For a second straight year, Leigh Chien (Irvine, California) captured an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) title at the KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational. Last month, Chien won the event at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., by nine strokes and finished with a weekend total of 11-under par, the lowest mark by a female in tournament history.
The victory also earned her an exemption into the inaugural Founders Tribute at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., from Aug. 14-16, the third stop on the 2020 Epson Tour schedule.
“It’s amazing to win back to back years,” said Chien. “It is hard enough to win one tournament, and to win this event again really shows that I’ve improved since last year. It makes me feel very prepared for other events.”
In 2019, Chien accepted an exemption into the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club thanks to her first KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational win. Although she missed the cut after shooting 76-75, Chien is ready to compete again on the Epson Tour with the pros.
Between working to improve her game during the summer months and having previously played Longbow Golf Club in the 2018 and 2019 Arizona Silver Belle Championship amateur event, Chien is here to learn and simply have fun this week.
“I have some knowledge on the course from playing here before, but I just want to enjoy myself out there and experience what it’s like to play with the pros again,” Chien said.
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