T.J. Vogel and Victoria Tanco won the boys and girls titles, respectively, during the 32nd annual Rolex Tournament of Champions - sponsored by the American Junior Golf Association – in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Vogel, of Cooper City, Fla., recorded a spectacular eagle on the second playoff hole to win his first-ever AJGA event in his final attempt before attending the University of Southern California. Vogel, Gavin Hall and Byeong-hun An all tied with scores of 6-under-par 282 at the end of 72 holes. Each player made a birdie on the first extra hole before Vogel ended it on the second hole.
Tanco, of Bradenton, Fla., routed the girls field with a record score of 13-under-par 275. The record of 282 by Christy Erb had stood since 1987.
The 144-player field included entries from 30 states and six foreign countries.
Curtis Beach, Albuquerque Academy
File photo by Kirby Lee
National decathlon record setter Curtis Beach has been named Gatorade National Track and Field Boys Athlete of the Year. He is the first decathlete – and the first resident of New Mexico – to win this prestigious award.
The recent graduate of Albuquerque Academy, who is headed for Duke University, also was a special guest of Doug Logan – CEO of USA Track & Field – during the recent Junior Nationals in Eugene, Ore. He hopes to some day hold the same position.
Recruiting notes
Here we go again – Thirteen-year-old Evan Berry has made a commitment to play football at the University of Tennessee, where his brother, Eric, plays safety. The rising eighth grader eventually will play quarterback and safety at Creekside High in Fairburn, Ga.
The University of Tennessee also gained a more timely commitment from the nation’s No. 1 placekicker, Michael Palardy of defending national champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder kicked 76-of-78 extra-point attempts and 4-of-5 field goal tries as a junior. He also put 98 percent of his kick-offs into the end zone.
On the basketball front, Dayton landed a major recruit when it received a commitment from Jesse Berry of Jefferson in Lafayette, Ind. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged an impressive 27.3 points as a junior.
Crouser: A rising star
Though he just completed his sophomore year at Barlow (Gresham, Ore.), Ryan Crouser continues to make his mark nationally. He won the shot put (70-8 ½) and discus (207-9) during the World Youth Track & Field Trials in Ypsilanti, Mich. He is one of 55 USA athletes who will be competing this week at the World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy.
Other double winners in the trials included Eleanor Fulton (3000 and 2K steeplechase), Zachary Wills (1500 and 3000) and Ashton Purvis (100 and 200).
