PGA News
The Professional Golfers’ Association of America
100 Avenue of the Champions
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Tel: 561-624-8400
Fax: 561-624-8448
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Randy Stutzman
July 13, 2007
561/809-8609
rstutzman@pgahq.com
To download photos from the final round play please click the following links:
http://mediaarchive.pgalinks.com/cgi/viewer.pl?&lbname=7.14_final%20round&lbpasswd=final
(Editor’s Note: Westfield Group Country Club in a Par-71 course)
FLORIDA’S THOMPSON BECOMES YOUNGEST TO WIN
WESTFIELD JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
WESTFIELD CENTER, Ohio – Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., a 12-year-old
with a game of a veteran, became the youngest champion in the history of the 32nd Westfield Junior
PGA Championship Saturday, defeating Kimberly Kim, the reigning Women’s U.S. Amateur
Champion, in an epic battle on the back nine of Westfield Group Country Club.
Thompson birdied four of five holes from the 12th through 16th holes to turn an early deficit
to Kim – the third-round leader – into a one-stroke victory. She finished with a 2-under-par 69 and
a 72-hole total of 1-under-par 283. Kim closed with a 70, and Cassandra Blaney of Davenport, Fla.,
was two strokes back in third at 286 after a 71.
“I am absolutely thrilled to win this tournament, I love it here,” said Thompson, who also
was the youngest U.S. Women’s Open participant in history earlier this month. “I have been
knocking it close for a long time now and finally making the putts in the final two rounds is what I
have been waiting for all week.”
Chris DeForest of Cottekill, N.Y., ran away with the boys’ title, finishing with a 74 for a
10-under-par 274 total and a six-stroke margin over Mark Johnson of Tulsa, Okla.
DeForest, who fell just three-strokes short of the 72-hole record of 271 held by Pat Perez in
1993, eliminated any doubt about his impending victory with a solid round under stiff, 20-mile per
hour gusts throughout the day. His previous best finish in four previous appearances was a tie for
10th in the 2004 Championship.
“I felt amazing coming down the fairway on the last hole,” said DeForest, a 2004 Junior
Ryder Cup team member. “It took me a whole bunch of tries to finally win this tournament but I
really felt prepared coming into the Championship this year.”
Kimberly Kim was unable to hold off the furious comeback made by Thompson but played
well all week and happy with her overall performance.
“Alexis really earned a lot of respect from the girls out here,” said Kim, 15. “I feel really
good about my game even though I was not able to win this week. I am looking forward to possibly
competing next year on the Junior Ryder Cup team and representing the United States.”
Alexis’ father, Scott Thompson, does not like to be in the limelight when his child is
playing, was a proud father after the last putt was holed.
“I like to stay in the background and let Alexis play her game,” said the Coral Springs
resident. “She learns a little bit more each tournament and this is a great experience for her to
have.”
In the boys’ division, Johnson wrapped up his first Junior PGA Championship, remained in
second place overall and posted his first over-par score since the first round. Despite not winning
the Championship, Johnson will look to build on this performance in college while playing on the
Oklahoma State University golf team in the fall.
“I am headed off to college in the fall to and Chris (DeForest) is headed to Illinois so I am
guessing I will be seeing him often, so this was a good experience for me, said Johnson. “Chris
played real well today, and except for a double on 15, he was pretty much in charge.”
Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., finished third after firing a final round even-par 71.
Louisiana native Austin Gutgsell of Mandeville, tied for the low round of the tournament
after carding a 6-under 65 in the final round of the Championship.
Three of the top finishers from the Championship earned automatic berths into the Harder
German Junior Masters, Aug. 6-9, at Heddesheim Golf Club in Gut Neuzenhof, Germany.
DeForest, Guthrie and John Popeck of Washington, Pa., will represent the United States for
this prestigious tournament that plays host to participants from more then 24 countries. Allie White
of Lancaster, Ohio, Katie Detlefsen of Eagan, Minn. and third place finisher Cassandra Blaney will
represent the girls’ division at the Championship.
The South Course played an average of 72.84 in the final round, the lowest of the
Championship.
The Westfield Junior PGA Championship, which has traditionally produced stellar golf
performances for more than three decades, brought together the best junior golfers to compete for
the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys’ division and the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls’ division.
Since 1976, 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 Cristie
Kerr (1995), Trevor Immelman (1996), Grace Park (1996), Aree Song (1999, 2000), In-Bee Park
(2001, ’02) and Angela Park (2004).
Since 2001, Westfield Group Country Club, owned by title sponsor Westfield Insurance,
has been home to the Westfield Junior PGA Championship. The site features the most Tour-like
experience in junior golf for players and attendees.
