AJGA Matchplay Polo Golf Junior Classic

POLO GOLF JUNIOR CLASSIC
PGA National Resort & Spa - Champion and Fazio Courses
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
November 23 - 29, 2013

Championship matches set at the Polo Golf Junior Classic
Division finals set for Friday morning at PGA National Resort & Spa

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Four of the world’s top junior golfers remain in the hunt for the Polo Golf Junior Classic title following Thursday’s quarter and semifinal matches. Jorge Garcia of Miami and Cameron Young of Scarborough, N.Y., will square off in the Boys Division championship match, while Lakareber Abe of Angleton, Texas, and Linnea Ström of Hovas, Sweden, will vie for the Girls Division title.

The Polo Golf Junior Classic, which has been conducted annually since 1978, marks the first tournament of the American Junior Golf Association's 2014 season. The 156-player invitation-only field is made up of 78 boys and 78 girls, ages 13-18, from 27 states and seven foreign countries. Former champions include Stewart Cink (1989), Trevor Immelman (1995), Tiger Woods (1991), Paula Creamer (2002), Grace Park (1994, 1996) and Morgan Pressel (2004).

In the Boys Division, No. 30 seed Garcia faced No. 11 seed Sam Burns during Thursday’s quarterfinals match. Garcia, the newly appointed 2014 AJGA Boys Player Representative, battled back from 2-down through 14 and closed out the match with four-straight birdies through the Champion Course’s infamous Bear Trap to advance.

“The morning match was a great match,” Garcia said. “Sam and I were both playing very well. I found myself 2-down with four to play and then I was able to birdie my last four holes to win the match, 2-up. That kick-started me into my afternoon match.”

In the semifinals, Garcia took early control of the contest against the United Kingdom’s No. 7 seed Sam Horsfield. Through 11 holes, Garcia had four birdies and an eagle, eventually closing the match out with a 3-and-2 victory.

“I started that with three birdies which meant I was 7-under through my last seven holes,” Garcia said. “I was playing well, hitting my targets and making putts when I needed to. I couldn’t even feel my hands on the greens, the putter was just doing all the work out there.”

On the opposite side of the bracket, fifth-seeded Young, and No. 20 seed Brad Dalke of Hobart, Okla., faced off in the morning’s quarterfinals match. Young took an early, albeit, small lead at the turn and teetered between 1- and 2-up throughout the back nine. Dalke’s focused effort kept the match alive until the final hole, when Young prevailed 2-up.

“It was a good match,” Young said. “We went back and forth from the very beginning and we battled all the way. He got an early lead I think around No. 6 or 7 and then I made a few putts late under some pretty good pressure so that was a lot of fun.”

Young, playing in only his second AJGA event, defeated No. 25 seed Nathan Jeansonne of Keithville, La., 2 and 1 to earn his position in the finals match.

“It’s a great feeling,” Young said. “I haven’t played a lot of national events. It’s all the kids I’ve read about and seen scores online and things like that, and it’s a lot of fun to be in contention, playing with them and knowing I can play just as well.”

In the Girls Division, No. 13 seed Abe defeated No. 21 seed Lilia Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif., in the morning’s quarterfinals match, 3 and 1. In the afternoon contest, Abe was slated against future Alabama teammate Kristen Gillman of Austin. Gillman was the top seed in the Girls Division after earning stroke play medalist honors. Abe trailed Gillman until the eighth hole when she leveled the match after winning back-to-back holes. After winning six consecutive holes, Abe went 4-up through 13 and closed the match, 4 and 3.

“I’ve been hitting it really well, reading the greens and putting really well as well,” Abe said of her ability to bounce back in the match. “It makes this course a lot easier if you can handle the wind and get your feel on the greens.”

No stranger to high-level match play competition, Abe knows the importance of taking it one match at a time in a field of this caliber.

“All the players are really great and when they cut it down to 32, you know it’s the 32 best players in the field at this moment,” Abe said. “You have to hit a lot of greens and a lot of fairways and you just have to stay patient throughout the day because no one is just going to give you a match, you have to earn it.”

Ström also advances to the Girls Division championship match after defeating No. 10 seed Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., and third-seeded Sierra Brooks of Sorrento, Fla.

