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Paolucci Captures 33rd Junior PGA Championship

A Lone Star State battle came down to a playoff as Anthony Paolucci, 15, of Dallas defeated Jordan Spieth, also of Dallas, on the second playoff hole to capture the boys' division at the 33rd Junior PGA Championship at TPC River's Bend in Maineville, Ohio. It was only the third playoff in the history of the Junior PGA Championship. Danielle Frasier, 15, of Encinitas, Calif., cruised to victory in the girls' division.

Paolucci, who carded a double-bogey on No. 17, sunk a 2-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to tie Spieth, who shot a final-round 68 to make up five strokes over the last 18 holes.

"I thought after the first few holes it was going to be a great round, but then a few missed putts and it was tough," said Paolucci, who was playing in his third Junior PGA Championship. "It was a battle out there today, I am so happy to win but wish I could have played a little better."

Paolucci, who recorded only six bogeys over the first 54 holes, carded four bogeys over his final 18. But the momentum from a clutch wedge approach on the finishing hole gave him confidence during the playoff.

"I stopped that 64-degree wedge on the last hole a dime, pretty much. Thank goodness I had that club in my bag," said Paolucci. "Then after Jordan and I both missed putts on the first playoff hole, I made a putt on the second to win."

Both players made par on No. 18, the first playoff hole. They then moved to No. 7, a par-3. Both players hit the green but only Paolucci was able to convert his putt. "I was so happy to make that 6-footer," said Paolucci. "I struggled coming down the back-nine but pulled it out in the end when it mattered."

Spieth, who was in fourth place entering the final-round, was happy with his play over the last 18 holes. "All I wanted to do coming here was make the Junior Ryder Cup, and I did that," said Spieth, who was playing in his first Junior PGA Championship. "I played a consistent round with no bogeys and that is definitely what I wanted to do. I would have liked for a couple of more putts to drop and I left a couple short too."

Jeffrey Kang of Fullerton, Calif., and Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., who was playing in his fourth and final Junior PGA Championship, tied for third place.

In the girls' division, Frasier, playing in her first Junior PGA Championship, extended her lead and cruised to victory. The victory was her second in two weeks, but admits that her victory at the Junior PGA Championship has been the most significant. "This is the biggest tournament that I have ever won," she said. "It is especially good because I was in the lead all four days. I am usually coming from behind when I win so it is nice to win when I have been in front of everyone else."

The 15-year-old Californian felt pressure on the front-nine, but was able to bounce back with five birdies on the back-nine. "I was telling myself to be patient all day and the putts finally started dropping and I extended the lead," said Frasier. "I came here to get into the Junior Ryder Cup. Winning the Junior PGA Championship was a huge bonus."

Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., finished in second, seven strokes behind Frasier. Defending champion Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., carded a final-round 70 and finished in third. The Course played an average of 74.83 in the fourth round, the lowest of the championship.

The tournament was the final qualifying event for the 2008 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which was announced following the final round of play by U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team Captain and past PGA of America president Ken Lindsay. The top-two boys' and girls' finishers, Danielle Frasier of Encinitas, Calif., Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., Anthony Paolucci of Dallas, Texas and Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, earned automatic berths onto the team, which will be played Sept. 15-16, at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky.

