Culbertson
rallies to win
By Kellie Taylor, Post staff reporter
Emily Culbertson was five strokes off the lead heading into the
final round of the Kentuck y qualifier of the Junior World Golf
Championship but the Dixie Height senior-to-be had a plan - play
smart and conservati ve and shoot for par.
Mission accomplished.
Culbertson, who started the day in third place and five strokes
behind leader Sara Brown, sho t an even-par-72 at Kearney Hill Golf
Links in Lexington to capture the tournament title Wednesday and
earn an all-e xpense paid trip to Junior World Championship, held
July 14-19 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
''I just wanted to play safe and keep myself out of trouble,''
said Culbertson.
Culbertson finished at 2-over-par (70-76-72) for the three-day
tournament.
Brown, who is from Tucson, Ariz., finished one stroke off the
lead. Jennifer Davis of Seymour , Tenn., finished third at four
strokes back.
Culbertson chipped away at Brown's lead and moved into first
place after her counterpart bo geyed the tight 258-yard, par-4 No.
5, the players' 14th hole since the group started the round on the
back nine.
''There weren't many holes left and she wasn't putting well,''
Culbertson said. ''. . . I knew if I stay relaxed and calm, I could
hang on to the lead and ultimately win.''
Culbertson finished with four birdies for the day, including No.
12 where she chipped in from the rough.
The trip to San Diego will pit Culbertson against some of the top
junior golfers in the world . Current PGA Tour golfers Tiger Woods,
Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Notah Begay, John Cook, Craig Stadler,
Corey Pavin and L PGA Tour golfer Nancy Lopez have all competed in
past Junior World Golf Championships.
''I'll be playing people from everywhere, so it should be fun,''
Culbertson said.
Instead of resting after playing the three-day tournament in
miserably muggy conditions, Culb ertson headed straight to the
driving range Wednesday afternoon to try out a new driver.
Culbertson competes in the two-day Northern Kentucky Junior
Amateur today and Friday at Eagle Creek Country Club in Crittenden.
PGA JUNIOR SERIES
At Kearney Hill Golf Links, par 72
Lexington, Ky.
BOYS' 13-15: 1. Marc Gladson, Cedar Rapids Iowa,
70-71-70-211; LOCALS: 15, Alex Volpenhein, Edgewood, Ky.,
78-72-78-228; 27, Greg Turcotte, Crestview Hills, Ky., 78-78-79-235;
33, Joe Landrum, Crestview Hills, Ky., 82-79-81-242; 37, Seth
Ganshirt, Fort Mitchell, Ky., 84-85-80-249.
BOYS' 16-17: 1. Matt Harmon, Grand Rapids, Mich.,
70-76-71-217. LOCALS: 9, Jona than Sutton, Edgewood, Ky.,
76-77-75-228; 30, Alex Rechtin, Villa Hills, Ky., 71-79-85-235; 62,
Michael Sharp, Edgewood, Ky. , 86-81-80-247.
GIRLS' 16-17: 1. Emily Culbertson, Crestview Hills, Ky.,
70-76-72-218.