The Swede had a flare for dramatics Thursday, earning both victories on No. 18. After winning the par-3, No. 17 and putting the match all square with Wu, Ström prevailed with two aggressive shots into the final green, winning 1-up.

 “It was very fun to play against Bethany and I knew right away it was going to be a very tough match,” Ström said. “She started good, making a lot birdies and many putts, but I kept on playing my own game. It was very fun and exciting.”

Ström led Brooks through much of the match, going 3-up through three holes, but was unable to solidify the win until No. 18.  

“This afternoon, I was very happy about the morning but I tried to just start over,” Ström said. “I started really good, I was 3-up early, but then she made some birdies. I just tried to keep focusing on my own game and I just wanted to play the final match.”

The Boys Division championship match will tee off at 8 a.m., while the final contest in the Girls Division will begin at 8:15 a.m. For more information, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (770) 601-8922.

About Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 46 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, RRL, RLX, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

About the American Junior Golf Association
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 AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 6,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 50 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex, which is in its fourth decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Stacy Lewis, Vicky Hurst, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Day two match play results from the Polo Golf Junior Classic conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at PGA National Resort & Spa — Champion Course.
Boys — Champion: Par: 35-36--71. Yardage: 7,092. Rating: 75.4. Slope: 148
Girls — Champion: Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: 6,384. Rating: 78.3. Slope: 158
BOYS DIVISION
First Round
Austin Connelly, Irving, Texas (2015) def. Derek Castillo, Yorba Linda, Calif. (2016),
3 & 2
Scott Scheffler, Dallas, Texas (2014) def. Tony Gil, Vaughan, Ontario (2016), 6 & 4
Jorge Garcia, (Venezuela) Miami, Fla. (2015) def. Benjamin Griffin, Chapel Hill, N.C. (2014), 1-Up
Paul Elissalde, Biarritz, France (2016) def. Dylan Meyer, Evansville, Ind. (2014), 1-Up
Cameron Young, Scarborough, N.Y. (2015) def. Ryan Grider, Lewisville, Texas (2017),
1-Up
Grant Hirschman, Collierville, Tenn. (2014) def. William Gordon, Davidson, N.C. (2015), 3 & 2
Sam Horsfield, (United Kingdom) Davenport, Fla. (2015) def. Mitchell Meissner, San Antonio, Texas (2014), 5 & 4

Nathan Jeansonne, Keithville, La. (2015) def. Wilson Furr, Jackson, Miss. (2017), 3 & 2

Kristian Caparros, Hollywood, Fla. (2015) def. Davis Riley, Hattiesburg, Miss. (2015),
4 & 3
Adam Wood, Zionsville, Ind. (2014) def. Jonathan Rector, Hendersonville, N.C. (2015), 1-Up
Sam Burns, Shreveport, La. (2015), def. Aaron Terrazas, Veracruz, Mexico (2015),
3 & 2
Andy Zhang, (China) Reunion, Fla. (2016) def. Jonah Texeira, Sun Valley, Calif. (2014),
6 & 4
Brad Dalke, Hobart, Okla. (2016) def. Michael Pisciotta, Alpharetta, Ga. (2014), 1-Up
Youxin (Robin) Wang, (China) Lake Mary, Fla. (2017) def. Cameron Champ, Sacramento, Calif. (2014), 1-Up
Yechun (Carl) Yuan, (China) Lake Mary, Fla. (2015) def. Luis Gagne, Orlando, Fla. (2015), 3 & 2
Hidetoshi Yoshihara, (Japan) Irvine, Calif. (2016) def. Patrick Martin, Birmingham, Ala. (2015), 20 Holes
Second Round
Austin Connelly, Irving, Texas (2015) def. Hidetoshi Yoshihara, (Japan) Irvine, Calif. (2016), 3 & 2
Nathan Jeansonne, Keithville, La. (2015) def. Kristian Caparros, Hollywood, Fla. (2015), 19 Holes
Brad Dalke, Hobart, Okla. (2016) def. Paul Elissalde, Biarritz, France (2016)
Cameron Young, Scarborough, N.Y. (2015) def. Andy Zhang, (China) Reunion, Fla. (2016), 20 Holes
Scott Scheffler, Dallas, Texas (2014) def. Yechun (Carl) Yuan, (China) Lake Mary, Fla. (2015), 5 & 4
Sam Horsfield, (United Kingdom) Davenport, Fla. (2015) def. Adam Wood, Zionsville, Ind. (2014), 2-Up
Jorge Garcia, (Venezuela) Miami, Fla. (2015) def. Youxin (Robin) Wang, (China) Lake Mary, Fla. (2017), 5 & 4
Sam Burns, Shreveport, La. (2015) def. Grant Hirschman, Collierville, Tenn. (2014),
6 & 5
Quarterfinals
Nathan Jeansonne, Keithville, La. (2015) def. Austin Connelly, Irving, Texas (2015), 5 & 3
Cameron Young, Scarborough, N.Y. (2015) def. Brad Dalke, Hobart, Okla. (2016), 2-Up

