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 Girls' Division: http://mediaarchive.pgalinks.com/cgi/viewer.pl?&lbname=7.13_round3%20girls&lbpasswd=girls Boys' Division: http://mediaarchive.pgalinks.com/cgi/viewer.pl?&lbname=7.13_round3%20boys&lbpasswd=boys 12-YEAR OLD PHENOM, REIGNING WOMEN'S U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPION, TIED ATOP LEADERBOARD AT 2007 WESTFIELD JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP WESTFIELD CENTER, Ohio – After two quiet rounds of play, the girls' division took center stage as 12-year-old Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., and Kimberly Kim of Pahoa, Hawaii, are tied going into the final round of the 32nd Westfield Junior PGA Championship. Thompson, who was the youngest to ever compete in the Championship two years ago, elevated her game Friday with a 5-under-par 66 in the third round to climb to forge a tie with Kim, the reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Champion, who came home with a 69. Thompson, who began the day tied for ninth, played a steady front nine before exploding for four birdies on the back nine, including three in a row from 15 to 17, to put her in position to capture her first Junior PGA Championship. "My ball striking has been great all week but the putts have not been falling," said Thompson, who was the youngest-ever entrant when she competed in the U.S. Women's Open Championship just two weeks ago. "My putter was really rolling well today, unlike the first two days, and I am so happy about that." Thompson says the experience at the Junior PGA Championship is much different then that of Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., site of the Open. "I am very comfortable here at this Championship," said Thompson, whose 66 is the lowest girls' round thus far. "At the U.S. Women's Open I was more excited to sign autographs then play. This is a fun golf tournament and they treat you perfect. Everyone from around the country comes out to watch these girls play and it has been a great experience so far." Cassandra Blaney of Davenport, Fla., climbed into sole possession of third place after a 68. Blaney landed in Saturday's final pairing after hitting a 6-iron approach on 18 to within seven feet of the hole, then draining the birdie putt. The ignition switch to her round, though, came when she eagled the 474-yard, par-5 10th hole. "I hit a really good shot and it caught the wind. I had about 140 yards in, and hit a 9-iron downwind," said Blaney, a member of the 2006 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team and the 2005 and '06 Callaway Golf PGA Junior Series Player of the Year. "I had about an eight-footer left, and I kind of willed it in." Blaney, who has recorded victories on the Callaway Golf PGA Junior Series this summer, with wins at Kearney Hills Golf Links in Lexington, Ky. and the University of Georgia in Athens, believes, that she has yet to have significant success in tournaments against a strong field. "I have never really played very well in big tournaments," she said. "We have the best players here, and I'm kind of a nobody. So, I figured it was my time to show I can play." In the boys' division, Chris DeForest of Cottekill, N.Y., continued to build his lead, firing a 67 for a 54-hole total of 13-under-par 200, breaking the 1993 standard of 202, previously held by Pat Perez. DeForest's consistent iron play and clutch putting leave him 18 holes away from capturing his first Westfield Junior PGA Championship in five attempts. He has made only two bogeys in 54 holes en route to a six-stroke margin over his closest pursuer, Mark Johnson of Tulsa, Okla., who came in with a second straight 67 for a 206. Connor Driscoll of Encinitas, Calif. and Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., share third at 210. "I came into this Championship with a strategy of eliminating bogeys that my father and I came up with before the tournament, said DeForest, a 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team member. "I had some jitters on the front nine but was able to compose myself and hit some really good shots on the back nine." The Westfield Junior PGA Championship, which has traditionally produced stellar golf performances for more than three decades, brings 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 from 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 Boys 16-18 Division 1. Chris DeForest, Cottekill, N.Y. 65-68-67-200 2. Mark Johnson, Tulsa, Okla. 72-67-67-206 3. Connor Driscoll, Encinitas, Calif. 