Bay Village native Johnny Burke, a senior at St. Ed’s this year, was one of just 10 Ohioans to qualify for the prestigious junior PGA event. Burke shot an +11 for the tourney. (West Life photo by Matt Thornicroft)

Alexis Thompson wins Westfield Tournament
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published July 18, 2007

If there is one thing that Chris DeForest can smile about, in addition to his accomplishment at the 2007 Westfield Junior PGA tournament, it’s the fact he did something that Tiger Woods never did.

Win the event.

DeForest, 18, who is heading to the University of Illinois, shot a 10-under, par 274 as the New York State resident went wire to wire setting marks for lowest total score in the 54-hole tourney. He just missed besting the 72-hole record by three strokes.

“It was really amazing coming down the final fairway,” said DeForest. “I’ve tried three times, but never won.”

But for the golf purist, it was the girls side that provided the best action during the event, which was founded in 1976.

Remember this name: Alexis Thompson.

True, she made history by being the youngest to qualify for the LPGA’s U.S. Open at just 12 years earlier this month. But her play at Westfield shows that in due time she will be teeing it up with the best on a regular basis there.

Thompson started off rough, shooting an opening day 75, but rebounded to post a 66 and 69 on the final two days of play. Still, the championship did not come easy, as she had to fend off Hawaii’s Kimberly Kim.

Thompson trailed Kim by three shots as they both stepped on the tee of the 315-yard 12th hole.  She dropped a birdie on No. 12, to cut the lead to two. Then showing the poise of a veteran, she went on to birdie four of the next five holes. Her putt on No. 16, a par-3, 143-yard hole, seemed to give her control of the match.

Faced with a 20-foot putt for a birdie her putter was like lightning, as the ball fell into the cup. Kim, who had put her shot about 30-feet from the pin, three putted to fill two strokes behind.

“I was thinking to myself, just make it,” said Thompson. “My adrenaline started going and you could just see how much further I got it off the tee. All wins are great, but this one is special.”

Kim, who is 15, said that Thompson, who also has a brother playing on the Nationwide Tour, gained a lot of believers throughout the week.

“Alexis earned a lot of respect form the girls out there,” said Kim.

Bay Village resident Johnny Burke was one of just 10 Ohio players in the tourney. He joined  Northern Sectional girls winner  Katie Jeronivich of Warren, along with Southern Ohio PGA Section champions Tyler Hawk, Batavia, and Marissa Steen of West Chester. In addition, six other standout Ohio junior golfers competed, including Zach Glassman, Highland Heights; John Hahn, Kent; Parker Hewit, Westfield Center; Allie White, Lancaster; Erin Misheff, Silver Lake and Justin Lower, Canal Fulton and Katie Jurenovich of Warren.

White had the highest Ohio finish, taking home fifth with her +5.  Hewit also had a +5 for the event, but it was only good enough for a 15th place tie.

Burke, who won the Sectional qualifier and placed seventh in the state for St. Edward last year, missed the cut at Westfield shooting +11, but had a solid even par round of 71 his final day of the tourney.

The 17-year-old made birdies on Holes 10, 14 and 17.  If there was a positive other than playing in the prestigious event that Burke can take out of Westfield, it’s the fact that he was tied for tops with DeForest when it came to playing par threes.

Overall, Burke shot  a 77 to open the event and a 76 on the second day.

The Westfield Junior PGA Championship, which has traditionally produced stellar golf performances for more than three decades, brings together the best junior golfers to compete for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys division and the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls division champion.

Since 1976, the Championship has been a stepping-stone for competitors to either collegiate or Tour professional careers. The list of past Champions includes some of the most prominent current Tour professionals: Billy Andrade (1981), Billy Mayfair (1982), 2001 PGA Champion David Toms (1984), Sean O’Hair (1998), reigning U.S. Women’s Open Champion Christie Kerr (1995), Trevor Immelman (1996), Grace Park (1996), Aree Song (1999, 2000), along with In-Bee Park (2001, ’02).

What makes the tourney so nice for the players is the fact that since 2001, Westfield Group Country Club, owned by title-sponsor Westfield Insurance, has featured the most Tour-like experience in junior golf for players and attendees. It was almost like a mini version of the U.S. Open.

Not only were there covered grandstands, roped fairways, real-time scoring and leader boards, but each day there were also pairing sheets and, for the golfers, a full-service food court and game room, not to mention a parent hospitality room.

Just how important is this tourney? There were over 46 college coaches in attendance, with the farthest coaching staff coming from Denver.

This may be the last year that Westfield has the tourney, although tour officials would not speculate. But The Club at Olde Stone Golf Course in Alvaton, Ky. has approached the PGA about taking over the tourney next year.

“Nothing is official,” said Chris Childers, who is the PGA junior golf manager and tournament director at Westfield. “I still have to see the site, and Title sponsorship will play a role in it.”

An official announcement is not expected until August.