TOURNAMENT RECAPS

AJGA Greater Hartford Open Junior Classic

Jon McLean won his first AJGA title Aug. 14 after carding a 2-under-par 214 in the Greater Hartford Open Junior Classic. Kelley Louth finished with a 226 total to hold her spot atop the girls division leaderboard.

McLean had five birdies on the final day, as well as six bogeys and a double at Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, Conn., yet managed to hold on for a one-stroke victory.

''I came into this round thinking I was going to have to shoot pretty low to win,'' the 17-year-old said. ''Everyone was playing really well and we were all going low. I just had to try to stay focused.''

In a three-way tie for second were George Gandranata, Andrew DiBitetto and James Lee at 215.

Louth, also a first-time AJGA winner, went wire-to-wire to claim the girls title by six strokes. Meredith Godwin finished second at 232.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/

AJGA Needham Junior at Diablo Grande

Jennie Lee claimed her second AJGA title of the season and fourth of her career thanks to a closing 69 Aug. 14 at the Needham Junior at Diablo Grande. Matt Savage shot a final-round 74 then battled through a two-hole playoff to claim his first AJGA crown.

In his final AJGA event, Savage made birdie at the 440-yard, par-4 18th hole to defeat Jamie Puterbaugh. Puterbaugh shot 67-74-69--210 to finish runner-up.

Lee, 16, had a 215 total and her final round included six birdies and three bogeys. Ki-Shui Liao (78-70-68) was second, a shot back.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/

AJGA I.R.I. Oakridge Junior

Taylor Leon overcame a four-shot deficit Aug. 14 to win the AJGA I.R.I. Oakridge Junior.

The victory, Leon's first on the AJGA, came thanks to a closing-round 76 and 227 total at Oakridge Country Club in Garland, Texas.

Amanda Martinez tied Leon for the low round of the final day (76) finished second at 229 while second-round co-leader Rebecca Kuhn slipped to fourth after a final-round 86.

Kevin Schultz ran away with the boys division, carding rounds of 68-72-67 for his second AJGA title. Three players finished tied for second. Colton Williams, Nick Olivarri and Brian Ricketts finished at 4 over, 10 strokes back.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

AJGA Chicago Junior at Bolingbrook

Todd Obergoenner edged past Eric Meierdierks by one stroke Aug. 14 to win the AJGA Chicago Junior at Bolingbrook. Ashley Freeman closed with 75 to easily take the girls division title for her first AJGA victory.

Obergoenner's final-round 67, his lowest on the AJGA, put the finishing touches on a 217 total and one-stroke victory over Meierdierks. His previous low came a few weeks ago at the AJGA Lockton Kansas City Junior where he carded a 2-under 70 and finished tied for seventh.

Freeman, who shot rounds of 81-73-75 for a 229 total, credited her improved concentration for her victory.

''Every time I thought about walking down No. 18 with the lead, I made sure to snap out of it and focus on the next shot,'' said the 15-year-old. ''I didn't realize I had won until Noriko [Nakazaki] congratulated me.''
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

Lessing's Classic

Top-ranked Paula Creamer claimed her fourth AJGA title this season, closing with 70 for a 215 total and six-stroke victory Aug. 14 at the Lessing's Classic.

Fourteen-year-old Megan Grehan took second place with a 5 over total and Stephanie Connelly (228) was third at the Links at Shirley (N.Y.).

Tarik Can, who began the final-round nine strokes out of the lead, shot a final-round 73 to tie Billy Hanes at 224 and parred the first extra hole (No. 18) to take the boys division title. Kyle Hartlaub finished in third place at 10-over 226.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

AJGA Rome Classic

In a dramatic turn of events, Gator Todd overtook fellow Alabama native Zack Sucher on the 17th hole of the final round of the Rome Classic Aug. 17 to earn his first AJGA title. Heather Wright also found the AJGA winner's circle for the first time, cruising to a four-stroke victory in the girls division.

Holding a one stroke lead with two holes to play, Sucher made double-bogey on the par-3 17th to finish one stroke behind of Todd. William Wilcox made six birdies and a bogey to finish tied at 206 with Sucher.

Todd closed with steady pars on Nos. 17 and 18 for his 205 total, a new tournament record by three strokes.

Wright made her second visit to Coosa Country Club one to remember, carding rounds of 70-69-76 to finish at 1 under. Two years ago, Wright played in a qualifier for the Rome event and missed the cut by one stroke. This time around, she produced a four-stroke victory.

