Final Results from IJGT NorCal Open at Eagle Ridge G.C.

A talented group of junior golfers came to Northern California for the two-day, 36-hole International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) NorCal Open held at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Sunday's final round ended with three first time IJGT champions, all of which were from Northern California.

Ryan Garfield of Petaluma, Calif., won the Boys 15-19 Division title after outlasting the other players in the final group at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Garfield built some momentum with a score of 6-over-par 78 on Saturday. This was the low round of the tournament in all divisions, and gave him a two stroke lead going into Sunday's final round. On Sunday, Garfield got off to a rough start, but he held it together on the back nine to secure the victory.

The pivotal point in the tournament came on hole No. 16 where Garfield went from third place to first place after he made a par on the challenging par-3 at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Garfield had a renewed sense of confidence after this hole and made another par on No. 17 to increase his lead. He finished the 18th hole with a double-bogey, but it was still good enough to take home the first place trophy in the Boys 15-19 Division.

Although, he was not on top of his game, Garfield was still happy with his victory. "The greens were tough today. The hole locations were tough...it was a tough course, but it was fair," commented Garfield when asked about the setup at Eagle Ridge Golf Club.
Finishing in second place was Christian Galvin of Saratoga, Calif., with a tournament score of 173. There was a tie for third place between Mason Troike of Orangevale, Calif., and Aaron Ong of Hayward, Calif., with a tournament total of 175.

Grant Leppek of Rocklin, Calif., was victorious in the Boys 14 & Under Division after putting together two solid rounds over the weekend on the difficult Eagle Ridge Golf Club. He built a sizeable lead on Saturday with an 84, but he knew he was going to have to play well in order to finish atop the leaderboard. On Sunday, Leppek got off to a great start after making birdie on his opening hole. He would go on to make another birdie on the back nine and finish with a score of 82 giving him his first IJGT victory.

His score on Sunday was the low round of the day in any division, and earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

Finishing in second place in the Boys 14 & Under Division with a tournament score of 189 was Moibhi Tyndall of Mountain View, Calif.

Leppek was firing on all cylinders this weekend. "I was hitting the ball solid and putting pretty well," he said.

Taking home the trophy in the Girls Division was Amelia McKee of Paso Robles, Calif. This was her first career IJGT victory at the young age of 13-years-old. In the first round, McKee struggled with the putter, but she fared much better on Sunday. Her score of 83 was a nine stroke improvement from Saturday's round. McKee had a great ending to her tournament as she made three consecutive pars to win the Girls Division title.

Her score of 83 on Sunday earned her the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

McKee was very pleased with how she bounced back on Sunday. "I was striking the ball really well, but my putting was a little off, but it was better than yesterday."

The IJGT will be back on the West Coast for the IJGT Pacific Coast Major Championship on December 1-2, 2012 at Sandpiper Golf Club. This will be the lone West Coast Major Championship of the fall season where players will earn double merit points for their finishes. Sandpiper Golf Club is situated in beautiful Santa Barbara, Calif., and has many holes along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

To sign up for this event or others, or for more information call (800) 792-9143 or visit www.IJGT.com.

About the IJGT

The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events. Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19. Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Golf Digest/Golf World, morodZ, PURE Grips, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (800) 792-9143.

GILROY, CALIF. - Final round results of the IJGT NorCal Open at Eagle Ridge Golf Club conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed November 4, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Blue Tees - 6661 yards, par 72 (73.0/138). Boys 14 & Under Division: White Tees - 6075 yards, par 72 (70.6./127). Girls Division: Yellow Tees - 5904 yards, par 72 (74.2/132)

Weather: Sunny with temperatures in the Mid 70s with winds of 5-10 m.p.h.
Sunny with temperatures in the Mid 70s. with winds of 5-10 m.p.h.

International Junior Golf Tour NorCal Open
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
Gilroy, Calif.
November 3-4, 2012

Boys 15-19 Division - Blue Tees, 6661 yards, Par 72

1. Ryan Garfield, Petaluma, CA *78-90--168
2. Christian Galvin, Saratoga, CA *80-93--173
3. Mason Troike, Orangevale, CA *85-90--175
3. Aaron Justin Ong, Hayward, CA *92-83--175
5. Sean Cadwallader, San Pablo, CA *94-84--178
5. Waldo Reyes, Mandaluyong, Philippines *92-86--178
7. Steven Gerisch, Granite Bay, CA *98-96--194
8. Rafa Reyes, Mandaluyong, Philippines *101-95--196
9. Jake Leppek, Rocklin, CA *94-106--200

DID NOT FINISH

Derek Ackerman, Half Moon Bay, CA *81-JWD

Boys 14 & Under Division - White Tees, 6075 yards, Par 72

1. Grant Leppek, Rocklin, CA *84-82--166
2. Moibhi Tyndall, Mountain View, CA *99-90--189

Girls Division - Yellow Tees, 5904 yards, Par 72

1. Amelia McKee, Paso Robles, CA *92-83--175