BARRIE, Ontario – Karl Vilips of Foxfire, North Carolina, won his second AJGA tournament of the season after finishing with a 1-over-par 214 tournament total at the AJGA / CJGA Junior Championship. In the Girls Division, Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ontario, fired the low final-round score of even-par 71 to win by three strokes at 9-over-par 222.
Vilips birdied his final two holes to play the back nine at 3-under-par 32, and fired the low final-round score in the Boys Division at 3-under-par 68. The 14-year-old is currently ranked No. 90 in the Polo Golf Rankings, adding to his previous victory at the AJGA Junior at Forest Lake presented by Tom Holzer Ford.
“I had to fight for this one,” Vilips said. “I thought I was trailing by six shots the whole round, but when I was catching up I had a lot more energy and I was really pumped. On No. 17 I was 91 yards out, stuck it to 15 feet and made the putt, and that got my pumped up going into the last hole.”
In second at 5-over-par 218 was Fritz Lo of Vancouver, British Columbia. Tied for third at 6-over-par 219 were Khan Lee of Surrey, British Columbia, and Charlie Watson of Toronto, Ontario, and tied for fifth at 7-over-par 220 were Cullen Chung of Westmount, Quebec, and Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton, Georgia.
In the Girls Division, Costabile birdied Nos. 12 and 14 to play the back nine at 2-under-par 33. The Leadership Links participant made her third appearance at the AJGA / CJGA Junior Championship, and had placed in the top three at each of the past two events.
“Two years ago I was in the lead and I lost it on the last day, but today I held in there and finally got the win,” Costabile said. “Knowing that there are a lot of good American girls and Canadian girls just helped me to play better. This year I played a lot more consistent.”
Finishing second at 12-over-par 225 was Ashley Zagers of Oldsmar, Florida, and placing third at 14-over-par 227 was Mimi Chen of Longwood, Florida.
The 2015 AJGA / CJGA Junior Championship was the third time the two organizations partnered to bring an AJGA event to Canada.
“Each and every year the partnership has grown stronger, and the CJGA is very happy to team up with the AJGA,” CJGA Tournament Operations Coordinator Akash Patel said. “The competition and strength of the field that the AJGA brings has been very beneficial for our junior golfers, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.”
For more information about the AJGA / CJGA Junior Championship, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at 770-868-4200.
About the CJGA
The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) not-for-profit registered federally with Revenue Canada. The CJGA is dedicated to providing Canada’s junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf.
Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information please visit www.cjga.com
The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Partner, Freedom 55 Financial, which provides financial security advice and planning for Canadians.
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, 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.
For Additional Information
Tim Wing
Media Relations
American Junior Golf Association
248.943.5821
team2@ajga.org
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