Sam Horsfield, (United Kingdom) Davenport, Fla. (2015) def. Scott Scheffler, Dallas, Texas (2014), 7 & 5

Jorge Garcia, (Venezuela) Miami, Fla. (2015) def. Sam Burns, Shreveport, La. (2015), 2-Up

Semifinals

Cameron Young, Scarborough, N.Y. (2015) def. Nathan Jeansonne, Keithville, La. (2015), 2 & 1

Jorge Garcia, (Venezuela) Miami, Fla. (2015) def. Sam Horsfield, (United Kingdom) Davenport, Fla. (2015), 3 & 2

GIRLS DIVISION

First Round

Kristen Gillman, Austin, Texas (2016) def. Vanessa Ha, (Canada) Allen, Texas (2014),
5 & 4

Michaela Owen, Suwanee, Ga. (2015) def. Sabrina Long, Alpharetta, Ga. (2015), 5 & 4

Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (2016) def. Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. (2014), 2-Up

Marijosse Navarro, (Mexico) San Antonio, Texas (2014) def. Ruixin Liu, (China) Orlando, Fla. (2017), 4 & 3

Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif. (2015) def. Brooke McDougald, The Woodlands, Texas (2015), 1-Up

Ron Ji, (China) Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (2015), def. Gabriella Coello, (Venezuela) Winter Garden, Fla. (2016), 5 & 3

Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. (2017) def. Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas (2014), 4 & 3

Dylan Kim, Winter Garden, Fla. (2015) def. Mika Liu, Bradenton, Fla. (2017), 3 & 2

Kana Nagai, Tokyo, Japan (2016) def. Jordy LaBarbera, Allen, Texas (2014), 2 & 1

Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. (2015) def. Shannon Aubert, (France) Champions Gate, Fla. (2014), 5 & 3

Jillian Hollis, Rocky River, Ohio (2015) def. Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. (2014), 1-Up
Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (2015) def. Rachel Dai, Milton, Ga. (2015), 3 & 2

Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (2014) def. Anna Zhou, Palo Alto, Calif. (2015), 2 & 1

Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. (2015) def. Lauren Stephenson, Lexington, S.C. (2015), 1-Up
Linnea Ström, Hovas, Sweden (2015) def. Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. (2014),
3 & 2
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif. (2016) def. Muni He, (China) Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (2017), 1-Up
Second Round
Kristen Gillman, Austin Texas (2016) def. Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif. (2016), 5 & 4
Dylan Kim, Winter Garden, Fla. (2015) def. Kana Nagai, Tokyo, Japan (2016), 20 holes
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (2014) def. Maijosse Navarro, San Antonio, Texas, (2014), 19 holes
Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (2015) def. Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif. (2015), 2 & 1
Linnea Ström, Hovas, Sweden (2015) def. Michaela Owen, Suwanee, Ga. (2015), 7 & 6

Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. (2015) def. Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif. (2017), 5 & 4

Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (2016) def. Rinko Mitsunaga, Roswell, Ga. (2015), 2 & 1
Jillian Hollis, Rocky River, Ohio (2015) def. Rong Ji, (China) Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., (2015), 1-up
Quarterfinals
Kristen Gillman, Austin Texas (2016) def. Dylan Kim, Winter Garden, Fla. (2015), 7 & 6
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (2014) def. Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (2015), 3 & 1
Linnea Ström, Hovas, Sweden (2015) def. Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. (2015), 1-Up
Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (2016) def. Jillian Hollis, Rocky River, Ohio (2015), 20 holes
Semifinals
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (2014) def. Kristen Gillman, Austin Texas (2016), 4 and 3
Linnea Ström, Hovas, Sweden (2015) def. Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (2016), 1-Up