Sharla Cloutier and Christie Reed finished second at 219.
- For complete results, visit www.golfweek.com/juniorgolf/

HOGGARD: LEPP'S PLIGHT
SAD, BUT APPROPRIATE

Barring the type of negotiation breakthrough not witnessed since J. Lo and Ben Affleck cleared the air and headed back down the matrimonial highway, there's a good chance James Lepp will spend the 2003-04 college season as a spectator.

This is unfortunate for many reasons, not the least of which is that Lepp is the author of one of the best amateur summers in recent memory.
- For more, visit www.g olfweek.com/articles/2003/juniorgolf/boys/35264.asp

NEWS AND NOTES

* Rhys Davies gave himself the perfect going away present before heading off to start his freshman year at East Tennessee State. Davies won the British Boys Championship Aug. 16 at Royal Liverpool by defeating Spain's Pablo Martin, 1 up, in the 36-hole final.

For the Welsh player it was a case of sweet revenge. Davies lost last year's final in 37 holes at Carnoustie to unknown Englishman Mark Pilling. This year Davies defeated the best young player in Europe to become only the fifth Welsh player in 85 years to lift the title.
For full story, see www.g olfweek.com/articles/2003/juniorgolf/boys/35211.asp

* Hawaii's Travis Toyama shot rounds of 75-66-66-70 to win the Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic Aug. 15 played at Olde York Country Club in Columbus, N.J. Toyama's 277 total was 10 strokes better than Daniel Kefale, breaking the tournament record for margin of victory also held by Tiger Woods.

Woods won the Independent Insurance in 1992 by nine shots and Kevin Silva matched that mark last year.

In the girls division, Sukjin Wuesthoff of Toms River, N.J., overcame a five-stroke deficit in the final nine holes to win her second major tournament this summer. Wuesthoff, winner of this year's U.S. Girls' Junior, shot rounds of 73-79-74-77 for a two-shot victory.

* Whitney Myers and Esther Choe were named captain's picks for this year's U.S. Junior Solheim Cup team. They will team with the 10 players who earned spots on the team via a points list Sept. 8-10 at Bokskogen Golf Club in Malmo, Sweden.

U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup team
Amanda Blumenherst (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Esther Choe (La Quinta, Calif.)
Amie Cochran (Torrance, Calif.)
Paula Creamer (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Lauren Espinosa (Irving, Texas)
Taylor Leon (Dallas)
Brittany Lincicome (Seminole, Fla.)
Whitney Myers (East Berlin, Pa.)
Jennifer Pandolfi (Navarre, Fla.)
Jane Park (Beaumont, Calif.)
Morgan Pressel (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Christie Reed (Coral Springs, Fla.)

European PING Junior Solheim Cup team
Mikaela Backstedt (Ljunghusen, Sweden)
Minea Blomqvist (Espoo, Finland)
Emma Cabrera (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)
Claire Grignolo (Torino, Italy)
Maria Hernandez (Navarra, Spain)
Belen Mozo (Cadiz, Spain)
Azahara Munoz (Malaga, Spain)
Dewi-Claire Shreefel (Diepenveen, Netherlands)
Marianne Skarpnord (Borgenhaugen, Norway)
Louise Stahle (Lund, Sweden)
Caroline Westrup (Oslo, Norway)
Adriana Zwank (Madrid, Spain)

* Short shots: The IJGT's top player in the boys 16-19 division will earn a spot in the field for next year's Players Amateur at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C. this season. One individual from the IJGT's boys 16-19 division will qualify for the Players Amateur at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C. this season. For more information, visit www.playersam.com.. . . EasyCare has agreed to a three-year contract to sponsor the AJGA's new tournament in Andover Golf and Country Club in Lexington, Ky., next year. The tournament will be held June 27-July 1. . . . The Southeastern Junior Golf Tour 2002-03 Precept Points winners: Rebecca Durham, St. Simons Island, Ga. (girls 12-14, 10,150 points); Christina Wentworth, Macon, Ga. (girls 15-18, 6,475); Brian Jones, Birmingham, Ala. (boys 12-13, 850); Harris English, Moultrie, Ga. (boys 14-15, 5,535); Benjamin Kishigian of Warner Robins, Ga. (boys 16-18, 4,825).

PLAYER TO WATCH
Name: Marina Choi
Age: 17
Golfweek/Titleist Ranking: 38^th (as of 08.20.03)
Residence: Los Angeles
The Skinny: Choi has crafted a steady summer that includes a trip to match play at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in June and a 17th-place finish at the AJGA Lennar Junior at Mission Hills.

Although impressive, Choi's summer resume doesn't include her most memorable golf experience. That occurred when the 17-year old senior-to-be at Redondo Union High School attempted to drive the green of a 280-yard, par-4 and inadvertently hit another player on the hip.

