AJGA Blog

From Alternate to Champion

One year ago, Stephen Behr, Jr. was an alternate for the Aldila Junior Open. A day later he was playing in his first AJGA tournament. In that same tournament he collected his first top 10 finish. That’s a pretty quick learning curve.

He then went on to have a great summer. In his following four AJGA tournaments, Behr did not finish outside the top 10, including a tie for ninth at the Polo Golf Junior Classic.

Flash forward to this past weekend. Behr has come full circle. In the very place where his AJGA career started, he was able to secure his first AJGA win.

“This course really sets up for my game,” Behr said. “It’s a very tight course and while I may not be a very big hitter, I am able to keep the ball in the fairway. The course also puts an emphasis on short game and I feel that is the best part of my game.”

When asked if he liked a lot of Jack Nicklaus design courses, Behr did not know it was a course from the legendary Golden Bear.

“He did?” Behr said. “I have played some other courses of his and it was a lot more difficult for me, but I do seem to really like this course.”

That’s for sure. He now has a sixth place finish and a championship trophy to attest to that.

The Golden Bear is able to get the best of most golfers, but in the case of this Behr, he was able to go in for the kill and capture his first AJGA tournament victory.

-Written by Rob Doone, AJGA Communications Staff

The Greatest Wake Up Call

When JD Tomlinson woke up Friday morning he had a very important message waiting for him on his cell phone. He was already scheduled to play in the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament at the Exide Technologies Junior Open in Johns Creek, Ga.

The message said to call University of Florida’s Men’s Golf Coach, Buddy Alexander. Tomlinson had recently visited Florida on Tuesday where he was given a tour of their practice facility, football stadium and basketball stadium. He called the visit “incredible.”

“I’m still in bed and I call him,” Tomlinson said. “And he tells me that he has increased my scholarship offer. I said, ‘You know what? I’ll take it.’”

Tomlinson, a Gainesville, Fla., native, is a self described “hardcore Gator fan” and said it has been a life-long goal to play for his hometown school. “That eliminated a lot of schools right off the bat.”

He is looking forward to working with Alexander and believes that someone with his experience (Alexander won the U.S. Amateur in 1986) gives him the best chance to succeed.

With his college decision made, Tomlinson said he is looking forward to relaxing and just playing golf. He won the AJGA Junior at Innisbrook the first week in April and is hoping that win will jumpstart him to a successful season.

“I’m just going to go out and try to win everything,” Tomlinson said. “I have no pressure now.”

-Written by Curt Haag, AJGA Communications Staff

Lights, Cameras, Action

Two days before 78 of the nation’s best junior golfers arrive at The Country Club of the South, a different outing was held on the Nicklaus-designed course. On Wednesday, members of regional and local media came out for a press conference and round of golf.

Media members weren’t the only ones in attendance for the press conference- representatives from tournament sponsor Exide Technologies, junior-am beneficiary Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and J. Addams & Partners were all on hand.

Cameras from ABC and NBC Atlanta affiliates captured comments from Billy Kennerly, who tied for second at the event last year, as well as Tournament Chairman Chuck Strong.

As tournament activities get underway, stay tuned to FootJoy Live Scoring for all things related to the Exide Technologies Junior Open. Tournament rounds will be Saturday and Sunday with tee times running from 8-9:48 a.m. each day.