AJGA TOLDO GROUP EASTERN CANADIAN JUNIOR
Roseland Golf and Curling Club
Windsor, Ontario
June 24-27, 2002

HIATT WINS HIS FIRST AJGA TITLE IN DRAMATIC FASHION
Pressel continues to impress in clinching Girls Division

WINDSOR, Ontario - The final round of the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior was sent into overtime Thursday, as Matthew Hiatt of Sylvania, Ohio, carded a 70-69-69-208 and clinched the win on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. In the Girls Division, Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., rolled through the tournament as she shot 75-72-71-218.

The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, featured 99 players from 10 states, Canada and Bermuda, including 34 Ontario natives.

Marc Mazza of Elmira, N.Y., went head-to-head with Hiatt in the playoff, but Mazza missed a 3-foot putt for par on No. 18. With the miss, Hiatt clinched his first AJGA win in his fourth career AJGA tournament.

"I'm so excited right now," Hiatt said. "Words can't even describe how happy I am."

The 18-year-old Hiatt will attend Eastern Michigan University in the fall on a golf scholarship, and his play this week has boosted his confidence.

"I was hitting it well the first two days, but I didn't start playing well until the back nine on the second day," Hiatt said. "Today I knew if I shot 68 or 69 that I would have a good chance to win."

Mazza finished in second, followed by Matthew Harmon of Grand Rapids, Mich., Bradley Moulton of Orangeville, Ontario, and Jason Kokrak of Warren, Ohio, to round out the top five in the Boys Division.

As the competition heated up, Pressel continued her impressive play. She improved her score for the third consecutive day in seizing the top spot.

"This is a very nice golf course," Pressel said. "It's old style where you get what you see. I'm lucky that I was able to play better and better each day."

There will be no rest for the 14-year-old Pressel as she heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., to play in her next tournament Friday.

"I love golf so much that I want to play everyday," Pressel said. "At this point I don't think I'll ever get tired of playing all the time."

Mandi McConnell of Grand Blanc, Mich., who led after the first two rounds, finished five shots behind Pressel for second place. Clare Lucey of Winnetka, Ill., finished in third.

For more information on the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior or any other AJGA event, please contact our national headquarters at (877) 373-2542.

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