Golf News for Friday, August 7, 2009 | Tournaments

T.J. Vogel captures victory at the 34th Junior PGA Championship

MAINEVILLE, Ohio -- The state of Florida was well represented at the 34th Junior PGA Championship, as Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs won the girls' division title for the second time in three years, while T.J. Vogel of Cooper City earned his first boys' division title.

Taking advantage of soft conditions after a Thursday afternoon rainstorm disrupted play, Thompson and Vogel swept to victory.

Thompson cruised to a 12-stroke triumph, one stroke off the all-time record, closing with a final-round 5-under-par 67 and 272 total. Thompson's rout trails only Debbie Hall, who posted a 13-stroke victory in 1977.

"I never gave up and I didn't take anything for granted," said Thompson. "I just wanted to make more and more birdies."

The 14-year-old Thompson, who is already competing in her fourth Junior PGA Championship, has finished in the top-3 in each of the last three Junior PGA Championships.

She battled 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion Kimberly Kim of Pahoa, Hawaii again in the final-round this year, after an epic final-round back-nine battle at the 2007 Junior PGA Championship.

"I knew Kim [Kimberly Kim] was going to make a run at me, and she started making a bunch of birdies on the front," said Thompson. "I am thankful I stuck with her on the front and I made a few more on the back to finish strong."

Sarah Brown of Philipsburg, N.J., who played alongside Thompson in the final group, finished alone in second place for the second consecutive year. She carded a final round 74.

"I kind of leave with a bad taste in my mouth," said Brown, who is competing in her second Junior PGA Championship. "I wanted to salvage a second place finish, and making that putt at No. 18, I did that."

Kim, who came into the final-round only four-strokes back of Thompson, carded a final-round 76 to finish third.

Thompson also earned a spot on the 2010 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team, which will be contested at the Gleneagles Hotel and Resort, Sept. 27-28, 2010, in Perthshire, Scotland.

"I still want to play well in next year's Championship, but it is a big relief to already be on the team," said Thompson. "To be the first girl on the team for next year is pretty exciting."

In the boys' division, Vogel, who finished in 7th place in 2008, fired a sparkling final-round 66 for a 272 total. He defeated reigning U.S. Junior Champion Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, by two-strokes.

"I wanted to win my last tournament before going to college, and I accomplished that goal," said Vogel, who will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall. "I could not picture this any other way, leaving junior golf."

Vogel, 18, finished only one-stroke shy of the Championship record for lowest 72-hole score, held by PGA Tour player Pat Perez, who accomplished the feat in 1993.

He battled close-friend Spieth the entire round.

"Jordan Spieth is such a good player, you can't give him anything," said Vogel, who played all four rounds with Spieth. "I was relaxed today but if you give him any space, he can stick you."

Vogel took control of the Championship after recording four consecutive birdies on holes No. 8-11.

"I played well today, I was really comfortable on the course," said Vogel. "I kept the ball in play, hit a lot of great iron shots and made putts when I needed to the entire week."

Vogel finished his third round at 9:30 a.m. ET, due to rain earlier in the day Thursday and darkness suspending play at 8:14 p.m. His final round started at 11:00 a.m.

Spieth also fired a final-round 66, to finish alone in second overall.

"Both T.J. and I wanted to break away from the field," said Spieth. "I didn't lose the tournament, he just came in there and made more birdies and it was fun to watch."

2008 Junior PGA Champion Anthony Paolucci of Dallas, Texas, fired a solid final-round 70 to finish alone in third. The 16-year-old has already competed in four Junior PGA Championships.

This year's field consisted of past winners of the Championship, PGA Section winners, many of Polo Golf and Golfweek's top-ranked players, and selected national junior tournament winners.

Golf Channel will present a one-hour highlight program of the 2009 Junior PGA Championship, with the first airing on Thurs., Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

About the Junior PGA Championship
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), Cristie Kerr (1995), 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman (1996), Grace Park (1996), Aree Song (1999, 2000); 2008 U.S. Women's Open Champion In-Bee Park (2001, '02) and 2007 LPGA Rookie of the Year Angela Park (2004).

Five members of the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team - Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim - have competed in the Junior PGA Championship.

