VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. -- Chris Blystone of Santa Maria, Calif., carded a final round 1-under-par 71 for his first junior golf victory at the Golf World Preseason Junior at Marshallia Ranch. Sunshine Baraquiel of Chatsworth, Calif., was victorious in the Girls Division with a 73-78 — 151.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Golf World Preseason Junior at Marshallia Ranch featured a field of 96 boys and girls, ages 12-18, from seven states and Canada. The 36-hole stroke play event was played at the par-72 Marshallia Ranch Golf Course, which hosted an AJGA event for the eighth consecutive year. The Boys Division played the course at 6,771 yards while the Girls Division played it at 6,071 yards.
The Golf World Preseason Junior at Marshallia Ranch was one of eight events being held as part of the Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series. The Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series is a series designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet been accepted to or participated in an AJGA event in the current calendar year and/or the previous calendar year.
Blystone, 17, knew his game had to be top notch with the frigid winds blowing throughout the back nine. He carded four birdies in the first round, and four more in the final round, helping him to a two-day total of 3-under-par 141.
"I had to keep my composure out there," Blystone said. "I knew I had to play smart and not give anything away. There was a lot of talent in the group I was playing with and they were putting a lot of pressure on me to play my best game."
Jay Hwang of San Diego, Calif., carded a 74-69 — 143 for second place. Allan Jun of Oceanside, Calif., finished in third place with a 4-over-par 148. Jeff McNeil of Nipomo, Calif., finished with a tournament total of 150 for fourth place. Rounding out the top five of the Boys Division were Eric Suigmoto of San Diego, Calif., and MJ Morin of Bakersfield, Calif., with 7-over-par 151s.
In the Girls Division, Baraquiel was one stroke behind at the start of the final round, but her consistent play led her to her first career AJGA victory. Right before making her turn, Baraquiel birdied No. 17 with one of her best shots of the weekend. Inspired by the words from her coach, Baraquiel said she knew how to play with the gusty winds.
"I had a great start today; I was feeling really good out there," Baraquiel said. "I was having so much fun out there. That is until I reached my final three holes when I shot bogey, double bogey, bogey; that is when my nerves were really tested."
Rounding out the top three in the Girls Division were Mikayla Harmon of Gilbert, Ariz., and Elisabeth Bernabe of Anaheim Hills, Calif., who carded tournament totals of 8-over-par 152.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 250 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.
Golf Academy of America, with campuses located in San Diego, Phoenix, Orlando and Myrtle Beach, is the oldest and largest two-year golf career college in the world. GAA's 16-month program balances classroom studies, practical experience and comprehensive understanding of the business of golf. For more information, call 800-342-7342 or visit http://www.golfacademy.edu.
For more information on the Golf World Preseason Junior at Marshallia Ranch, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. -- Final results from the Golf World Preseason Junior at Marshallia Ranch, a Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Marshallia Ranch Golf Course. Par: Boys: 35-37—72; Girls: 35-37—72. Yardage: Boys: 6,771; Girls: 6,071. Rating/Slope: Boys: 72.7/128; Girls: 76.1/130.
BOYS DIVISION
Chris Blystone, Santa Maria, Calif. 70-71—141
Jay Hwang, San Diego, Calif. 74-69—143
Allan Jun, Oceanside, Calif. 73-75—148
Jeff McNeil, Nipomo, Calif. 76-74—150
Eric Sugimoto, San Diego, Calif. 76-75—151
MJ Morin, Bakersfield, Calif. 79-72—151
Daniel Frantz, Red Bluff, Calif. 75-77—152
Matt Duralde, San Clemente, Calif. 75-77—152
