Vilips, Yuen Claim Wins At AJGA Junior At Forest Lake

AJGA JUNIOR AT FOREST LAKE PRESENTED BY TOM HOLZER FORD
Forest Lake Country Club
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
August 3 – 6, 2015

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Karl Vilips of Foxfire, North Carolina, fired a 2-under-par 69 in the final round to win the AJGA Junior at Forest Lake presented by Tom Holzer Ford with a 7-under-par 206 tournament total. In the Girls Division, Jessica Yuen of Bolingbrook, Illinois, carded a tournament total 10-over-par 223 to hold onto the top spot and win her first AJGA title.
Vilips carded his third score in the 60s to claim his first AJGA championship. The Australia-native tallied seven birdies and a bogey-free back nine in the final round to hold off the competition. The 13-year-earned medalist honors at the qualifier to earn his spot in the event.

“This is a great feeling to be a 13-year-old winning in an open event,” Vilips said. “I played it safe in this tournament and the qualifier, and I shot in the 60s every round. Laying up on holes gave me pars, and luckily I had plenty of those this week.”

Finishing second with a tournament total 6-under-par 207 was Joseph Pagdin of Orlando, Florida. Zach Robbins of Grand Rapids, Michigan, took third with a tournament total 4-under-par 209 and Ben Smith of Novi, Michigan, took fourth at 2-under-par 211. In a three-way tie for fifth with a tournament total 1-over-par 214 were Dylan Deogun of Orchard Lake, Michigan, Ying-Shih Chang of Indio, California, and Brendan O’Reilly of Hinsdale, Illinois.

In the Girls Division, Yuen opened her round with a birdie on No. 1 and finished her round with seven straight pars to win by four strokes. The University of Missouri commit finished T7 at last year’s event, but worked on her swing over the winter to help her improve her game and claim the championship trophy this year.

“It feels great to win this tournament since it was my goal coming into the summer,” Yuen said. “I love this course and this tournament. It is an honor to play here again and I hope to come back here next year.”

Alyssa Akiyama of Terrace Park, Ohio, finished second at 14-over-par 227, and Veronica Joels of Las Vegas, Nevada, finished third at 15-over-par 228.

About the AJGA

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 more than 6,000 members from all 50 states and more than 45 foreign 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, Polo 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 Jordan Spieth, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Stacy Lewis, Vicky Hurst, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel.

via AJGA