Ogden Edges out Coakley
OGDEN EDGES OUT COAKLEY, PRUGH FOR ONE-STROKE WIN
Blumenherst claims second career Girls Division victory
ASPEN, Colo. - Clay Ogden of West Point, Utah, held onto the top spot at the AJGA R.H. Crossland Foundation/St. Regis Aspen Junior Classic, shooting an even-par 71 in the final round to win his second career AJGA title. Amanda Blumenherst carded a 4-over-par 75 to secure victory in the Girls Division by 16 strokes.
The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, was held at the par-71 Aspen Golf Club. Ninety-nine total participants represented 21 states, with 43 Colorado natives and four Aspen locals.
Starting the day with a one-stroke lead, Ogden was neck-and-neck with runner-up Kenny Coakley, of Lakewood, Colo., throughout the round. Despite outstanding even-par performances from both players, a 71 was just enough to give Ogden the Boys Division win.
"I didn't do anything overly great today," he said after the round. "I just played a solid game."
Ogden maintained a steady pace with a par finish on the front nine, and matched his bogey on hole No. 14 with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole to finish with a three-day total of 69-71-71--212.
"I had nine pars on the front nine," he said. "After Coakley missed his birdie putt [on No. 16], I knew I still had a pretty good chance if I stayed consistent."
Coakley, of Lakewood, Colo., was 2-under headed into the back nine, but bogeyed on holes No. 12 and 17 to fall from the lead. Alex Prugh of Spokane, Wash., dropped two birdies on the final nine to score the day's lowest round, 69, and tie Coakley for second place at 213.
Danny Bowen of Albuquerque, N.M., shot a 2-over-par 73 to take fourth place with a total of 215, and defending champion Jake Hermes, of Durango, Colo., tied with Will Hanna of The Woodlands, Texas, at 217 to round out the Boys Division top five.
In the Girls Division, Blumenherst, of Scottsdale, Ariz., got off to a rough start with two bogeys and one double-bogey on the front nine. The 15-year-old, however, pulled herself together and turned in a par finish on the back nine for a three-day total of 67-71-75--213.
"Today I tried to forget about the first two days and play one shot at a time," she said. "My putts were falling [the first two days] and today they didn't. I think I played my best game this week though."
The victory marks Blumenherst's second career AJGA title. She captured the crown at the AJGA Arizona Junior Classic in March.
"I've been playing well and see an improvement in my game," she said. "My goal for the year was to win two AJGA events and I can't believe I've already done it."
Tiffany Tavee of Gilbert, Ariz., scored a 5-over-par 76 to take second place with a three-day total of 229. Emily Hoeper of Kansas City, Mo., finished in third place with a total of 230.
For more information about the AJGA R.H. Crossland Foundation/St. Regis Aspen Junior Classic or other AJGA events, please contact the AJGA national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.