Thomas back at Bellefonte after monster win

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June 17, 2009

By ROCKY STANLEY / The Independent The Daily Independent Wed Jun 17, 2009, 10:09 AM EDT

Ashland — Justin Thomas is coming off his greatest golf achievement as he begins defense of his Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior championship today.

Last week, Thomas roared his way to victory in the FootJoy Invitational, one of the American Junior Golf Association’s premier events.

Thomas, from Goshen, Ky., shot 66-67-67 in the final three rounds and came from behind for an 8-under-par 272 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

The title carried with it a sponsor’s exemption to the PGA Tour’s Wyndam Championship at the same course in August.

“I don’t know why, but it didn’t totally hit me,’’ Thomas said Monday as he prepared for the NRP Bluegrass Junior at Bellefonte Country Club. “I don’t think it will until I get there.’’

Thomas, 16, trailed by three shots entering the final round but fired four birdies on the front nine. He pulled even with another birdie on No. 15 and went on to win by two strokes over Anthony Paolucci of Dallas and Tom Lovelady of Birmingham, Ala.

“It gave me a lot of confidence with those big players knowing that I can win,’’ Thomas said.

The 99-player field consisted of top players from 25 states and 10 foreign countries, as well as 28 college signees and 25 Rolex Junior All-Americans. Thomas’ winning performance included seven birdies in the final round.

“For me, it ranks all the way to the top,’’ said Thomas, who will be a junior at St. Xavier in Louisville. “It was really nice to play that well in my first big tournament of the year.’’

Thomas would like to follow up with a repeat in the Bluegrass Junior. The 54-hole tournament begins at 7 a.m. and continues through Friday.

Last year, Thomas shot 206 here for his first AJGA victory.

“There are so many people here I know,’’ he said of the home-state event. “It’s one of the most fun tournaments of the year. It’s a blast.’’

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.

Past champions

Winners of the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior since the tournament changed to a 54-hole format.

BOYS

2008 Justin Thomas 206

2007 Donny Shin 203

2006 Cody Gribble 200

2005 Travis Smith 206

2004 Teddy Collins 208

2003 Chanin Puntawong 208

2002 Jessie Mudd 202

2001 Mark Blakefield 204

2000 Ryan Baca 207

1999 Adam Shanks 207

1998 Adam Gary 208

1997 Mike Austin 205

1996 Aaron Pellegrom 209

1995 Scott Moore 211

1994 Ben Curtis 208

1993 Brian McCann 211

GIRLS

2008 Nikki Koller 224

2007 Ayaka Kaneko 215

2006 Brianna Do 221

2005 Jennifer Johnson 223

2004 Mallory Blackwelder 216

2003 Whitney Wade 217

2002 Whitney Wade 212

2001 Marci Turner 219

2000 Leigh Anne Hardin 210

1999 Leigh Anne Hardin 209

1998 Leigh Anne Hardin 213

1997 Leigh Anne Hardin 212

1996 Jenny Throgmorton 226

1995 Sharon Park 223

1994 Ashley Winn 225

1993 Wendi Patterson 211

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