AJGA junior Kristen
Gillman walked away with a major amateur victory for the second consecutive
tournament. The 16 year old defeated Canada’s Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, 2-up, in the 36-hole final of the U.S.
Women’s Amateur Championship. Gillman, who was down three after the 26th hole, rallied and won five of the final 10 holes to claim the title. Gillman
defeated fellow AJGA juniors and alumni on her way to the finals, including Andrea Lee, Duke’s Celine Boutier and Stanford’s Casey
Danielson.
The University of Alabama verbal commit started playing AJGA
events in 2010 and has since put together 14 top-10 finishes including a
victory at the 2013 Genesis Shootout presented by the Valero Texas Open. The
2014 season has been particularly strong for her with four AJGA starts and no
finish worse than sixth, including reaching the semifinals of the Polo Golf
Junior Classic. The 2013 Rolex Junior All-American also claimed the Junior PGA
Championship title and a T9 finish at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, and
was a member of the victorious West squad at the 25th anniversary
Wyndham Cup.
Gillman was one of three 2014 Wyndham Cup West Team members
who competed in the semifinals. She bested teammate Lee, 4 & 3, while
Henderson advanced after defeating Hannah
O’Sullivan, 1-up.