Final Standings

Boys' Division 1. Anthony Paolucci, Dallas, Texas, 2011, 68-66-69-73-276*
2. Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas, 2011, 70-64-74-68-276
3. Jeffrey Kang, Fullerton, Calif., 2010, 70-72-69-68-279
3. Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill., 2008, 70-66-69-74-279
5. Gaston DeLaTorre, Brush Prairie, Wash., 2008, 69-71-71-69-280
5. Bobby Wyatt, Mobile, Ala., 2010, 71-67-72-70-280
7. T.J. Vogel, Miami, Fla.., 2009, 66-68-72-76-282
8. Tyler McCumber, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 2009, 68-69-73-73-283
9. Richard Werenski, South Hadley, Mass., 2010, 70-73-66-75-284
10. Blake Brown, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2008, 75-74-69-68-286
11. Clarke Fry, Manhattan, Kan., 2008, 67-74-75-71-287
11. Rahul Bakshi, INDIA, 2009, 74-73-69-71-287
11. Mark Joye, Columbia, S.C., 2009, 69-69-74-75-287
14. Austin Gutgsell, Mandeville, La., 2008, 76-69-71-72-288
15. Kyle English, Bloomington, Ill., 2009, 75-71-69-74-289
16. John Popeck, Washington, Penn., 2008, 72-71-75-72-290
17. Robert Bell, Pierz, Minn., 2008, 70-70-76-75-291
17. Andrew Yun, Tacoma, Wash., 2009, 73-71-77-70-291
19. Drew Czuchry, Auburn, Ga., 2010, 70-78-72-72-292
20. Dominic Bozzelli, Pittsford, N.Y., 2009, 71-71-75-77-294
20. Sean Luke, Desoto, Texas, 2009, 72-73-72-77-294
22. Kevin Miller, Dover, Ohio, 2009, 69-75-71-80-295
22. Cameron Freeman, Ft. Collins, Colo., 2009, 74-73-68-80-295
22. Ross Frankenberg, Barrington, Ill., 2009, 76-73-74-72-295
25. Branden Chicorka, Enfield, Conn., 2009, 75-73-73-75-296
25. Ernesto Marin, Miami, Fla., 2009, 75-70-75-76-296
25. Tanner Kesterson, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 2011, 72-75-76-73-296
28. Ji Soo Park, Centerville, Va., 2011, 71-73-75-78-29
28. E.J. McFarland, Pittsburgh, Penn., 2009, 76-72-75-74-297
28. Anthony Aicher, Wausau, WI, 2009, 77-69-77-74-297
31. Brad Gehl, Carmel, Ind., 2009, 76-72-71-82-301
31. Dorian Vauls, Clayton, Ohio, 2008, 75-75-73-78-301
33. Stephen Archibald, St. George, Utah, 2008, 69-78-76-79-302
34. Cody Martin, Union, Ky., 2009, 68-77-77-82-304

* Won on second playoff hole

Girls' Division

1. Danielle Frasier, Encinitas, Calif., 2010, 68-72-69-68-277
2. Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J., 2010, 70-71-73-70-284
3. Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla., 2013, 74-71-70-70-285
4. Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif., 2010, 75-70-72-71-288
5. Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J., 2013, 70-71-74-75-290
5. Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash., 2011, 70-71-74-75-290
5. Sadena Parks, Puyallup, Wash., 2008, 73-75-69-73-290
8. Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla., 2009, 73-71-74-73-291
9. Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y., 2010, 74-69-76-73-292
9. Katie Sylvan, San Diego, Calif., 2009, 69-75-73-75-292
11. Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill., 2008, 81-69-73-70-293
11. Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky., 2012, 79-75-70-69-293
11. Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster, Ohio, 2010, 74-71-72-76-293
14. Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla., 2011, 75-73-76-71-295
14. Cassy Isagawa, Wailuku, Hawaii, 2011, 76-69-76-74-295
14. Kyle Roig, Puerto Rico, 2011, 76-73-71-75-295
14. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009, 73-73-73-76-295
18. Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla., 2009, 73-78-74-71-296
19. Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D., 2009, 75-71-73-79-298
20. Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Penn., 2009, 72-84-73-70-299
21. Amelia Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 2009, 75-74-73-78-300
22. Hannah Collier, Birmingham, Ala., 2010, 76-76-77-73-302
23. Melanie Audette, Lakeland, Fla., 2008, 81-72-72-79-304
23. Cassandra Blaney, Davenport, Fla., 2008, 74-76-75-79-304
23. Simin Feng, CHINA, 2013, 71-73-81-79-304
26. Amy Ruengmateekhun, Garland, Texas, 2010, 75-75-79-77-306
26. Kendall Wright, Suwanee, Ga., 2009, 78-77-76-75-306
28. Stani Schiavone, Bangor, Penn., 2011, 77-78-72-80-307
28. Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., 2009, 76-75-80-76-307
30. Lauren Kim, Los Altos, Calif., 2012, 80-74-77-78-309
31. Lily Bartell, Cave Creek, Ariz., 2012, 80-75-76-81-312
31. Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Penn., 2011, 76-77-77-82-312
31. Lindsay Danielson, Osceola, Wis., 2009, 74-76-81-81-312

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