David Ford of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, birdied his first two holes to start a rally from seven shots back, carding a 66 to win the 14th annual Junior Players Championship by two shots on Sunday.
Ford, a high school senior who has committed to North Carolina, began the round at 1-over par and finished at 5-under 211. Scotty Kennon (71) of Bradenton, Florida, Thomas Morrison (68) of Dallas, Karl Vilips (72) of Australia and Kelly Chinn (71) of Great Falls, Virginia, tied for second at 3-under.
Kennon has committed to Wake Forest, Morrison to Texas, Vilips to Stanford and Chinn to Duke.
After his quick start, Ford made par the rest of his front nine, then rattled off three birdies in a row on Nos. 10-12. He rebounded from his only bogey of the day at No. 15 with a birdie at No. 16 before parring his closing two holes.
Junior Players: Leaderboard
Ford has won his last two AJGA starts and has finished eighth or better in his last four tournaments. He came into the week third on the Rolex Junior Rankings.
Ford won the AJGA event in Greensboro, North Carolina, in June, the first tournament the organization held since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Preston Summerhays of Scottsdale, Arizonz, the 36-hole leader, bogeyed two of his first four holes and never recovered, going on to post a 76 and drop into sixth at 2-under.
[lawrence-related id=778064715,778064568,778064773]