TOUR Highlights

PGA TOUR

Canadian Adam Hadwin held off the field to earn his first PGA TOUR victory by one stroke at the Valspar Championship on March 12 at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course.

Innisbrook Resort has been a staple on the AJGA schedule since the AJGA’s first year as an organization – 1978. In 2017, three AJGA tournaments will be held at Innisbrook Resort, including the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Innisbrook on the Copperhead Course.

One of the biggest storylines from the weekend involved former AJGA star Patrick Cantlay. Cantlay, the former No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, was making only his second PGA TOUR start since 2014. The 24-year-old took full advantage, carding five birdies in a six-hole stretch during the final round to finish in solo second and earn fully exempt status for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Cantlay, a two-time Rolex Junior All-American, compiled 10 top-10 finishes while with the AJGA, including a win at the 2008 ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior. He also finished in the top three twice at the Thunderbird International Junior. He went on to play at UCLA where he received the 2012 Ben Hogan Award given annually to the nation’s top male collegiate golfer. He became the youngest award winner since Rickie Fowler in 2008.

Other AJGA alumni highlights:

• T3: Jim Herman and Rolex Junior All-American Dominic Bozzelli
• T9: John Huh and Russell Henley

Symetra Tour

Olivia Jordan-Higgins earned her third win on the Symetra Tour at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic after a rain delay during the final round. Jordan-Higgins bested AJGA alumna Yu Liu by one shot. Liu, a three-time winner with the AJGA, competed in 20 AJGA events from 2010-13, including the 2012 Wyndham Cup.

Current AJGA member Brooke Seay made her Symetra Tour debut this weekend after earning an exemption with her victory at the 2017 ANNIKA Invitational. Seay opened with a 2-under-par 70, enough to sit in the top-10 after the first round before making the cut and finishing T29. The 16-year-old has risen to No. 17 in the AJGA rankings with her win after earning her first Rolex Junior All-America honors in 2016.