Away from the course, Choi likes to spend time with her family and friends.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Aug. 16-18 -- PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course/Haig Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Aug. 18-19 -- WCJGT-Alberta PGA Junior (Heritage Pointe Golf &CC, Calgary, Alberta)
Aug. 18-19 -- WCJGT Manitoba PGA Junior (Niakwa GC, Winnipeg Manitoba)
Aug. 18-20 -- CJGA Championship Series (British Columbia)
Aug. 18-21 -- Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic (Toftrees Resort, State College, Pa.)
Aug. 19-22 -- Mizuno CJGA National Golf Championship
Aug. 21-24 -- PING Phoenix Junior Championship (Karsten Golf Course, Tempe, Ariz.)

	BOYS
	1.	Brian Harman	69.33
	2.	Brendon Todd	69.60
	3.	Martin Ureta	70.57
	4.	Sean Moore	70.59
	5.	James Lee	70.90
	6.	Jarred Texter	71.16
	7.	Chris Kirk	71.17
	8.	Jonathan Moore	71.21
	9.	Daniel Im	71.37
	10.	Webb Simpson	71.49
	11.	Giwon Suh	71.51
	12.	Patton Kizzire	71.51
	13.	Adam Cohan	71.63
	14.	Rob Grube	71.65
	15.	Lance Lopez	71.66
	16.	James Sacheck	71.69
	17.	Robert Gates Jr.	71.78
	18.	Roberto Castro	71.85
	19.	Will Osborne	71.86
	20.	Chanin Puntawong	71.98
	- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com/ juniorgolf/ratings/boys.asp

	GIRLS
	1.	Paula Creamer	69.54
	2.	In-Bee Park	69.80
	3.	Jane Park	70.79
	4.	Julieta Granada	70.80
	5.	Amanda Blumenherst	71.54
	6.	Brittany Lincicome	71.78
	7.	Ashley Knoll	71.97
	8.	Brittany Lang	71.98
	9.	Sukjin Wuesthoff	72.09
	10.	Nicole Hage	72.18
	11.	Amie Cochran	72.36
	12.	Morgan Pressel	72.36
	13.	Angela Park	72.54
	14.	Hannah Jun	72.57
	15.	Mina Harigae	73.17
	16.	Kelly Robb	73.22
	17.	Lauren Espinosa	73.35
	18.	Whitney Wade	73.40
	19.	Ashley Rollins	73.59
	20.	Jennie Lee	73.63
	- For complete rankings, visit www.golfweek.com /juniorgolf/ratings/girls.asp

NUMBER CRUNCHING
Here is a list of last week's winners and their movement in the Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index:

BOYS
AJGA Needham Junior at Diablo Grande -- Matt Savage (Not Ranked)
AJGA I.R.I. Oakridge Junior -- Kevin Schultz (34th to 27th)
AJGA Chicago Junior -- Todd Obergoenner (120th to 99th)
Lessing's AJGA Classic -- Tarik Can (153rd to 143rd)
AJGA Greater Hartford Open Junior -- Jon McLean (97th to 93rd)
AJGA Rome Classic -- Gator Todd (32nd to 29th)

GIRLS
AJGA Needham Junior at Diablo Grande -- Jennie Lee (21st to 20th)
AJGA I.R.I. Oakridge Junior -- Taylor Leon (30th to 29th)
AJGA Chicago Junior -- Ashley Freeman (74th to 73rd)
Lessing's AJGA Classic -- Paula Creamer (Remained No. 1)
AJGA Greater Hartford Open Junior -- Kelley Louth (27th to 26th)
AJGA Rome Classic -- Heather Wright (93rd to 88th)

RECRUITING CENTRAL
Prospective student-athletes and parents should take note of the latest NCAA Division I proposal regarding academic eligibility.

The rewards/penalties program, which will go before the Board of Directors in April for approval, would prohibit schools from re-awarding an athlete's scholarship who failed to meet eligibility standards and withdrew from school.

Coaches will be under increased pressure to recruit players with good academic records with the hope that academic performance will continue in college.

- For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/.

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Check the Aug. 23 issue of Golfweek for complete coverage from the British Boys Championship and Aree Song's no-show at University of Florida freshman orientation.

POLL QUESTION
If you were to vote today for the PGA Tour Player of the Year, who would you choose?

Have an interesting junior note to report, or know an interesting junior we can profile? E-mail Golfweek scoreboard editor Graham Elliott at gelliott@golfweek.com.

Have a question about the Golfweek/Titleist Performance Index? E-mail rankings@golfweek.com.