GGGA student Arimoto wins back-to-back AJGA Junior All-Star events
April 30, 2012
GGGA student Karen Arimoto made it back-to-back wins in AJGA Junior All-Star events Sunday with another impressive victory at Fieldstone Golf Club to move her win total on the year to seven.
Arimoto, a student in the Full-Time Junior Program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, led from the get go, starting with a 2-over 74 and finishing with a 1-under 71 to clinch the win at 1-over-par 145 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
“I'm very happy to win,” said Arimoto, who also won the AJGA TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star three weeks prior. “I really had fun playing golf with my friends this weekend. I was really nervous in the morning, but my driving and my putting were good, and I really learned a lot from the tournament.”
With temperatures in the 40s and winds above 10 mph, scoring conditions weren’t easy on day one. Scores were higher, but that didn’t hinder Arimoto, of Japan, too much as she kept her momentum going from winning the FCWT event at World Woods last weekend. Her 74 Saturday got her a one-shot lead going into Sunday’s final round.
On Sunday, the final round started with an hour frost delay that pushed tee times back but the weather cleared and scoring conditions were much better than the day prior.
Arimoto started with seven straight pars, while fellow GGGA student Mai Dechathipat was busy making a huge charge a few groups ahead. Dechathipat, of Thailand, notched birdies at Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 7 to tie Arimoto at the top of the leaderboard.
When Arimoto won AJGA TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star, she had to battle it out with Dechathipat then too.
A birdie at No. 8 got Arimoto the lead for good though as she played the back nine at even par to edge Dechathipat by three.
This year, Arimoto has picked up wins at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Fieldstone and the AJGA Junior All-Star at Chateau Elan with FCWT wins at World Woods, Innisbrook, Mission Inn, Saddlebrook and the University of Florida.
GGGA student Luis Garza, of Mexico, also turned in a solid performance as he tied for fourth at 3-over-par 147.
About GGGA
Based at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, 40 minutes outside of Orlando, Fla., the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy is the leading full-time junior golf academy in the world. The Academy is committed to excellence in every facet of golf, fitness, personal development and academics, evident through exclusive relationships with Montverde Academy, an acclaimed private college preparatory school, and the American Junior Golf Association.
As part of GGGA’s partnership with the AJGA, the academy is the official title sponsor of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series, an AJGA tournament series reserved for the world's top 12-15 year-old golfers.
The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy features a boarding program for junior golfers and the following programs: Full-Time Junior Program, Post-Graduate Program, summer golf camp, winter golf camp and golf lessons and programs for adults, amateurs and professionals.
For more information about GGGA, the GGGA's full-time residential boarding program and other year-round opportunities to Train, Think and Play like a Champion, visit www.ggga.com or call 1-866-639-9099
