- AJGA photo
Jackson Van Paris of Pinehurst, North Carolina, became the first repeat champion in the 34-year history of the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods.
Van Paris finished the 54-hole event with a tournament total of 13-under-par 203.
The weather was brutal for the final round, with a winter storm approaching and keeping temperatures around the freezing mark throughout the day.
"I knew we were playing 36 holes yesterday and I didn’t know if we were going to play golf today or not, so I wanted to get off to a good start to put myself in position for the win even if we only played 36 holes," said Van Paris. "This morning I was thinking the same thing and I had a lead which was nice. I knew I just needed to play solid golf and do what I did yesterday."
Starting the final 18 holes, Van Paris had a two-shot lead. He managed three birdies in his first eight holes before dropping a shot with a bogey on the par 3 ninth, making the turn at 2-under-par 34. Van Paris went bogey free on the back nine, including a chip in for birdie on No. 14. He stuck his approach shot to three feet on No. 15, carding his sixth birdie of the day.
Van Paris added another birdie on the way in as the clubhouse leader to finish with a final-round score of 6-under-par 66. His lead held up despite three players tying the low round of the day of 66. Van Paris also won the event in 2019 with a score of 8-under-par 208 after a playoff.
"It means a lot to come to a place where I’ve had success before and get it done is really cool," said Van Paris. "I didn’t realize I could be the first repeat champion until earlier this week so that was super cool. Things went my way this week and it feels good to be back in the winners circle."
David Ford of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, finished in second place five strokes behind Van Paris for his second consecutive top ten finish at Carlton Woods. Gordon Sargent of Birmingham, Alabama, ended the day in solo third place at 7-under-par 209.
The 2020 champion of the event, Luke Potter of Encinitas, California, had a bogey-free final round and finished at 6-under-par 210 in fourth place. Tied for fifth at 4-under-par 212 was Maxwell Ford of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and Will Morlan of Alpharetta, Georgia. John Daly II of Dardanelle, Arkansas, finished in seventh place at 3-under 213. Rounding out the top ten in a 3-way tie for eighth place was Eric Lee of Fullerton, California, Caleb Surratt of Indian Trail, North Carolina, and Bryan Lee of Fairfax, Virginia.
The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods is one of the longest-running events on the AJGA schedule. Originally played in 1987, the tournament settled at The Club at Carlton Woods in 2009. The event has a storied past with champions such as Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.
View results for AJGA Boys Championship
ABOUT THE
AJGA Boys Championship
One of the AJGA series of tournaments that
require an invitation to participate. Format is 54
holes of stroke play. For boys ages 12-18. Field
size is 78. Must be AJGA member.
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