Jorge Garcia of Miami took home his second-career AJGA victory by four-strokes at the Thunderbird International Junior. Nicole Morales of South Salem, N.Y., claimed her second AJGA Invitational after finishing at 5-under-par 211 at Grayhawk Golf Club.  

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Thunderbird International Junior was a 54-hole stroke play competition played on the par-72, Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ. The event featured 48 boys and 30 girls, ages 12-18, from 17 states and 14 countries. The Boys Division played the course at 7,112 yards while the Girls Division played the course at 6,342 yards.

Garcia extended his lead early with a birdie on the par-4, No. 2. After making a bogey on No. 3, he erased the deficit and responded with a birdie on No. 4. He maintained his lead heading into the par-5 No. 7, where he found the green in two and made an eagle putt from four feet.

After making the turn, Garcia made consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to extend his lead to five strokes. Even with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, it was enough to maintain a four- stroke lead heading to No. 18. Garcia tapped in for par on No. 18 to card a 2-under-par 70 in the final round, en route to a 10-under-par 206 tournament total.

After making two eagles to finish at 3-under-par 69, Scott Scheffler of Dallas tied for second with Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas at 6-under-par 210. Sam Burns of Shreveport, LA., took fourth at 4-under-par 212. Brad Dalke of McKinney, TX, Christopher Petefish of Scottsdale, AZ., and Matt Gilchrest of Southlake, TX, tied for fifth at 3-under-par 213.

Morales and Ashlan Ramsey dueled until the end, with Ramsey tying Morales early after making a birdie on No. 2. Morales held a one-stroke lead after making the turn, but bogeyed the par-4 No. 10. With both girls atop the leaderboard at No. 16, Ramsey took control of the lead with a birdie.

Ramsey carded her first bogey on the back nine at No. 17, resulting in a deadlock heading to No. 18. After both girls found the green in three on the par-5 final hole, Morales drained her birdie putt en route to a 3-under-par 69 and Ramsey settled for par.

Ramsey of Milledgeville, GA., finished in second after carding a 4-under-par 212. Amy Lee of Brea, CA., took third at 1-over-par 217. Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, CA., finished in fourth at 2-over-par 218. Yu Liu of Beijing, China, rounded out the top five at 3-over-par 219.

For more information on the Thunderbird International Junior, contact Abby Liebenthal in the AJGA Communications Department at aliebenthal@ajga.org, or 419.367.9774.

Final results from the Thunderbird International Junior conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Grayhawk Golf Club
Boys Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: 7112. Rating: 74.4. Slope: 133
Girls Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: 6342. Rating: 76.8. Slope: 142

Boys Division - Raptor Course
Jorge Garcia, Miami, FL. (2015)    68-68-70--206    -10
Scott Scheffler, Dallas, TX. (2014)    71-70-69--210    -6
Austin Connelly, Irving, TX. (2015)    70-70-70--210    -6
Sam Burns, Shreveport, LA. (2015)    69-70-73--212    -4
Brad Dalke, McKinney, TX. (2016)    75-70-68--213    -3
Matt Gilchrest, Southlake, TX.  (2013)    68-74-71--213    -3
Christopher Petefish, Scottsdale, AZ. (2014)    72-69-72--213    -3
Carl Yuan, Lake Mary, FL. (2015)    73-72-69--214    -2
Jacob Solomon, Dublin, CA. (2015)    73-72-69--214    -2

Girls Division - Raptor Course
Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. (2014)    70-72-69--211    -5
Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, GA. (2013)    74-69-69--212    -4
Amy Lee, Brea, CA. (2015)    74-71-72--217    +1
Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, CA. (2016)    71-75-72--218    +2
Yu Liu, Beijing, China (2013)    74-73-72--219    +3