The Woodlands, Texas – Bowen Ballis, a senior at College Park High School, clinched his first Invitational win at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Simplify Boys Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods - Fazio Championship Course. Ballis shot a final-round 1-under 71, finishing the tournament with an 8-under 208 total.
The local talent secured his victory with an impressive 6-under round on Sunday, leading to a two-shot win over his closest competitor. Eric Yun from Menlo Park, California, claimed the runner-up spot with a 6-under 210, while Blades Brown from Nashville, Tennessee, rounded out the top three at 5-under 211. Daniel Zou, also from The Woodlands, tied for 14th place with a 1-over 217.
The Simplify Boys Championship, sponsored by the technology solutions company Simplify, is a prestigious event on the AJGA schedule, having hosted past champions like Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler, and Jordan Spieth. The tournament has been a fixture at The Club at Carlton Woods since 2009.
Reflecting on his win, Ballis said, "I’ve played this course a million times. I know that if you hit the ball well, you can make a lot of birdies." Despite early bogeys, Ballis's mental resilience was key to his success, leading to his third AJGA tournament win.
Ballis began the final round with a four-shot lead, which narrowed as competitors capitalized on favorable course conditions. He bounced back on the back nine with birdies on holes 12 and 13. On the par-5 No. 17, Ballis extended his lead with a birdie and secured his victory with a remarkable up-and-down on No. 18.
"This tournament has one of the best fields in golf, and it's a preview of what college tournaments will be like. Gaining experience in these scenarios will help me down the road."
Ranked No. 74 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, Ballis has signed a National Letter of Intent with Vanderbilt University. This win, his third in AJGA tournaments, underscores his potential for future success in golf.
"Any win on the AJGA is huge," Ballis remarked. "This tournament has one of the best fields in golf, and it's a preview of what college tournaments will be like. Gaining experience in these scenarios will help me down the road."
As he looks forward to the upcoming high school season and his college career at Vanderbilt University, Bowen Ballis's victory at the Simplify Boys Championship highlights his promising future in the sport.
Leaderboard: https://www.ajga.org/tournaments/2024/ajga-simplify-boys-championship-at-carlton-woods/leaderboard