Aaron Bronis, Livermore, Calif. 75-78—153
Christopher Macasaet, Rancho Murieta, Calif. 75-79—154
Xander Schauffele, San Diego, Calif. 74-80—154
Tom Zavada, Kent, Wash. 76-78—154
Ben Esparza, Tucson, Ariz. 76-79—155
Alex Wagner, San Diego, Calif. 81-74—155
Carson Kallis, Red Deer, Alberta 80-75—155
Joel Slak, Folsom, Calif. 76-80—156
Matt McClure, Tucson, Ariz. 78-78—156
Andre Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. 79-77—156
Jack Kelly, North Bend, Wash. 75-82—157
Ted Moehrke, Vacaville, Calif. 76-81—157
Mark Strickland, Mukilteo, Wash. 83-75—158
Sean Jones, Chicago, Ill. 83-75—158
Brandon Hortt, San Diego, Calif. 75-84—159
Jay Kim, Surrey, British Columbia 82-77—159
Andrew Massey, Ramona, Calif. 83-76—159
Christopher Petefish, Scottsdale, Ariz. 79-81—160
Mo Bardovi, Monte Nido, Calif. 79-81—160
Nick Johnson, La Jolla, Calif. 80-80—160
Fredrik Palmer, Modesto, Calif. 77-84—161
Austin Raanes, Quartz Hill, Calif. 77-84—161
Jonathan Chang, Valencia, Calif. 81-80—161
Kevin Parkhurst, Vail, Ariz. 80-81—161
Bryce Haynes, Camarillo, Calif. 83-78—161
Cole Chelle, Edmonton, Alberta 86-75—161
Tyler Schwanz, Oak Park, Calif. 78-84—162
Joseph Zakaria, San Luis Obispo, Calif. 81-81—162
Kyle Miranda, Yorba Linda, Calif. 81-82—163
Hayden Shieh, Fremont, Calif. 80-83—163
Shane Sideris, Santa Ynez, Calif. 82-81—163
Charlie Benell, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 85-78—163
Danny Ochoa, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 86-77—163
Jason Semthiti, Los Angeles, Calif. 81-83—164
Taylor Bromley, Dublin, Calif. 81-83—164
Kale Davidson, Peoria, Ariz. 84-80—164
Cody Morse, Santa Maria, Calif. 84-80—164
Alec Berens, Tucson, Ariz. 87-78—165
JT Harper, Pebble Beach, Calif. 83-83—166
Jordan Lowery, Gilbert, Ariz. 84-83—167
Brett Silvernail, Ventura, Calif. 86-81—167
Nicholas Komin, Huntington Beach, Calif. 86-81—167
Braden Cluck, Newport Beach, Calif. 81-87—168
Zachary Cameron, Westlake Village, Calif. 83-85—168
Jonathan Keedy, Newport Beach, Calif. 83-86—169
Clayton Yamaguchi, Los Angeles, Calif. 83-87—170
Travis Rowney, Pleasanton, Calif. 84-86—170
Michael Jacobs, Bonsall, Calif. 83-88—171
Brandon Shaw, Westlake Village, Calif. 86-86—172
Christopher Kim, San Diego, Calif. 86-86—172
Kenny Maroney, Livermore, Calif. 89-83—172
David Stitt, Simi Valley, Calif. 90-82—172
Walker Jensen, Murray, Utah 85-90—175
Gregory London, Malibu, Calif. 88-88—176
Julius Lorentzen, Reno, Nev. 87-90—177
Tyler Woodruff, Tucson, Ariz. 90-87—177
Matthew Imbrogno, Westlake Village, Calif. 90-87—177
Beau Belczak, Yorba Linda, Calif. 93-86—179
James Trevino, Fresno, Calif. 88-92—180
Gene Park, South Pasadena, Calif. 94-89—183
William Chae, Torrance, Calif. 91-94—185
Michael Phan, Newport Coast, Calif. 97-91—188
Isaiah Rivera-Tubbs, Moorpark, Calif. 99-108—207
Curtis Wang, Torrance, Calif. 120-126—246
GIRLS DIVISION
Sunshine Baraquiel, Chatsworth, Calif. 73-78—151
Mikayla Harmon, Gilbert, Ariz. 74-78—152
Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. 75-77—152
Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif. 74-81—155
Sharon Shin, West Linn, Ore. 72-84—156
Jenny Coleman, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 78-78—156
Marguerite Swearingen, Livermore, Calif. 79-80—159
Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. 80-81—161
Anna Kim, Chandler, Ariz. 80-82—162
Lauren Heavrin, Manhattan Beach, Calif. 80-83—163
Christine Uhalde, Modesto, Calif. 83-82—165
Danielle Gillaspy, Santa Maria, Calif. 85-80—165
Kaitlin Park, Tustin Ranch, Calif. 86-80—166
Spenser Krut, Del Mar, Calif. 82-85—167
Allie Zech, Indian Wells, Calif. 81-91—172
Sophia Chen, Newbury Park, Calif. 83-89—172
Vanessa Bognot, Granada Hills, Calif. 89-83—172
Deidre Crabtree, Bakersfield, Calif. 83-90—173
Micaela Guzman, Bakersfield, Calif. 84-89—173
Monica Phan, Newport Coast, Calif. 85-88—173
Jordanne Barr, Bakersfield, Calif. 87-87—174
Annie Bowlsby, Monterey, Calif. 90-84—174
Jennifer Yu, Laguna Hills, Calif. 85-92—177
Kaleigh Goethe, Lompoc, Calif. 108-121—229