34th Junior PGA Championship

TPC River's Bend
Maineville, Ohio
Boys' Division -- 7,215 yards
Girls' Division -- 6,405 yards
Par-72
Final Round Scores

Boys' Division
1. T.J. Vogel Cooper City, Fla. 68-66-72-66--272
2. Jordan Spieth Dallas, Texas 69-67-72-66--274
3. Anthony Paolucci Dallas, Texas 71-68-71-70--280
4. Colton Staggs Tulsa, Okla. 72-70-69-71--282
5. Daniel Stringfellow Roselle, Ill. 69-69-72-73--283
6. Richard Werenski South Hadley, Mass. 71-75-68-70--284
T7. Lexus Keoninh Murfreesboro, Tenn. 68-75-70-72--285
T7. Hao Sheng Hsu CHINA 69-72-68-76--285
9. Sebastian Vazquez MEXICO 74-71-69-72--286
T10. Patrick Rodgers Avon, Ind. 70-69-72-76--287
T10. Jason Roets SOUTH AFRICA 70-70-70-77--287
12. Zachary Olsen Cordova, Tenn. 72-73-72-71--288
T13. Emiliano Grillo ARGENTINA 74-73-69-74--290
T13. Kramer Hickok Plano, Texas 67-72-77-74--290
15. Brett Patterson McMinnville, Tenn. 71-72-74-74--291
T16. Daniel Lee Valencia, Calif. 74-70-75-73--292
T16. Oliver Schniederjans Powder Springs, Ga. 74-72-73-73--292
T16. Brenden Redfern Austin, Texas 73-74-71-74--292
T16. Tom Lovelady Birmingham, Ala. 75-71-69-77--292
T20. C.J. Kim SOUTH KOREA 73-76-70-74--293
T20. Justin Thomas Goshen, Ky. 73-71-75-74--293
T20. Curtis Thompson Coral Springs, Fla. 74-69-73-77--293
T20. Alika Bell Kaneohe, Hawaii 74-75-73-71--293
T24. Alberto Sanchez Nogales, Ariz. 70-76-75-73--294
T24. Adam Welch Chesterfield, Mo. 75-76-73-70--294
26. Andrew Cho SOUTH KOREA 77-75-72-71--295
T27. Nathan Hughes Bartlesville, Okla. 73-73-74-77--297
T27. Robby Prater Birmingham, Ala. 68-80-76-73--297
29. Hunter Sparks Oklahoma City, Okla. 72-77-75-74--298
T30. Dustin Blair El Paso, Texas 70-76-73-80--299
T30. McCabe Buege Rogers, Minn. 76-72-74-77--299
T30. Boo Timko Girard, Ohio 71-78-72-78--299
T30. Jimmy Kozikowski Mesa, Ariz. 74-74-76-75--299
34. Ernesto Marin Miami, Fla. 73-77-74-76--300
T35. Matthew Ceravolo Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 68-74-82-79--303
T35. Jared Dalga Grand Rapids, Mich. 71-75-78-79--303
37. Zachary Butler Lexington, Ky. 76-73-74-81--304
38. Michael Vogelsong Colorado Springs, Colo. 80-70-74-81--305

Girls' Division
1. Alexis Thompson Coral Springs, Fla. 67-68-70-67--272
2. Sarah Brown Phillipsburg, N.J. 68-73-69-74--284
3. Kimberly Kim Pahoa, Hawaii 70-70-69-76--285
4. Suzie Lee Long Island, N.Y. 70-70-73-73--286
5. Victoria Tanco ARGENTINA 70-72-72-73--287
6. Daniela Lendl Bradenton, Fla. 70-69-76-73--288
T7. Erynne Lee Silverdale, Wash. 74-75-69-71--289
T7. Jenny Shin Torrance, Calif. 70-75-71-73--289
T7. Lindsey Weaver Scottsdale, Ariz. 72-68-72-77--289
10. Amy Anderson Oxbow, N.D. 72-74-70-74--290
11. Brittany Altomare Shrewsbury, Mass. 73-73-72-73--291
12. Grace Na Oakland, Calif. 70-74-71-77--292
13. Kyle Roig PUERTO RICO 76-73-71-73--293
T14. Rachel Rohanna Waynesburg, Pa. 71-79-72-72--294
T14. Emma Talley Princeton, Ky. 73-72-71-78--294
16. Mariah Stackhouse Riverdale, Ga. 76-72-69-78--295
T17. Luz Cangrejo COLOMBIA 69-74-77-76--296
T17. Paige Spiranac Monument, Colo. 74-69-77-76--296
19. Alexandria Buelow Palm City, Fla. 73-73-72-79--297
20. Chessey Thomas Spokane, Wash. 75-76-74-73--298
21. Kendall Wright Suwanee, Ga. 79-71-74-76--300
T22. Emily Collins Colleyville, Texas 78-73-75-75--301
T22. Kyung Kim Chandler, Ariz. 72-78-76-75--301
24. Jaye Marie Green Boca Raton, Fla. 68-70-83-82--303
25. Danielle Frasier Encinitas, Calif. 70-81-74-79--304
26. Jackie Chang Paradise Valley, Ariz. 79-75-72-79--305
27. Allyssa Ferrell Edgerton, Wis. 75-74-75-82--306
28. Lauren Stratton Spring Hill, Tenn. 78-76-75-82--311
29. Sun Park Vail, Ariz. 82-76-74-83--315
30. Bailey Cocca Latham, N.Y. 82-76-76-82--316



 
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