68-71-71-210 3. Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill. 71-68-71-210 5. John Popeck, Washington, Pa. 74-73-65-212 5. Jacob Burger, Orangeburg, S.C. 71-72-69-212 5. Jed Dirksen, Hampton, Iowa 73-70-69-212 8. John Hahn, Kent, Ohio 73-72-68-213 8. Connor Arendell, Cape Coral, Fla. 72-72-69-213 8. Albert Kilgore, Corona, Calif. 71-71-71-213 8. Joe Monte, Chantilly, Va. 71-68-74-213 12. Devin Miertschin, El Paso, Texas 72-73-69-214 13. Wesley Bryan, Chapin, S.C. 74-71-70-215 13. Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas 75-67-73-215 15. Bradley George, Marion, Iowa 75-73-68-216 15. Chan Kim, Chandler, Ariz. 72-74-70-216 15. Robbie Ziegler, Canby, Ore. 72-72-72-216 18. Sean Brannan, Hollidaysburg, Pa. 70-77-70-217 18. Kyle English, Bloomington, Ill. 71-75-71-217 18. Andrew Yun, Chandler, Ariz. 71-74-72-217 18. Brinson Paolini, Virginia Beach, Va. 69-75-73-217 18. Ryan Dorner, Glenview Ill. 73-69-75-217 23. Parker Hewit, Westfield Center, Ohio 75-76-68-219 23. Matthew Porter, Cortland, N.Y. 74-77-68-219 23. Jason Chun, Virginia Beach, Va. 75-71-73-219 23. Craig Kublin, Needham, Mass. 73-73-73-219 23. Brady Keegan, Eau Claire, Wis. 70-76-73-219 28. Tommy Higham, Shelley, Idaho 72-76-72-220 28. Austin Gutgsell, Mandeville, La. 77-71-72-220 28. Aaron McConley, Alexandria, La. 69-78-73-220 28. Blake Brown, Scottsdale, Ariz. 71-74-75-220 28. Harold Varner III, Gastonia, N.C. 70-72-78-220 DID NOT MAKE 54-HOLE CUT Gaston DeLaTorre, Brush Prairie, Wash. 73-76-72-221 Taylor Zimmerman, State Road, N.C. 72-76-73-221 David Zhang, South Glastonbury, Conn. 73-74-74-221 Josh Dupont, Poway, Calif. 70-73-78-221 Zach Glassman, Highland Hts., Ohio 77-72-73-222 Jared Walahoski, Urbandale, Iowa 76-76-70-222 Jake Katz, Williamsville, N.Y. 76-77-69-222 Robert Greenleaf, Makawao, Hawaii 71-76-76-223 Ryan Peterson, Eagan, Minn. 73-73-77-223 Blake English, Charlotte, Mich. 75-74-75-224 Drew Miller, Clarksville, Tenn. 78-71-75-224 Matt Moot, Johnstown, Pa. 78-73-73-224 Johnny Burke, Bay Village, Ohio 77-76-71-224 Ernesto Marin, Miami, Fla. 75-73-77-225 Nicholas Sheppard, Springfield, Miss. 73-76-76-225 Alexander Gutesha, Greenwood Village, Colo. 75-75-75-225 Justin Lower, Canal Fulton, Ohio 72-76-78-226 Alex Bungert, Orange, Calif. 70-80-77-227 Jeffrey Hamm, Danville, Calif. 79-71-77-227 Hunter Brown, Richardson, Texas 79-72-76-227 Miguel Calif.mitoc, Hayward, Calif. 73-79-75-227 David Fink, Kailua, Hawaii 75-78-74-227 David Watkins, Hamlet, N.C. 79-81-68-228 Donald DeN.Y.se III, Albany, N.Y. 76-77-76-229 Austin Zimmerman, Lincoln, Neb. 79-77-73-229 Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo. 73-80-77-230 Michael Miller, Brewster, N.Y. 77-77-76-230 Matt Nagy, Buena Vista, Ga. 80-75-75-230 Mark Rocker, Millen, Ga. 74-80-77-231 Brenden Beeg, Littleton, Colo. 77-78-76-231 Trent Hillis, Poplar Bluff, Miss. 79-74-79-232 Jake An, Centerville, Va. 73-81-79-233 Chad Bryant, Newcastle, Okla. 80-78-75-233 Mike Smith, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 76-78-80-234 Thomas Tatum, Dallas, Texas 77-81-76-234 Yong Wang, Mahwah, N.J. 82-79-73-234 Eric Meier, Villa Hills, Ky. 80-76-79-235 Eric Ong, Carmel, Ind. 79-82-77-238 Tyler Hawk, Batavia, Ohio 79-82-77-238 Matthew Barnes, Birmingham, Ala. 82-80-76-238 Jack Dressen, Edina, Minn. 79-77-83-239 Jordan Rodgers, Salt Lake City, Utah 81-77-81-239 Taylor Johnson, Oconomowoc, Wis. 81-76-84-241 Mike Amole, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 83-81-81-245 Johnathan Sloss, Alamo, Texas 86-83-77-246 Philip Scheuerman, Leawood, Kan. 82-80-87-249 Girl's Division - Par 71 - 6,022 Yards 1. Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla. 75-73-66-214 1. Kimberly Kim, Pahoa, Hawaii 73-72-69-214 3. Cassandra Blaney, Lady Lake, Fla. 73-74-68-215 4. Vicky Hurst, Melbourne, Fla. 81-68-67-216 5. Kristina Wong, Bradenton, Fla. 73-74-71-218 6. Alexandra Bodemann, Palm City, Fla. 73-78-68-219 7. Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. 78-72-70-220 7. Sarah Brown, Stewartsville, N.J. 74-72-74-220 9. Allie White, Lancaster, Ohio 77-74-70-221 9. Jane Rah, Torrance, Calif. 75-72-74-221 9. Lisa McCloskey, Montgomery, Texas 76-70-75-221 12. Kyndall Ardoin, Gibsland, La. 75-75-72-222 12. Jennifer Johnson, La Quinta, Calif. 75-75-72-222 12. Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix, Ariz. 72-75-75-222 15. Katie Detlefsen, Eagan, Minn. 74-78-71-223 15. Jennifer Hirano, Pinole, Calif. 75-76-72-223 15. Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. 75-75-73-223 15. Lindsey Solberg, Verona, Wi. 74-76-73-223 19. Courtney Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Va. 76-75-74-225 19. Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. 75-74-76-225 19. Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill. 71-76-78-225 22. Tessa Teachman, Baton Rouge, La. 75-79-72-226 22. Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. 76-76-74-226 22. Lindy LaBauve, Scottsdale, Ariz. 78-72-76-226 22. Katie Conway, Wading River, N.Y. 72-76-78-226 26. Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. 75-78-74-227 26. Andrea Watts, Bradenton, Fla. 77-76-74-227 26. Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa. 77-73-77-227 29. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii 77-80-71-228 30. Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. 78-78-74-230 DID NOT MAKE 54-HOLE CUT Samantha Troyanovich, Grosse Pte. Shores, Mich. 82-77-72-231 Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis. 80-79-72-231 Haley Millsap, Pace, Fla. 82-75-74-231 Kylie Fuller, Temecula, Calif. 78-76-78-232 Jenny Shin, Torrance, Calif. 76-78-78-232 Kyle Roig, Pembroke Pines, Fla. 80-77-76-233 Karisa Akin, Elizabethtown, Ky. 78-82-73-233 Amelia Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla. 81-75-77-233 Nikki Koller, Lewisburg, Ky. 83-78-72-233 Marissa Steen, WestChester, Ohio 78-75-80-233 Tracy Martin, Tyngsboro, Mass. 79-79-76-234 Haley Sanders, Rogers, Ark. 77-79-78-234 Melissa Martin, Grand Junction, Colo. 78-74-82-234 Heather Lott, Baton Rouge, La. 81-76-79-236 Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale, Ga. 77-82-77-236 Crystal Lee, Mahwah, N.J. 77-78-81-236 Hillary Gerster, Andover, Minn. 83-77-77-237 Kendall Wright, Duluth, Ga. 75-78-84-237 Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. 81-79-79-239 Meghan Chapman, Seminole, Fla. 77-84-79-240 Morgan Hale, Tallahoma, Tenn. 81-80-79-240 Jordan Ontiveros, Alamo, Calif. 84-79-77-240 Mary Narzisi, Omaha, Neb. 79-80-82-241 Caitlin Bliss, Katy, Texas 82-80-79-241 Anne Ormson, Granger, Ind. 79-82-81-242 Alei Mitchell, Waycross, Ga. 81-81-80-242 Hanule Seo, St. Louis, Mo. 83-82-78-243 Sarah Freeman, Goodyear, Ariz. 90-78-75-243 Katie Jurenovich, Warren, Ohio 82-80-82-244 Shelby Phillips, Gilbert, Ariz. 84-82-78-244 Lauren Greenlief, Oakton, Va. 85-75-85-245 Rebecca Lederhausen, Hinsdale, Ill. 80-80-85-245 Stephanie Corey, Burien, Wash. 81-83-81-245 Paige Spiranac, Monument, Colo. 82-83-80-245 Samantha Formeck, Northern Cambria, Pa. 83-83-79-245 Ashley Mooney, Port Saint Lucie, Fla. 79-89-77-245 Madeleine Sheils, Boise, Idaho 84-81-82-247 Samantha Schuffenecker, Oswego, N.Y. 84-80-84-248 Katie Skinner, Boise, Idaho 84-80-84-248 Whitney Schrader, Marshalltown, Iowa 82-83-83-248 Jennifer Clark, Kansas City, Kan. 82-87-79-248 Kc Cain, Marion, Ind. 85-87-82-254 Erin Misheff, Silver Lake, Ohio 85-84-86-255 Sara Eichelberger, Rochester, N.Y. 89-85-81-255 Katelynn Mannix, Plattsburgh, N.Y. 83-88-84-255 Emily Copier, Sandy, Utah 93-84-79-256 Brooke Stepanek, Guilford, Conn. 87-87-88-262 Chanet Fiorina, Santa Fe, N.M. 93-81-92-266 ###