, 69-78-76-79-302
34. Cody Martin, Union, Ky., 2009, 68-77-77-82-304
* Won on second playoff hole
GIRLS' DIVISION
1. Danielle Frasier, Encinitas, Calif., 2010, 68-72-69-68-277
2. Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J., 2010, 70-71-73-70-284
3. Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla., 2013, 74-71-70-70-285
4. Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif., 2010, 75-70-72-71-288
5. Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J., 2013, 70-71-74-75-290
5. Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash., 2011, 70-71-74-75-290
5. Sadena Parks, Puyallup, Wash., 2008, 73-75-69-73-290
8. Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla., 2009, 73-71-74-73-291
9. Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y., 2010, 74-69-76-73-292
9. Katie Sylvan, San Diego, Calif., 2009, 69-75-73-75-292
11. Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill., 2008, 81-69-73-70-293
11. Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky., 2012, 79-75-70-69-293
11. Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster, Ohio, 2010, 74-71-72-76-293
14. Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla., 2011, 75-73-76-71-295
14. Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii, 2011, 76-69-76-74-295
14. Kyle Roig, PUERTO RICO, 2011, 76-73-71-75-295
14. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009, 73-73-73-76-295
18. Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla., 2009, 73-78-74-71-296
19. Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D., 2009, 75-71-73-79-298
20. Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Penn., 2009, 72-84-73-70-299
21. Amelia Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 2009, 75-74-73-78-300
22. Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala., 2010, 76-76-77-73-302
23. Melanie Audette, Lakeland, Fla., 2008, 81-72-72-79-304
23. Cassandra Blaney, Davenport, Fla., 2008, 74-76-75-79-304
23. Simin Feng, CHINA, 2013, 71-73-81-79-304
26. Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas, 2010, 75-75-79-77-306
26. Kendall Wright, Suwanee, Ga., 2009, 78-77-76-75-306
28. Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Penn., 2011, 77-78-72-80-307
28. Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., 2009, 76-75-80-76-307
30. Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif., 2012, 80-74-77-78-309
31. Lily Bartell, Cave Creek, Ariz., 2012, 80-75-76-81-312
31. Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Penn., 2011, 76-77-77-82-312
31. Lindsay Danielson, Osceola, Wis., 2009, 74-76-81-81-312
Contact: Randy Stutzman
The PGA of America
Aug. 16, 2008
561/809-9609
rstutzman@pgahq.com
