2007 Junior Championship

James White Jr. Holds On to Win Georgia Junior Championship

Final Round Scores

ATHENS, Ga. – Second-round leader James White Jr. of Acworth carded a final-round 76 for a six-over 219 total and held off Augusta's Clark Palmer to capture the 42nd annual Georgia Junior Championship, which took place at the University of Georgia Golf Course, June 18-20. Palmer, who played in the final group with White, closed to within one stroke on the 17th hole but failed to convert a lengthy birdie putt on 18 and finished with a final-round score of 72.

"It's was a really tough test out there the past three days," White explained. "I just tried to get close to the green and let my putting and short game take over. I really didn't hit [the ball] my best this week but I putted the ball very well and that's really what saved me out there."

Brent Whitehead of Marietta and first-round leader Taylor Floyd of Macon finished in a tie for third place at ten-over-par 223. Thomasville's Harris English took sole procession of the fifth place after rounds of 74-77-74. Three players – Chase Parker of Augusta, Albany's Colin Ho and Ollie Schniederjans of Powder Springs – finished in a three-way tie for sixth at 227. Alpharetta's Derek Chang and Duluth's Seth Reeves rounded out the top ten at 15-over.

White, who is a rising senior at Harrison High School in Acworth, led the field by three strokes entering the final round of play. White opened with back-to-back pars but bogeys at three, seven and eight left him making the turn with a three-over 38 and just a one stroke advantage on Palmer. Opening the inward nine with six consecutive pars, White picked up two strokes as Palmer posted bogeys at 12 and 13. Palmer made another run at White's lead as he would card birdie at 15 and then post a birdie to White's bogey on the par-3 16th. White would tally his fifth bogey of the afternoon at number 17 and make his way to the 18th ahead by a single shot.

White, whose tee shot fell off to the left and missed the green short with his approach, left Palmer with an opening. Palmer landed his approach on the back side of the green giving him a tough look but a chance at birdie. White, chipping to the green left himself eight feet above the hole for par. Palmer ran his long putt past the hole and would settle for par on the final hole. White sank his eight-foot par putt and took the title.

The top eight finishers in the Georgia Junior Championship represent the state in the 32nd annual Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match, which takes place at Sage Valley Golf and Hunt Club in Graniteville, S.C., July 19-20. Reeves is the team's first alternate and Chang holds the second alternate spot.

The par-71 layout at the UGA Golf Course played to 7,053 yards. The field of 144 was cut to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes, with the cut line falling at 19-over 161 and 73 players advancing to Wednesday's final round.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers between the ages of 14-17 as of June 18, who are Georgia residents and GSGA members or dependants of GSGA members.