By Amanda Herrington, AJGA Communications
The Junior All-Star Invitational was a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Mission Inn Resort & Club's El Campéon Course. The 78-player field was made up of junior boys and girls, ages 12-16, who have had success in this season's Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. In all, 21 states were represented along with players from eight foreign countries. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,705 yards while the Girls Division played at 5,927.
Top GGGA Finishers
In addition to Arimoto, four Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy students posted rounds at the top of the leaderboard. In the Boys Division, Luis Gerardo Garza fired a 2-under-par 33 on the front nine, en route to a third place finish at 3-under-par 213. Tiger Lee tied for fifth with 12 pars and three birdies on his final round scorecard. Camilo Mexsen carded rounds of 74-70-74 for a three-day total of 2-over-par 218 to tie for ninth.
In the Girls Division, Mai Dechathipat went bogey-free on the back nine for a final round 73, putting her in a tie for second place.
Solomon’s Streak
This year, 15-year-old Jacob Solomon made AJGA history when he tied the boys’ record for most consecutive wins in a season at three. While the victory streak came to an end, Solomon finished the season strong, earning a fourth place finish and shooting a 3-under-par 69 during the final round.
Louisiana Waters
There must be something in the waters of Shreveport, La. Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, La., joins his friend, 2011 Junior All-Star Invitational Champion, Sam Burns, as the second consecutive winner from the “Port City.” While Barbaree was coasting up the leaderboard in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., Burns was competing at The PING Invitational in Stillwater, Okla., where he finished T15.
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