GGGA students fare well in All-Star tourney
FRANK JOLLEY | Staff Writer
frankjolley@dailycommercial.com
Karen Arimoto had an incentive to play well at last week's American Junior Golf Association Junior All-Star Invitational.
Arimoto had an extra rush of motivation since the tournament was played at Mission Inn Resort and Club, where she has played countless times and practices almost daily as a student in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy.
Her familiarity with the resort's El Campeon layout helped Arimoto cruise to a wire-to-wire win in the 54-hole event that is considered to be the crowning event of the GGGA Junior All-Star Series. Arimoto's 3-over 219 was four shots better than fellow GGGA student Mai Dechathipat and Brooke McDougald from The Woodlands, Texas.
The win was Arimoto's third of the season. She also posted win at the Junior All-Star at Firestone and the Junior All-Star at Chateau Elan.
Because this tournament, which began on Friday on the 5,927-yard tract, Arimoto said winning took on an even greater priority for the 16-year-old.
"I'm so glad I won this event, especially since it was here (at Mission Inn and the GGGA)," said Arimoto. "A bunch of the other students and coaches were here to cheer us on and that helped me get pumped up throughout the tournament. This was a big win for me."
Arimoto got out of the gate quickly, with a 2-under par 70 on Friday for a three-shot advantage over Dechathipat. She struggled with four bogeys on the front nine during Saturday's second round for a 75 and carded a 74 on Sunday.
Dechathipat carded a 77 on Saturday, including a triple-bogey seven, to fall to fourth. She regained her composure on Sunday and carded a 73 -- the second-lowest score of the day -- to finish tied with McDougald.
The tournament marked the third time this year the Dechathipat finished runner-up to Arimoto.
Arimoto, who is in her second year at the GGGA after leaving her native Japan, said she was pleased with her overall play, and continues to improve her mental approach on the course.
"I'm working on my attitude," Arimoto said. "I try to think positive and it make me play really well. I have more confidence because I won this tournament with such a strong field. It gives me more confidence to play with older girls in future Invitationals."
In the boys tournament, Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, La. earned a three-shot win, sparked by a 3-under 69 on Sunday. Eddy Lai of San Jose, Calif., finished second and GGGA student Luis Garza was third.
Garza headed to the final two holes on Sunday tied with Barbaree. He took a one-shot with a birdie on the 14th hole, but Barbaree forged a tie with a birdie on No. 15.
The closing two holes proved to be Garza's doom as he found the water on each and recorded back-to-back double bogeys.
Barbaree managed to avoid trouble and recorded consecutive pars to secure the win.
Fellow GGGA student Tiger Lee also carded a top-five finish among the boys
GGGA student Tiger Lee finished fifith at 216.
The GGGA, based at Mission Inn Resort and Club, is considered by many to be one of the top full-time junior golf academies in the world. The Academy is committed to excellence in every facet of golf, fitness, personal development and has exclusive relationships with Montverde Academy and the AJGA.
Friday, October 12, 2012 - www.dailycommercial.com/101212GGGA