ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 13, 2012 - Trusted Choice® announced that Summer Roachell of Conway, Ark. and Austin Smotherman of Loomis, Calif., won the girls and boys divisions, respectively, at the recent 44th Annual Trusted Choice® Big "I" National Championship in Austin, Texas.
The tournament featured 159 players from 38 states with girls and boys under the age of 19 and was played at University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas. The girls division was played at par 72 and 6,098 yards, while the boys played the course at par 71 and 7,031 yards. Each summer more than 2,500 junior boys and girls nationally vie to earn a place in the final tournament. Approximately 100 state and local qualifying events determine the final roster.
“The annual Trusted Choice® Big ‘I’ National Championship tournament provides teen golfers with an excellent opportunity to compete at a national level in an atmosphere that cultivates sportsmanship,” says Mike Donohoe, Big “I” chairman. “We congratulate Summer, Austin, the finalists, and the thousands of boys and girls across the country who participated in the local and state tournaments this year.”
Roachell shot a score of 279, nine under par for the tournament, to claim the girls’ division title and bested the closest competitor by two strokes. Smotherman won first place in the boys division by shooting a score of 274, ten under par and bested the second place winner by seven strokes. He was last year’s second place winner.
In the girls division, Anne Freman of Las Vegas, Nev. came in second with a 281 through 36 holes. Taylor Coleman of San Antonio, Texas finished third with a two under par 286.
In the boys division, there was a three-way tie of three under par 281 between Brendan Doyle of Louisville, Ky., Walker Huddy of Studio City, Calif. and Stratton Nolen of Austin, Texas.
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 Trusted Choice®. The tournament began in 1969 and every year, more than 400 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.
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