ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 30, 2010 - Trusted Choice® announced that Greg Bunner of Cherryville, N.C. and Kuriko Tsukiyama of Bogota, N.J., won the boys and girls divisions, respectively, at the recent 42nd Annual Trusted Choice® Big "I" National Championship in Chesterfield, N.J.
The tournament featured 156 players from 35 states with boys and girls under the age of 18 and was played at Old York Country Club at Chesterfield in New Jersey. The boys division was played at par 71 and 6,743 yards, while the girls played the course at par 72 and 5,828 yards. Each summer more than 3,000 junior boys and girls nationally vie to earn a place in the final tournament. More than 300 state and local qualifying events determine the final roster.
“The Annual Trusted Choice® Big ‘I’ National Championship tournament provides teen golfers with the opportunity to compete at a national level in an atmosphere that cultivates sportsmanship,” says David Daniel, Big “I” chairman. “We congratulate Greg, Kuriko, the finalists, and the thousands of boys and girls across the country who participated in the local, state and regional tournaments this year.”
Bunner won first place in the boys division by shooting a 1-under-par 70 in the final round, with a 283 and a 1-stroke lead. Tsukiyama shot an even par 72 to claim the girls division title by seven strokes.
In the boys division, Will Bishop of Lexington, Ky. and Cory McElyea of Santa Cruz, Calif. tied for second place one stroke behind Bunner at an even par 284. Sean Friel of Rochester Hills, Mich. placed fourth.
In the girls division, Ally McDonald of Fulton, Miss. placed second with a 9-over-par 297. In third place was Ashlee Pickerell of Salem, Ore. at 11-over-par 299.
The Trusted Choice® Big "I" National Championship has proven to be a critical test for many of today’s golf professionals. PGA and LPGA fields include numerous past champions and participants, including: Billy Andrade, David Duval, Charles Howell III, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, Craig Stadler, Bob Tway, Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods and Fuzzy Zoeller.
The annual tournament is sponsored and supported by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). The tournament began in 1969 and every year, more than 2,000 agents help organize and administer the qualifying tournaments that lead to the national finals. Independent agents donate valuable time, effort, and in many cases, personal resources to conduct successful local events.
For more information, visit www.bigigolf.com.
Trusted Choice® educates consumers about the benefits of using independent agents and brokers for their insurance needs: choice of companies, customized policies and advocacy support. Trusted Choice® is the consumer marketing identity for approximately 10,000 independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms and 54 leading insurance companies. For more information, go to www.TrustedChoice.com.
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