June 26, 2006

BLUFFTON, S.C. -- Wake Forest freshman Dolores White shot three consecutive rounds of even par 72 June 20-23 to capture the Hargray Junior Classic -- one of the top junior events in the region -- by one stroke.

White, a Lakeland (Fla.) native, led after the first round, fell out of first place through two rounds, then re-captured the top spot in Friday's final 18 holes.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Hargray Junior Classic was a 54-hole stroke-play competition that featured 84 boys and girls from 14 states and 2 foreign countries. The event was held at Hampton Hall Club near Hilton Head.

Spencer Cole of Greer, S.C., fired a 3-under-par 69 to win the boys division.

White concluded her third day of even-par play with 12 pars, three birdies and three bogeys. White hit 16 greens in regulation on the day and took advantage of her strong iron game.

"I knew if I played steady golf today, like I have been all week, it would put pressure on the competition," said White, whose win at the Hargray Junior Classic was her fourth AJGA victory.

White used a disappointing bogey on the par-3 fourteenth hole as motivation.

"I had just bogeyed No. 14, so I walked up to my next drive and hit it as hard as I could," White said. "I hit the green in two and birdied it, which was obviously a turning point."

Second in the Girls Division went to Brooke Pancake of Chattanooga, Tenn., with a tournament total 217 and Kiara Hayashida of Hilton Head Island, S.C., fired a 73-74-72-219 in her first-ever AJGA event to take home third.

Hargray Communications Group, a leader in the telecommunications business, was title sponsor of the Hargray Junior Classic for the 12th year. Hargray is actively involved in supporting a variety of sporting events on Hilton Head Island.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.

Top Finsihers Rank Name Class Hometown Score

1 Dolores White 2006 Lakeland, Fla. 72-72-72--216

2 Brooke Pancake 2008 Chattanooga, Tenn. 74-68-75--217

3 Kiara Hayashida 2008 Hilton Head Island, S.C. 73-74-72--219

4 Molly Plomaritis 2010 Eden, N.C. 79-67-76--222

5 Mary Mattson 2006 Ijamsville, Md. 75-74-75--224