Golf Channel will present a highlight show of the Westfield Junior PGA Championship at a
date to be determined.
The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of
28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and
managing the game of golf, while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections
nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position
in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events,
world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives and
award-winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving
an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
32nd Westfield Junior PGA Championship
Westfield Group Country Club
Westfield Center, Ohio
Boy’s Division - Par 71 - 6,602 Yards
1. Chris DeForest, Cottekill, N.Y., 65-68-67-74--274
2. Mark Johnson, Tulsa, Okla., 72-67-67-74--280
3. Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill., 71-68-71-71--281
T4. John Popeck, Washington, Pa., 71-72-69-70--282
T4. Jacob Burger, Orangeburg, S.C., 74-73-65-70--282
6. Connor Driscoll, Encinitas, Calif., 68-71-71-73--283
7. Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas, 75-67-73-69--284
8. Austin Gutgsell, Mandeville, La., 77-71-72-65--285
T9. Wesley Bryan, Chapin, S.C., 70-77-70-69--286
T9. Sean Brannan, Hollidaysburg, Pa., 74-71-70-71--286
T11. Brinson Paolini, Virginia Beach, Va., 69-75-73-70--287
T11. Jed Dirksen, Hampton, Iowa, 73-70-69-75--287
T13. Devin Miertschin, El Paso, Texas, 72-73-69-74--288
T13. Connor Arendell, Cape Coral, Fla., 72-72-69-75--288
T15. Matthew Porter, Cortland, N.Y., 75-76-68-70--289
T15. Kyle English, Bloomington, Ill., 74-77-68-70--289
T15. Parker Hewit, Westfield Center, Ohio, 71-75-71-72--289
T15. Robbie Ziegler, Canby, Ore., 72-72-72-73--289
T19. Joe Monte, Chantilly, Va., 70-72-78-70--290
T19. Harold Varner III, Gastonia, N.C., 71-68-74-77--290
T19. John Hahn, Kent, Ohio, 73-72-68-77--290
T22. Tommy Higham, Shelley, Idaho, 72-76-72-71--291
T22. Ryan Dorner, Glenview, Ill., 73-69-75-74--291
T24. Bradley George, Marion, Iowa, 73-73-73-73--292
T24. Andrew Yun, Chandler, Ark., 71-74-72-75--292
T24. Albert Kilgore, Corona, Calif., 72-74-70-76--292
T24. Craig Kublin, Needham, Maine, 75-73-68-76--292
T24. Chan Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 71-71-71-79--292
Girl's Division - Par 71 - 6,022 Yards
1. Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla., 75-73-66-69--283
2. Kimberly Kim, Pahoa, Hawaii, 73-72-69-70--284
3. Cassandra Blaney, Lady Lake, Fla., 73-74-68-71--286
4. Vicky Hurst, Melbourne, Fla., 81-68-67-71--287
5. Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio, 77-74-70-68--289
6. Kristina Wong, Bradenton, Fla., 73-74-71-72--290
T7. Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas, 74-78-71-68--291
T7. Katie Detlefsen, Eagan, Minn., 76-70-75-70--291
T9. Alexandra Bodemann, Palm City, Fla., 75-72-74-73--294
T9. Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif., 73-78-68-75--294
T11. Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo., 75-74-76-70--295
T11. Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif., 75-75-72-73--295
T13. Courtney Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Va., 76-75-74-71--296
T13. Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix, Ariz., 72-75-75-74--296
15. Lindsey Solberg, Verona, Wis., 74-76-73-74--297
16. Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif., 78-72-70-78--298
T17. Sarah Brown, Stewartsville, N.J., 75-78-74-72--299
T17. Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz., 75-76-72-76--299
T17. Jennifer,Hirano, Pinole, Calif., 75-75-73-76--299
T17. Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y., 74-72-74-79--299
T21. Katie Conway, Wading River, Wyo, 77-80-71-72--300
T21. Kristina, Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 72-76-78-74--300
T21. Brittany, Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass., 76-76-74-74--300
T24. Andrea , Watts, Bradenton, Fla., 77-76-74-74--301
T24. Brooke, Beeler, Butler, Ill., 71-76-78-76--301
T26. Kayla , Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz., 78-78-74-74--304
T26. Tessa, Teachman, Baton Rouge, La., 75-79-72-78--304
T26. Kyndall, Ardoin, Gibsland, La., 75-75-72-82--304
29. Rachel, Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa., 77-73-77-79--306
30. Lindy, LaBauve, Scottsdale, Ariz., 78-72-76-82--308
###